Breaking the Word

 Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Master, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later." Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well." Jesus said to him, "Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all." For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, "Not all of you are clean." So when he had washed their feet (and) put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, "Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me 'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.  (Jn 13:1-15)

 

 

Jesus loved his own and loved them to the very end. He did not speak of conditional love or love for a period of time. Love has no limits to space, time, and persons. Love breaks all barriers. Jesus’ love has broken all barriers and he has loved his traitor and has washed his feet and shared his bread with him. This is the greatest sign of love. Doing service even to the traitor and sharing bread (relationship) with him are models of love of Jesus. (Love as I have loved you said Jesus)

 

“If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet…” Masters do not wash the feet of the slaves in stead the slaves are ones who wash the feet of the master. Jesus has turned the table around. Teachers are the ones who teach the disciples what to do. Jesus has exactly done the very same thing. Disciples should obey the teacher. Washing the feet of the other is a duty and a commandment. (Ought to wash)

 

Jesus instituted the priesthood at the last supper. The last supper of Jesus with his disciples was not just memorial meal of the Passover. It was an expression of his deep love to the very end. It was a model to be imitated. All these were for his disciples who were also ordained to be his ministers (priests). All what he did and said were now passed on to his disciples who in turn were taking his role and function. They were to be Jesus among his people. They had to re-live Jesus among the people. They were ordained (commissioned) to be his priests.

 

Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over. On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?" He said, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The teacher says, "My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples."'" The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover. When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, "Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me."  Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, "Surely it is not I, Lord?"  He said in reply, "He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born." Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?" He answered, "You have said so."  (Mt 26:14-25)

 

 

The figure of Judas is one of the darkest in the gospels. Cheating someone is wrong and ugly and mean. But betrayal is worse than cheating. Betrayal is something horrible and that is why when the man realizes that he has betrayed his close friend he is not able to live. To trust a betrayer needs greater and godly quality of love. No ordinary person will love or trust his betrayer.

 

Judas was one of the twelve. He was like anyone of the others. He shared their common life; he was trusted and valued friend. He has listened to the parables of Jesus and seen all the wonderful deeds of Jesus. He was trusted with the purse of the group. He was probably looking after the material needs of the community of the disciples.

 

Then why did he do so? We will never be able to arrive at the motivation of Judas that compelled him to betray. Certainly it would not have been the money. Probably, I say probably, he thought that Jesus would take the society for liberation when he saw him cleansing the temple. He caused a stir in Jerusalem. And now the very same Jesus was talking about death. Judas felt that he was cheated. His hope was shattered. He lost the leader he dreamt of.