And while they were eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you that one of you will betray me.”
These words are a revelation spoken in deep silence. While the disciples were seated around the table in the sign of peace and unity, Jesus’ words shake their hearts. The Lord, as the all-knowing One, reveals what was still hidden from human sight. The phrase “Truly I tell you” underscores the unbreakable truth of his word: this is not a supposition, but an unavoidable reality. Jesus knew the betrayer’s name, yet instead of exposing him, he speaks in a general way, giving everyone an opportunity for self-examination and repentance. His word is not a sentence of condemnation, but a final call of mercy, perhaps hoping that the betrayer might repent before the moment of action. This episode also shows the Lord’s boundless patience: he sits at the same table with the one who desires to betray him, shares the bread, and continues to love him. Christ’s words also remind us that outward closeness to the Lord does not yet mean spiritual faithfulness, and that a person must continually examine his heart, whether he truly remains faithful to the Lord.