1. Judas's Betrayal and Jesus's Final Loving Exhortation
In John 13:20-30, we encounter a vivid portrayal of Judas's betrayal, especially in the phrase, "As soon as Judas had taken the piece of bread, he went out. And it was night." This passage unfolds during the Last Supper shared by Jesus and His disciples. Within this scene, the tender yet urgent exhortation Jesus shows stands in stark contrast to Judas's final rejection of that love. Pastor David Jang highlights through this passage that the Lord's love does not coerce human beings into making voluntary decisions or repenting. Indeed, "God cannot forcibly manipulate us to make us turn back," underscoring that the very essence of love is founded on free will rather than compulsion. Faced with this precious "freedom," the way a person responds is vividly exemplified by Judas.
When Jesus handed Judas a piece of bread, it was not a mere gesture of sharing food around the table. Within the cultural context of Palestine at the time, giving someone a piece of bread directly was a significant expression of special affection and respect. Right up to the end, Jesus sought to embrace Judas, seating him as close as possible and offering him sincere goodwill. During this process, we also see Jesus washing the disciples' feet. Up until that point, Jesus's demonstration of love was filled with the message of thorough "servanthood" and "exhortation." The disciples, touched by such love, may have been moved to tears, and perhaps they were rethinking their understanding of the Messiah in light of these moments. Yet in the midst of it all, Judas could not fully accept Jesus's love, having already harbored the seeds of betrayal in the depths of his heart.
Pastor David Jang draws attention to the fact that "the disciple whom the Lord kept closest was the one who ultimately sold Him," urging us to examine our own hearts. Judas was, more than anything else, the keeper of the money bag. In a Jewish or messianic community, handling finances required enormous trust. Money easily becomes a source of temptation and can spark conflict or disputes, so this role usually goes to someone dependable and spiritually mature. Yet Jesus entrusted that money bag precisely to Judas. This implies that Jesus deeply trusted him, believing he had a level of responsibility and faith beyond others. According to Pastor Jang's interpretation, "The Lord trusted Judas to the very end," and this trust was never a manipulative ploy or ploy to ensnare him. In God, there is only "the absolute predestination of His love." Even so, Judas's worldly desires and twisted perspective took root in his heart, and he refused to accept the Lord's exhortation.
The story of the woman who broke the alabaster jar is a scene that decisively reveals Judas's mindset. When a woman broke open an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume and offered it to Jesus, Judas dismissed that pure expression of love with a worldly, utilitarian perspective: "Wouldn't it have been better to sell that and use the money for the poor?" Of course, in and of itself, helping the poor is neither wrong nor bad. The problem is that he failed to recognize love as love. He did not realize that the crux of genuine devotion lies in heartfelt dedication to Jesus. Instead, he approached the act from a calculating standpoint. Jesus's way may sometimes appear foolish or inefficient in the world's eyes. Yet His way is essentially the way of love, the way of the cross, the way of salvation through self-sacrifice. Judas could not understand this. Or perhaps, more accurately, he had no wish to understand it. From Pastor David Jang's perspective, this is precisely the point where "the sin in Judas, uglier than the serpent, is exposed."
The scene of the Last Supper in John 13 reaches its climax. Jesus says plainly, "Truly, truly I tell you, one of you will betray me." Hearing this, the disciples looked at one another in puzzlement, asking, "Who on earth could He be talking about?" Even then, the Lord did not immediately expose "Judas" as the betrayer. Instead, He said, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it," and gave a piece directly to Judas. This action simultaneously exposed the betrayer and offered him one last gesture of love. Dipping a piece of bread and giving it to someone was a sign of closeness, but when given to Judas, it also became a warning: "I know what you hold in your heart. But even now, turn back. Receive this bread and return to Me." Yet Judas spurned that invitation. Having taken the bread, he immediately went out.
The Gospel of John records, "As soon as Judas had taken the piece of bread, he went out. And it was night." This mention of "night" is more than a mere indication of time; it vividly captures Judas's spiritual condition and the tangible darkness settling over the world. Night signifies darkness, hiddenness, and a symbol of sin and corruption. It also marks the turning point at which Jesus would walk His path alone. It is the time when loving exhortation no longer penetrates, the moment betrayal becomes reality, and spiritual darkness takes concrete shape. Pastor David Jang points out that this "night" is not just a chronological note but represents the darkness into which all souls enter when they leave God. In other words, if we reject the Lord's love and refuse to turn back, we too can enter into that darkness.
