It Was Night

"And it was night." Jn 13:30 The door closed behind Judas, and John wrote, "And it was night." To the city, it looked like any other Passover night- crowded streets, lamps burning inside homes, families lingering over the story. And it was night. When Judas took the dipped bread, Satan entered him- (Lu 22:3) and he walked into the night. (Jn 13:30) This was the hour when darkness moved unchecked- its shadows the cloak around him. Judas became the face Satan wore. And it was night. Something ancient moved with him. Something patient. Something that had waited for this door to open- like a serpent that had learned to wait in the tall grass. And in the shadows of Jerusalem, other forces were awake- allies of the same darkness. The Pharisees had finalized their plot. (Jn 11:53) The chief priests had secured their betrayer. (Mk 14:10-11) The Sanhedrin had prepared its false witnesses. (Mk 14:55-56) The temple guards were armed and ready- (Jn 18:3) each one moving in step with the kingdom of darkness. (Lu 22:53) And it was night. The city slept- through the darkness. But Satan and his minions did not sleep. The gate had opened, and the forces of darkness were entering the city- coordinated, confident, certain of their hour. And Jesus- still in the Upper Room, still speaking of love, still washing feet- knew exactly what was coming. He did not run. He did not hide. He did not call for help. He rose. And walked into the night.