John

Check out all the previous John readings here.

John Reading Plan | Week 8, Day 4

Prayer

Pause for a moment of quiet and calm. To be fully present in both body and mind, inhale deeply and exhale slowly. Repeat this three times. Ask God to grant you His wisdom today.

Bible Reading: John 13:18-30

Read these verses three times slowly.

“I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’

“I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”

After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”

His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”

Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”

Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money,some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

Reflection & Questions

By Ken Mullette

Jesus’ knowledge of Judas’ betrayal reveals a painful reality we may all face by being hurt by those we trust. Jesus, however, does not avoid the truth. Instead, He acknowledges it and prepares His disciples for the challenges to come. Yet, despite being betrayed, Jesus remains committed to His mission and continues to love, revealing that while betrayal is deeply painful, it is not the end of the story.

When you visit a website, you’re prompted to accept or reject cookies based on your preferences. It’s your choice whether to accept, and while rejecting them can limit your experience, the website is not forcing you to make a particular decision. Similarly, accepting Jesus and His invitation into your life is a choice, not a demand. Though God offers His grace, forgiveness, and love, we must choose whether or not to accept it.

While Judas’ betrayal was painful, it was not outside the scope of God’s sovereign plan. Even though Judas acted in betrayal, God used his actions as part of His larger redemptive story. God offers us the opportunity to be part of His plan of redemption, but He does not force us to accept it. Like clicking “accept” on a website’s cookie settings, our spiritual response to Jesus is a choice that shapes our journey.

In the same way that choosing to accept or reject cookies affects your online experience, our decision to accept or reject Jesus affects the trajectory of our lives. Following Jesus is not always easy. It comes with challenges, rejection, and sometimes betrayal, but the cost is worth it because His love and sacrifice offer us eternal hope.

1. When faced with betrayal or hurt, how can you respond with grace and keep your eyes on God?
2. Just as we carefully choose our cookie settings on websites, how can you ensure that your heart remains aligned with God’s will and purpose?

Prayer

Talk to God in response to today’s reading.

Worship Song

You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:

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Questions?