Furthermore, the way the disciples responded to Judas in this passage is also noteworthy. Seeing Judas go out, some of them speculated, "Oh, since he keeps the money bag, perhaps he's gone to buy what is needed for the feast," or "Maybe he's giving something to the poor." They had no idea of the seriousness of the situation. They did not perceive the seed of betrayal deeply rooted in Judas's heart. Pastor David Jang stresses that we must be constantly vigilant, praying, and caring for one another, sharing sincere fellowship under God's grace. Even in a loving community, if spiritual ignorance and indifference coincide, crises lurking within can go undetected and grow out of control.
Where, then, did Judas's betrayal begin? Looking at the alabaster jar incident, we see Judas was trapped by the logic of the world. He did not see Jesus's way properly, and he had no desire to. Even though he heard the Lord's teachings and exhortations, he kept weighing them against his own ambitions and biases. Consequently, he likely regarded the woman's passionate display of love and devotion for Jesus as "waste." In addition, he may have become disillusioned upon realizing that the kingdom of God Jesus proclaimed was different from the political liberation or worldly glory he had hoped for. Jesus's leadership of self-sacrifice, His lowering of Himself, His compassion for sinners and the poor, and above all His approach to the cross must have seemed too far removed from the revolutionary leader Judas had imagined.
Judas refused the Lord's love until the final opportunity. Taking the piece of bread and going out meant "his decision was final." Love does not compel. Pastor David Jang calls this "God's pain." Even though He is almighty, God gave humanity free will, so when people choose sin and walk the path of betrayal, He lets it happen. God's love is infinite, yet those who consistently reject it ultimately end up in eternal darkness. The scene in John's Gospel shows us Judas's stubbornness as he coldly dismisses the outstretched hand of Jesus on the threshold of that darkness.
We should not simply write Judas off as "one unimaginably evil traitor." Judas's character reflects a dark side that can reside even in our own hearts today. Even if we have attended church for many years, listened to sermons, served, and volunteered, a part of our heart might still be tempted to judge the Lord's work by worldly standards. When we face our own limitations, instead of repentantly coming before the Lord, we might devalue demonstrations of love with a critical, cynical view: "Is this really the right approach? Shouldn't we be more practical?" Moreover, those who hold office or manage resources in the church must humbly examine themselves. Judas, despite being entrusted with the critical responsibility of managing the money bag, fell away. Anyone can stumble in the same way.
Judas's betrayal is not merely a historical event but a sobering warning for our own lives. Although Jesus's loving words are proclaimed, although the final opportunity to repent and turn back is repeatedly offered, it is still possible to reject and ignore it. While God loves to the very end, He does not prevent those determined to walk toward darkness from doing so. For Pastor David Jang, this serves as an admonition "to always keep our guard up and approach the Lord." Every moment we listen to and meditate on God's Word is like receiving that piece of bread Judas took. It can be life-giving if we turn back; but if we do not, it can result in judgment. Thus, the Last Supper scene in John 13 is both the pinnacle of the Lord's love and the stage where human betrayal is most dramatically exposed. And right between these two extremes lies the possibility of "turning back."
Among the disciples, Peter also denied Jesus, but he eventually repented and returned. Judas did not. Peter's denial came from fear and weakness, yet deep inside, he still loved the Lord. Therefore, he could weep bitterly and repent. Judas, on the other hand, harbored deep ambitions and desires, premeditated his betrayal, and acted on it. That betrayal ended not in repentance and turning back, but in despair and suicide. This shows how profound and frightening the root of sin can be within a human being. It also shows us the tragic potential that resides in each of us.
Moreover, considering how the disciples responded around the table, it is striking that they did not fully grasp what was happening right up to the moment Judas walked out. Pastor David Jang notes that had the disciples more carefully observed Judas and picked up on the signs of his words and actions, they might have confronted him earlier and urged him to repent. But they did not. In a way, this is our reality, too. Far too often, we fail to notice someone beside us collapsing in despair or surrendering to temptation, gradually drifting away from church and becoming overwhelmed by worldly darkness. This is why we must always remain watchful in the Word and in prayer, truly caring for one another. When spiritual ignorance and apathy prevail, it becomes difficult to prevent anyone from falling into deep darkness-this is the weakness of any human community.
The Lord's love remains wide open until the very end. In John 13:20, Jesus clearly states, "Whoever receives the one I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me." Believing and accepting Jesus is equivalent to receiving God the Father. That Judas heard these very words and still did not turn back suggests that his betrayal was not merely an offense against his Teacher but a refusal to accept God Himself. Pastor David Jang interprets this to mean that "No one can forcibly overturn the Lord's heart." Because love cannot exist without the other party's free choice, Jesus could not prevent Judas from refusing to return in the end.
