²⁶ Jesus then answered, “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.” So when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.

Never one to give a simple answer, Jesus answers John (and Peter’s question) somewhat cryptically. The “morsel” is literally a piece of bread; not the yeast-raised kind of our day, but probably a flat bread. The dipping was probably into wine or some kind of meat juice. And the action of Jesus, it is said, was a sign of respect shown by the host of a meal to an honored guest. Others think it was something done for all the guests, with Judas, in this case, being the first. Minor details, but rich in ironic symbolism.

Jesus had told them long before that there was among them one who did not truly believe. “ ‘But there are some of you who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him … ‘Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?’ Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him” (John 6:64. 70–71). Jesus had just winnowed down the huge crowds to just a few true believers by His difficult teaching, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves” (John 6:53). He raised the stakes of belief to complete commitment, and “As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore” (John 6:66). The remaining small number included Judas, who would outwardly walk with those who said, “Where would we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69). But he would prove to be not only an unbeliever, but also a traitor.

This Judas was the son of a man named Simon Iscariot. Indeed, a son brings dishonor also to his father’s name. Judas’ life affected so many! His name always appears last in the lists of disciples and he is to be distinguished from another disciple named Judas, who was the son of a man named James (Luke 6:16).

Did the betrayer suspect that Jesus was aware of his traitor’s heart? We don’t know how long even Judas himself was aware of the extent to which his unbelieving heart would take him. But, in this despicable individual we find the ultimate application of Jeremiah’s prophecy, “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jer 17:9). But for the grace of God, there go I.

Lord, “I do believe, help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24) so that I never betray You.