Let us look at one more story in the Bible dealing with bread. At what has been traditionally called “the Last Supper,” Jesus took a special piece of bread and gave it to Judas. It was called the “sop.” Abraham Rihbany in The Syrian Christ says,
“‘And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.’ At Syrian feasts, especially in the region where Jesus lived, such sops are handed to those who stand and serve the guests with wine and water. But in a more significant manner those morsels are exchanged by friends. Choice bits of food are handed to friends by one another, as signs of close intimacy. It is never expected that any person would hand such a sop to one for whom he cherishes no friendship.
I can never contemplate this act in the Master’s story without thinking of the love of Christ which passeth knowledge.’ To the one who carried in his mind and heart a murderous plot against the loving Master, Jesus handed the sop of friendship, the morsel which is never offered to an enemy. The rendering of the act in words is this: Judas, my disciple, I have infinite pity for you. You have proved false, you have forsaken me in your heart; but I will not treat you as an enemy, for I have come, not to destroy, but to fulfill. Here is my sop of friendship, and that thou doest, do quickly.’
Apparently Jesus’ demeanor was so cordial and sympathetic that, as the evangelist tells us, Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, buy those things that we have need of against the feast, or that he should give something to the poor.’
Thus in the simple act of the Master, so rarely noticed by preachers, we have perhaps the finest practical example of Love your enemies’ in the entire Gospel.”
Take a moment and dwell on the power of this moment. I know that if I was aware that I was about to be betrayed by one of my closest friends or associates and someone asked me who it was, my countenance would have a very difficult time not pointing him or her out. It would probably be written on my face. Jesus truly counted Judas as a friend, not as an enemy since He knew the Father’s plan. Jesus saw and acted through the eyes and heart of One who truly loved all His enemies in sincerity of heart, not in empty words with which we, Christians, often try to clothe our true feelings. Our words, countenance, and actions usually give away the fact that we really don’t love many, if any, that we count among our enemies. The world and also our brothers and sisters in the Lord, can usually read right through our “I love you in the Lord, brother.” Our words are often empty and therefore, easy to see through. There often is no substance to our words. Our forced smiles don’t usually cover up the fact that we are lying. It’s time for us to get honest and cry out to God for His Love to flow through us.
Jesus wasn’t lying. Judas was, and still is Jesus’ friend. Jesus knew He must go to the cross. He also knew He must be betrayed by a friend that all Scripture might be fulfilled. Jesus saw the work of God being perfectly fulfilled by Judas. There are no exceptions to “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” not even for the one who might take our very own life. (I have written a lengthy article entitled “Judas Iscariot the Priest: The Misrepresented Scapegoat” which speaks in greater depth of the God-ordained relationship between Jesus and Judas.)