We must also remember that although opportunities for repentance are granted to us time and time again, we cannot assume they are granted forever. Judas surely received the piece of bread during the Last Supper, and even before that, he had repeatedly witnessed Jesus's words and signs of love up close. However, he neither changed his heart nor accepted his final opportunity. This grimly illustrates just how deeply spiritual darkness can take root in a human soul. And once darkness took hold, his spirit fell into irredeemable despair.
Thus, the story of Judas's betrayal in John 13 does not end merely as a shocking tragedy from the days of the early disciples. In fact, it compels each of us to reflect on whether we are daily embracing Jesus's love, or perhaps rejecting it. We are constantly offered the "piece of bread" of Jesus's love. Through the Word, through community worship, through the proclaimed gospel, and through the fellowship of love we share, we always have the chance to turn back. Yet like Judas, we could just as easily waste all those opportunities if we are consumed by spiritual ignorance or stubbornness. Pastor David Jang labels this a kind of "divine helplessness." Even though God is omnipotent, under the umbrella of love He appears powerless in the face of human free will. But this powerlessness is actually the most dramatic demonstration of God's love: rather than forcing our obedience, He waits for us to return of our own accord.
"As soon as Judas had taken the piece of bread, he went out. And it was night" (John 13:30) confronts us with a call to make a choice. In the countless decisions of everyday life, will we follow the Lord's exhortation and turn back? Or will we ultimately turn our backs and choose darkness? This is the fundamental question posed by the story of Judas's betrayal. As Pastor David Jang insists, we must continually check ourselves through prayer and the Word, lest we harbor any stubbornness like Judas. And we must never forget that the Lord's love is extended to us until the very last moment. If betrayal is the choice that leads us into the path of darkness, love is the invitation that holds us fast in the path of light. Which path we choose is entirely up to us.
2. Spiritual Ignorance and the Opportunity for Repentance
When Judas embarked on the path of betrayal, the disciples entirely failed to sense the atmosphere of betrayal. Even though Jesus had warned them directly, "One of you will betray me," they merely whispered among themselves, "Who is He talking about?" Even when Jesus dipped a piece of bread and handed it to Judas, they did not grasp the significance of that act. And as soon as Judas left, they thought, "Perhaps he went out to buy something," or "Maybe he went to help the poor." This is how spiritual ignorance places a community at risk. It is not just the ancient disciples' story. Modern church communities often fail to recognize real and imminent spiritual crises happening around them.
Pastor David Jang emphasizes here the importance of "spiritual vigilance and alertness." Jesus had already alluded multiple times to the shadow of betrayal, both in His words and symbolic actions. He had washed His disciples' feet, telling them to "wash one another's feet," and accepted the woman's breaking of the alabaster jar, showing the true meaning of "love." Right before the Last Supper, He plainly declared, "One of you will betray me." But because the disciples had not fully meditated on His loving example or His words, they missed the seriousness of Judas's betrayal, even as it was taking place. This is what happens when we grow numb or when our love grows cold. Although they were continually by Jesus's side, they never fully understood His intention. Nor did they recognize the seed of sin lurking within their own community.
Whether all the disciples could have preemptively known Judas's heart and prevented his betrayal is uncertain. But if they had taken Jesus's indirect warnings more seriously, they might have focused more intently on Judas, trying harder to hold him back. This is what a loving community should do. The same principle applies in today's church. When someone starts straying from the path of faith, or when someone is deeply caught up in worldly desires, instead of hastily judging or ostracizing them, we need to do our utmost to embrace them and help them return. It is not only for that individual's soul; it is also for the well-being of the entire community. The darkness of a single person's sin rarely remains confined to that individual alone.
Paradoxically, that the disciples never suspected Judas even as he set off to betray Jesus also indicates just how "trusted" Judas was in the community. A man trusted to guard the money bag fell prey to internal sin. This warns us that no "position" or "office" in the church guarantees immunity from sin. On the contrary, the greater the role and recognition, the greater the exposure to temptation-and the more devastating the impact if a person falls. Pastor David Jang expands this lesson, stating that "church leaders and those serving in ministry must remain all the more vigilant." Prestige and responsibility can make it easy to hide the sinfulness and worldly desires lurking inside. When Judas ultimately turned his back on both God's love and the community's trust, walking out into the night, it was not just someone else's story.
