Judas obeyed Jesus" command ( John 13:27) and left the upper room immediately. He missed most of the meal including the institution of the Lord"s Supper. John"s reference to it being night would be redundant if all he wanted to do was give a time reference. In view of his light and darkness motif, it seems that he wanted to point out the spiritual significance of Judas" departure both for Judas and for Jesus (cf. Luke 22:53; John 1:4-5; et al.). [source][source][source]
"As the Light of the world was about to depart and return to the Father, the darkness had come at last (cf. Luke 22:53). Again the contrast in imagery is clear. For John , Jesus is the Light of the world, and those who believe in Him come to the light and walk in the light. At the opposite extreme is Judas Iscariot, who rejected Jesus, cast in his lot with the powers of darkness, departed into the darkness, and was swallowed up by it." [1][source]
"Judas was enveloped in an unilluminated night, never to be relieved. He was on the way to his own place ( Acts 1:25)." [2][source]
Context Summary
John 13:21-30 - Kindness To The Traitor
In the circle of the Twelve, Judas represented the carnal idea of the Messiah, which was directly opposed to the spirit just manifested in the washing of their feet. If he would not humble himself and renounce that spirit, Judas must depart; and a great sense of relief must have been experienced by our Lord, and to an extent by them all.
The people of the East lay rather than sat at table, each guest having his left arm on a cushion, so as to support the head, the right being at liberty for eating. Thus the head of each was near the breast of his companion on the left. Such was the place of John with regard to the Master at the Last Supper, and it was easy to whisper the inquiry of John 13:25. In the course of the Paschal meal, the father would offer to the guests pieces of bread dipped in a sauce of fruit, representing the fruits of the Promised Land. It was a sign of special attention, and was one more appeal to the conscience of Judas. He might yet have found pardon. But John saw, as his attention was attracted to him, a change pass over his features, which indicated that the traitor had finally cast the wavering balance on the side of Satan. [source]
Chapter Summary: John 13
1Jesus washes the disciples' feet, and exhorts them to humility and charity 18He foretells and discovers to John by a token, that Judas should betray him; 31commands them to love one another; 36and forewarns Peter of his denials
Greek Commentary for John 13:30
Having received the sop [λαβων το πσωμιον] Second aorist active participle of λαμβανω lambanō Judas knew what Jesus meant, however ignorant the disciples. So he acted “straightway” And it was night Darkness falls suddenly in the orient. Out into the terror and the mystery of this dreadful night (symbol of his devilish work) Judas went. [source]
John 14:22Not Iscariot [ουχ ο Ισκαριωτης] Judas Iscariot had gone (John 13:30), but John is anxious to make it clear that this Judas (common name, two apostles also named James) was not the infamous traitor. He is also called Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus (Mark 3:17; Matthew 10:3) and the brother (or son) of James (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13). This is the fourth interruption of the talk of Jesus (by Peter, John 13:36; by Thomas, John 14:5; by Philip, John 14:8; by Judas, John 14:22). And not to the world Judas caught at the word εμπανιζω emphanizō in John 14:21 as perhaps a Messianic theophany visible to all the world as at the judgment (John 5:27.). He seems to suspect a change of plan on the part of Jesus (τι γεγονεν οτι ti gegonen hoti = how has it happened that). [source]
What do the individual words in John 13:30 mean?
Having receivedthereforethemorselhewent outimmediatelyit wasnownight
Greek Commentary for John 13:30
Second aorist active participle of λαμβανω lambanō Judas knew what Jesus meant, however ignorant the disciples. So he acted “straightway” And it was night Darkness falls suddenly in the orient. Out into the terror and the mystery of this dreadful night (symbol of his devilish work) Judas went. [source]
See on John 13:27. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 13:30
Judas Iscariot had gone (John 13:30), but John is anxious to make it clear that this Judas (common name, two apostles also named James) was not the infamous traitor. He is also called Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus (Mark 3:17; Matthew 10:3) and the brother (or son) of James (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13). This is the fourth interruption of the talk of Jesus (by Peter, John 13:36; by Thomas, John 14:5; by Philip, John 14:8; by Judas, John 14:22). And not to the world Judas caught at the word εμπανιζω emphanizō in John 14:21 as perhaps a Messianic theophany visible to all the world as at the judgment (John 5:27.). He seems to suspect a change of plan on the part of Jesus (τι γεγονεν οτι ti gegonen hoti = how has it happened that). [source]