John 13:30 He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night. Notice — I. THE GROWTH AND STRENGTHENING OF EVIL AMID THE HOLIEST INFLUENCES. Judas lived within the circle of the Saviour's influence for three years. Eli was rebuked by Samuel for permitting his sons to commit sin on the threshold of the Temple, and — strange irony — Samuel's sons while doing priestly work walked in the same evil way. We may attend the sanctuary and listen to a mother's prayers for fifty years, and afterwards be lost. II. THE SAVIOUR'S GOODNESS BECOMES THE OCCASION OF GREAT EVIL. Judas was a worse man at the end of three years; while Christ's appreciation of Mary's offering, and His appeal to Judas, seemed to strengthen him in his purpose. So the presence of goodness, if not a blessing to us, is a withering curse. III. CHRIST'S GENEROUS TREATMENT OF THE SINNER. He saw the growth of evil in Judas, but it made no difference in His trust and love. At the last moment, there was one more attempt to touch the traitor's heart. "Friend," etc. The gift of the sop was a sign of love. What a wealth of persevering love is poured out on the most depraved! IV. THE DARK TERMINATION OF AN EVIL LIFE. Judas went out into the calm of that beautiful Syrian night, but is was a scene of blankness and tempest to him. Then came that deeper night of unavailing penitence and suicide. The path of sin always ends in night. It may be strewn with flowers or steeped in blood, but there is the same termination — the night of separation from God and communion with our own sins. (Noel R. Hamer, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.WEB: Therefore, having received that morsel, he went out immediately. It was night. |
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