At the Last Supper, Jesus knew that it would be the last, and
that he would be dead by the next day. Each of the Evangelists
tells the story differently, but, according to John, Jesus spent
the time he had left re-stating to the disciples the lessons he
had taught them and trying to prop up their courage. At a
certain point, however, he lost heart. “Very truly,” he said to
his men, “one of you will betray me.” Who? they asked. And he
answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when
I have dipped it in the dish.” He then dipped a piece of bread
into a dish and handed it to Judas Iscariot, a disciple whom the
Gospels barely mention before the scene of the Last Supper but
who now becomes very important. Once Judas takes the bread,
Satan “entered into” him, John says. Is that a metaphor, meaning
that Jesus’ prediction enables Judas to betray him? Maybe so,
maybe not, but Jesus soon urges him directly. “Do quickly what
you are going to do,” he says. And so Judas gets up from the
table and leaves. T