Essentially, "the seat where the Word is proclaimed" is also the place where "the bread is offered," the place where we can still turn back. Pastor David Jang explains that "the moment Judas took that piece of bread, there was a final chance for him." The love of Jesus was fully contained in that bread. In other words, if Judas had at that moment decided to accept that love, events might have played out differently. This is the mysterious power of repentance and salvation. Even if one is bound in the chains of sin or overwhelmed by despair, if in a single moment they open their heart to the Lord's love, they can undergo a miraculous transformation. But Judas refused that miraculous moment. Taking the bread, he went out at once into the night, which meant he chose to continue down the path of hardened resolve.
From this we learn that if a person clings stubbornly to their sin and refuses to repent, the outcome is spiritual ruin. Not only did Judas betray the Lord, he later plunged into remorse that ended with him taking his own life. Had he sincerely repented, he might have found forgiveness and restoration, as Peter did. Yet he rejected that path. Thus, though both Peter and Judas had betrayed or disowned the Lord, one repented and was restored as an apostle, while the other slipped into eternal darkness. This reveals that our biggest fear should not just be sin itself but the hardness of an unrepentant heart.
Pastor David Jang, reflecting on this text, emphasizes "God's grief over sinners who refuse to turn back." If God is truly all-powerful, one might wonder why He does not simply force people to repent and return to Him. But, ruling in love, God refrains from such methods. He grants us free will, desiring we enter into a loving relationship within that freedom. Thus, when humans choose sin, God endures the heartbreak of allowing them to persist in that decision. This is the nature of the "kingdom of love" and the heart of "the kingdom of God." Rather than a realm of force, it is a realm of loving invitation, in which the tragic possibility of eternal darkness accompanies any refusal to repent.
Another key point is just how significant "the place of communal fellowship," symbolized by the shared meal, can be. A communal meal is more than just eating together; it is a spiritual context wherein hearts are shared, and the words of the Lord are collectively pondered. Jesus and His disciples celebrated the Passover meal, during which He washed their feet to end their disputes about who was the greatest. He showed them an example of servanthood and re-stirred their hearts with the vision of God's kingdom. In the same setting, He also warned them about the looming betrayal. Our worship services, communion, and church fellowship should fulfill these roles-helping us remain spiritually alert. As we listen to the Word together, pray for one another, and watch over each other's souls, we should be able to address sins while they are still in seed form and urge repentance. This is how a loving community functions.
Yet the warmth and comfort of a communal meal can ironically lure us into complacency. The disciples, relaxed at the supper table, may have noticed the outward signs-Jesus washing their feet, sharing the bread and wine, engaging in close conversation-but failed to grasp the deeper meaning behind His words or to sense that Judas was sinking into darkness. The same can be true of our current gatherings for worship and fellowship. We might hear the Word but quickly forget it, or we may limit ourselves to superficial small talk without truly addressing another person's spiritual crisis. If we never enact real loving intervention, an individual's soul can slip into darkness.
Pastor David Jang in this regard calls believers to be "spiritual mirrors" for one another. Jesus's command to His disciples-"Love one another"-was not an abstract slogan. It includes not ignoring a brother or sister's sin and weakness, but giving them a chance to turn back, sometimes firmly warning them, all the while choosing to stick with them until the end. When such efforts are made, the community can prevent a tragedy like that of Judas from unfolding. But if no one is watchful, if no one is paying attention, Judas will "go out alone," and by the time anyone notices, it may be too late.
On reflection, the disciples likely realized many things only after Judas left. When Jesus had told him, "What you are about to do, do quickly," they did not understand at the time, but later all the pieces would have fallen into place. Yet by then it was too late. Judas had already departed to carry out his scheme, and Jesus was arrested and led down the path of suffering. This is how sin manifests itself in reality. Once it takes hold in the heart, eventually it translates into action, and then the consequences cannot be undone. Therefore, we must remain vigilant for the early signs of sin's influence and repent before those seeds bring forth destructive fruit.
Yet at the same time, the story of Judas's betrayal in John 13 offers a profound message of hope. It is found in the unrelenting nature of Jesus's love. Though He foresaw the betrayal, Jesus never turned His gaze from Judas, even to the very end. During the Last Supper, He seated him in the closest place, handing him a piece of bread filled with His love. He tried to lead him to repentance, yearning to retain him in His embrace. If only Judas had turned back even then, we can imagine he might have found restoration, just as Peter did. This is the heart of the Lord. We, too, are given opportunities to turn back "every day," so there is no reason for anyone to be trapped in despair.
However, we must not make the mistake of thinking that the opportunity to repent is always open without end. Though Judas received that last piece of bread, and had seen multiple signs of Jesus's love and power before then, he closed off his heart to the final moment and refused to change course. This starkly reveals how terrifyingly deep spiritual darkness can root itself in the human soul. Once that darkness took over, Judas was swept into a hopeless spiral from which he never returned.
