As long as Judas was counted among the disciples and a member of the holy company, Satan did not have such access to him. But when the Lord separated him and cut him off from the rest of the disciples, revealing him through the bread, then Satan took possession of him, as one abandoned by the Lord and excommunicated from the divine company.
"Satan entered into him," that is, penetrated the depths of his heart and took possession of his soul. For Satan had previously attacked Judas from without, through the passion of avarice, but now completely took possession of him, suggesting to him the betrayal.
Jn. 13:27. Then Jesus said to him: what you do, do quickly.
Jesus says to Judas: "What you do, do quickly." By this the Lord does not urge Judas to betrayal, but rather rebukes him for going through with the betrayal. By the word "do," the Lord speaks as if to say: "Behold, I leave you; do what you will; I do not hinder your intention, I restrain you no longer." For before this, the Lord had been holding back the malice of Judas, preserving for Himself the time of His death, which is why He also said: "No one takes My life from Me, but I lay it down of Myself" (John 10:18).
Jn. 13:28. But none of those reclining at table understood why He said this to him.
And "none of those reclining at the table understood." It is worthy of investigation why no one recognized this, when the Lord, in response to the question about the betrayer, said that it is the one to whom I shall give the morsel. Evidently, the Lord said this quietly to John alone, so that none of the others heard. Moreover, John, leaning on His breast, asks almost in His ear, so that the betrayer was not revealed. For otherwise Peter would perhaps have drawn his sword and killed him. Did not even John understand this? Indeed, even he did not, for he did not expect that a disciple would be capable of such lawlessness. With his holy soul, being far removed from such malice, he did not suppose it easy for another either.
Jn. 13:29. 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.
So no one understood the words "do what you do quickly," but they thought that the Lord was commanding Judas to buy something for the feast or to give something to the poor. For He cared greatly for the poor, and although He urged the others to have neither bag nor money, He Himself allowed a money box to be carried with Him, showing thereby that even one who is without possessions and has been crucified to the world must have great concern for this class of people — the poor.
Jn. 13:30. He, having received the morsel, immediately went out; and it was night.
"It was night when he went out." The Evangelist did not note without purpose that "it was night," but in order to teach us that not even the time hindered Judas, but even at night he was occupied with treachery.
It seems to me that Judas went out at the fifth hour of the evening, when Satan also entered into him. For at the fourth hour Satan attacked Judas, namely: when the woman mentioned by the Evangelist Matthew (Matt. 26:6–16) poured out the myrrh, and Judas went and made an agreement with the Jews concerning the betrayal. But at the fifth hour of the evening Satan entered into Judas, that is, he took possession of his heart. For it is one thing to strike someone with the hand from the outside, and another to plunge a sword into him and pierce his inward parts.
Judas "went out" from the Savior both physically and mentally. "It was night," perhaps also a mental night, that is, the darkness of avarice that had enveloped him.
Jn. 13:31. When he had gone out, Jesus said: Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him.
Since the thoughts of the disciples had fallen, the Lord raises them up, saying "now the Son of Man is glorified." He persuades them not to grieve, but rather to rejoice. For the sufferings and the bestowing of honor upon people through dishonor constitute His glory.
And in another way: He was glorified through the miracles that occurred at the Cross, namely: when the sun was darkened, the stones were split, the veil was torn, and all the other signs took place.
Jn. 13:32. If God has been glorified in Him, then God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will soon glorify Him.
What does it mean that God will glorify the Son "in Himself"? It means that He will glorify Him through Himself, not through another, not through angels and archangels, not through another power, but through Himself, for He did all things for the glory of the Son.
"Soon He will glorify Him," that is, He will not delay, but will glorify Him on the very cross, then after three days will raise Him, and after forty days will send down upon the disciples the grace of the Spirit.
Let us also consider the purpose of these words. "Now the Son of Man is glorified," that is, I who teach and perform miracles; and the glory did not stop with Me, but ascended to God and the Father. And since My glory becomes the glory of the Father, do not grieve. For the Father will again glorify Me, so that He too may be glorified. For I do not claim glory for Myself, and does it not ascend to Him? Yes, the glory is common to Us. Therefore He will again glorify Me, and will not delay, but soon, when I shall endure dishonorable sufferings, when, apparently, I shall be taken from among the living through death, then He will honor Me all the more, then through the resurrection He will glorify Me.
Jn. 13:33. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek Me, and, as I said to the Jews, where I go you cannot come, so now I say to you.
Since they were about to undergo afflictions, the Lord foretells them about this, so that they would remember the afflictions and prepare themselves for them. This also serves to His glory. For announcing to the disciples beforehand what would happen to them was no small glory for Him, when the disciples later recalled that the Lord had foretold them about this. And showing that not only now, for the first time, does He learn of it, but that He knew long before that in trials they would seek Him, He says that He, as one who foreknew long in advance, said this very thing to the Jews as well.
By the words "where I go," the Lord shows that His death is a passage and departure to a better place, where perishable bodies are not received. To the Jews He said: "You will seek Me, and where I go, you cannot come" (John 7:34), in order to strike fear into them, but to the disciples He says it in order to kindle love in them. For when we see one of our friends departing, we are usually inflamed with a more fervent love for him, especially if he is going where it is impossible for us to come. So He says this to them in order to kindle love in them. For this reason He also added "little children," so that they would not think He said this to them from the same disposition as to the Jews, but from love. The Jews sought the Lord when their city was taken and the wrath of God rushed upon them from every side, as Josephus also testifies that this befell them for the killing of Jesus. The disciples, however, sought Him when they were fleeing or experiencing other affliction. Therefore in another place He also says: "The bridegroom will be taken away, and then the friends of the bridegroom will fast" (Matt. 9:15).
So, the Lord foretells the future to both groups, but to the one — on account of unbelief, and to the other — on account of love, so that they would not be subjected to unexpected calamities.
Jn. 13:34. A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, so also ye love one another.
Since they, having heard this, could naturally become troubled, as people who would be left without help, He comforts them, saying: "Do not grieve, I give you a strong guardian – love; if you have it, then, strengthened by one another, you will be invincible."