John 13:26
Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
John 13:26
Here Jesus answers the prior question and identifies the betrayer: “He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it.” The sop (a piece of bread dipped in sauce) symbolizes hospitality and fellowship; in the Middle Eastern custom, sharing the sop would be an act of closeness to the guest. Jesus’ action shows that He knows Judas’s role in the drama ahead and intentionally reveals it in a controlled, intimate moment. The act also heightens the moral gravity of the forthcoming betrayal. The setting makes the disclosure more poignant: within the inner circle, Jesus discloses the traitor in a way that preserves some dignity while marking the gravity of the moment.
This verse emphasizes divine foreknowledge and intentional method in the plan of salvation. Jesus’ dipping and giving the sop demonstrates that Judas remains within the circle of fellowship until a precise, purposeful point—his betrayal is not a surprise to Jesus but part of the divine plan revealed in a compassionate, relational context. It also foreshadows the Last Supper’s Eucharistic symbolism: sharing bread as emblem of unity, even as betrayal lurks. Theologically, it tests loyalty, obedience, and the seriousness of spiritual compromise. It also shows Jesus’ authority to name the moment and to direct the events with sovereign wisdom, even when painful for those present.
We can learn from Jesus’ measured disclosure: truth-telling should be timely but compassionate, especially when dealing with accountability in relationships or leadership teams. When someone is slipping into harm or unethical behavior, address the issue with pastoral sensitivity rather than public shaming. For believers, this is a reminder to examine our own hearts: are we drawn toward reversible compromises that Jesus can still redeem, or are we embracing paths that harden us? It also invites reflection on how we share resources, influence, and intimacy—what we share with whom, and for what purpose. In Eucharistic settings, it invites gratitude for Jesus’ broken body and the grace that sustains us even as we navigate the tensions of betrayal and sin.
Cross-References: Matthew 26:23-25; Luke 7:36-50; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29; Psalm 41:9; Luke 22:15-16