Hence, the account of Judas's betrayal in John 13 is more than a shocking catastrophe in the early disciple community. Instead, it presses us all to contemplate whether we each day embrace or perhaps reject the love of Jesus. We receive the "piece of bread" of the Lord's love time and again-through the Word, our communal worship, the proclaimed gospel, and the love we share among one another. But just like Judas, we can let all these moments slip by if we remain bound by spiritual ignorance or stubbornness. Pastor David Jang calls this "the helplessness of God." Even though He is omnipotent, God can appear powerless before human free will, because of love. Yet that very powerlessness is the most dramatic expression of His love-He does not coerce, but waits for us to choose to return.
In this sense, "As soon as Judas had taken the piece of bread, he went out. And it was night" (John 13:30) becomes a resounding challenge for us. Before we take even one more step, will we walk in the Lord's light or continue down the path into darkness? That is the essential question of Judas's betrayal. As Pastor David Jang stresses, we must constantly examine our hearts through the Word and prayer to see whether there is a stubbornness like Judas's lurking within us. At the same time, we must never forget that the Lord's love is always extended to us until the very last moment. If betrayal is the choice of walking toward the darkness, love is the invitation that holds us firmly in the light. Which will we choose?
The entire thirteenth chapter of John's Gospel does not merely focus on the event of "Judas's betrayal" but rather on "what happens when the Lord's boundless love collides with humanity's hardened rejection," all within a community context where worship and fellowship were taking place. This reminds us that today's church and believers are not automatically in a safe zone. Even with ample Bible knowledge and heartfelt worship experiences, a "Judas-like heart" might still be growing within. And in a community that calls itself loving, if there is no genuine concern or spiritual alertness, that heart can fester unnoticed into an even darker place.
On the flip side, that same community setting was Judas's final chance. There was Jesus's hand offering the piece of bread, the Word spoken to them, and the possibility of repentance at any time. The same is true in our churches. Pastor David Jang says, "The Word always offers us the grace of receiving the bread." Every time we gather for worship, hear Scripture, and partake in communion, it can be our "last chance" or our "fresh start." The crucial difference lies in whether our hearts are earnestly open to the Lord or closed off. Judas's downfall originated in the fact that he kept his heart sealed.
When Judas went out, it was "night." This did not simply refer to chronological darkness but rather spiritual darkness, a place without the Lord, a place of hardened rejection of His love. Nevertheless, Judas left with the bread in his hand. In other words, he had received the sign of Jesus's love but willfully chose to walk into the night. For us, this signifies that "even if we hear the Word, experience love, and see various miracles and blessings, if we remain unrepentant, we too can end up just like Judas in the darkness." Yet at the same time, "if we persevere in repentance and turn back, we can rise again like Peter." Pastor David Jang explains that all of us carry within us the potential to become either Judas or Peter.
For this reason, those who walk in faith must examine daily which potential is gaining the upper hand in their hearts. The Lord continues to hold us in His love, continually urging us to repent through His Word, and reinforcing us through the prayers and care of our faith community. But if we push away every chance and finally walk out on our own, we will find ourselves enveloped in "night." This possibility should always sober us, compelling us to remain alert, lovingly exhorting one another, illuminating ourselves with the Word, and treading the path of repentance.
The story of Judas's betrayal in John 13:20-30 is, at once, a tragedy of love and betrayal colliding in a single, crucial moment. Yet the spiritual lesson it conveys is not intended to leave us in a heavy or dark conclusion. Rather, we learn here that even though God's love has the power to overturn everything, it can look helpless in the face of human choice. All the more, our task is to humble ourselves, repent, and cling to that love, rather than repeatedly assessing God's providence by our own standards. Pastor David Jang calls this the only action we can take before "holy love": to repent and hold fast to His hand. If we let go of that hand, all that remains is the night.
Ultimately, the teaching leads us to the conclusion that "we must always stay alert, examine ourselves, and care for one another in prayer and the Word." Even within a loving community, betrayal can arise at any time. Therefore, genuine service and love involve supporting those whose hearts waver, so they can turn back before it is too late. On a personal level, we must not treat God's Word with a calculating mind like Judas did, nor disparage acts of love from a worldly point of view. Rather, we must daily bow before the Lord. "As soon as Judas had taken the piece of bread, he went out. And it was night" must never become the final verdict on our lives. Instead, we must cling to the Lord's love and continually repent, choosing to return to Him. Such is the urgent exhortation of John 13 and the core message Pastor David Jang underscores.
