3. The Eyes of John the Evangelist

Before looking at the four people who were standing by the cross described in John’s Gospel, I would like to talk a little bit more about the eyes of John the Evangelist which gaze on Jesus’ event. When we read John’s Gospel, in my opinion, it is beneficial to look at not only its historical facts and concrete contents but also at “something” hidden in its words to understand the whole Bible including the Synoptic Gospels. It is because I often find hidden treasures in his Gospel. Therefore, this belief necessarily leads me to deep-reading of the Bible. In the previous essay, I wrote, “The eyes of John the Evangelist are on the words of Jesus, which are directed towards the Eucharist throughout all Gospels.” So, I would like to focus on the scene of the last supper in John’s Gospel so that we can dig into this idea.

John the Evangelist gives a fifth of his whole Gospel to this scene and puts various devices into it. He begins this scene with the passage: “[W]hen Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” (John 13:1) Then he, by continuing: “And during supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him.” (John 13:2), successfully shows concretely Jesus’ manner, the manner of God, of loving his disciples to the end. Moreover, the phrase, “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God,…” (John 13:3) makes us think about God’s plan which begins with Genesis. The Revelation Jesus has brought about is the completion of the work of the Creation.

When we look at Genesis, we will realize that the series of tragedies of Judas overlaps with the happening which occurred in the relationship between God and the man as well as between Satan and the man in the Garden of Eden. There are two men into whom Satan entered: Adam, who said, “The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” (Genesis 3:12) and Judas, who said, “I have sinned in betraying innocent blood.” (Matthew 27:4) We will become aware that this word of Adam, which attributed his disobedience to God’s instruction to God, was cancelled out by the word of Judas. Judas’ word of confession suggests that he was to be atoned for by the Passion and death of Jesus.

These two men have almost sold their free mind inspired by God to Satan. Judas departed throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, and he went and hanged himself. (cf. Matthew 27:5) The ending of the people who were deported from the Garden of Eden because they had got mixed up with Satan could have been like this. However, God made for them the garments of skins and clothed them, and He gave the man the job of tilling the ground so that they can continue to live outside the Garden. (cf. Genesis 3:21, 23) We can be convinced from Judas’ word of confession that he, by the same mercy of God, was beforehand bought back with Jesus’ Passion and death.

Jesus “rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel.” (John 13:4) The Lord washed Judas’ feet and purified him together with other disciples even knowing his betrayal, and he dipped the morsel and gave it to Judas, then he received it. In this description, we cannot but see the sacrament of forgiveness and the sacrament of the Eucharist. The sacrament of forgiveness was entrusted to the Apostles by risen Jesus. (John 20:21-23)

The Gospel of Matthew and Mark do not write the scene of Satan entering into Judas. On the other hand, Luke’s Gospel writes that Satan entered into Judas before he went to the chief priests and captains and conferred with them how he might betray Jesus to them. (cf. Luke 22:2-5) If so, there arises a problem that also Satan, who entered into Judas, has received the bread and wine Jesus gave after the institution of the sacrament of the Eucharist. (Luke 22:14-20) John the Evangelist, clarifying this point, wrote, “Then after the morsel, Satan entered into him.” (John 13:27) By this phrase, he tells us clearly it was after Judas received the morsel that Satan entered into him. So, it was Satan who had entered into Judas that actually betrayed Jesus. Judas, after Satan entered into him, can be said to have been in a particular condition so that the prophecy may be fulfilled.

As Jesus said, “[I]t is that the scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I tell you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he.” (John 13:18-19), he purifies Judas and lets him take “my bread.” This purification and the bread make even Judas into whom Satan entered confess, “I have sinned in betraying innocent blood.” (Matthew 27:4) Jesus never says the name of the betrayer because it was Satan that betrays God for the sake of the fulfilment of the prophet. Jesus said, “It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” (Matthew 26:24, Mark 14:21), and “that man” he said was Satan.

Then, Jesus said to Satan, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Therefore, no one at the table knew why he said this to Judas. (cf. John 13:27-28) John the Evangelist tries to direct our consciousness, which is still unknowingly under the temptation of Satan like this, to Jesus’ purification and “my bread” just in order that “when it does take place you may believe that I am he.” (John 13:19) This purification and the bread will protect Christians from the false prophets (cf. Matthew 24:23-26, Mark 13:21-24) on the day of the Second Coming. When Jesus said, “[T]he kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”, after he said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed.” (cf. Luke 17:20-21), he had the idea of leaving behind the Eucharist so that we may learn that “I AM” during our lifetime.

The disciples who gathered together in the upper room in Jerusalem waiting for the descent of the Holy Spirit also took the issue which had happened on Judas as a fulfilment of the prophecy according to Jesus’ saying, and they elected Mattias as a new Apostle. (cf. Acts 1:26) It can be said that the apostolic succession, which has been lasting till now, began with the vacancy of Judas’ position like this. The sacrament of forgiveness and the sacrament of Eucharist have been active by the Apostles and their successors. The Eucharist is Jesus who dies again in us when we eat it. In this way, Jesus loves his disciples who are in the world, and he loves them to the end in God’s manner even now. So, the eyes of John the Evangelist are directed to the Eucharist.

To be continued

Sep. 2019 in Hiroshima

Maria K