Before the Passover Judas had met a second time with the priests and scribes, and had closed the contract to deliver Jesus into their hands. Yet he afterward mingled with the disciples as though innocent of any wrong, and interested in the work of preparing for the feast. The disciples knew nothing of the purpose of Judas. Jesus alone could read his secret. Yet He did not expose him. Jesus hungered for his soul. He felt for him such a burden as for Jerusalem when He wept over the doomed city. His heart was crying, How can I give thee up? The constraining power of that love was felt by Judas. When the Saviour's hands were bathing those soiled feet, and wiping them with the towel, the heart of Judas thrilled through and through with the impulse then and there to confess his sin. But he would not humble himself. He hardened his heart against repentance; and the old impulses, for the moment put aside, again controlled him. Judas was now offended at Christ's act in washing the feet of His disciples. If Jesus could so humble Himself, he thought, He could not be Israel's king. All hope of worldly honor in a temporal kingdom was destroyed. Judas was satisfied that there was nothing to be gained by following Christ. After seeing Him degrade Himself, as he thought, he was confirmed in his purpose to disown Him, and confess himself deceived. He was possessed by a demon, and he resolved to complete the work he had agreed to do in betraying his Lord.

Før påskehøjtiden havde Judas for anden gang været sammen med præsterne og de skriftkloge og havde sluttet en overenskomst med dem om at udlevere Jesus til dem. Dog blandede han sig derefter atter med disciplene, som om han var uskyldig i nogen uret og var interesseret i arbejdet med at berede festmåltidet. Disciplene kendte ikke noget til Judas hensigter. Kun Jesus kunne tyde hans hemmelighed. Men alligevel afslørede Jesus ham ikke. Han hungrede efter at vinde hans sjæl. Han følte en lige så stor byrde for ham som for Jerusalem, dengang han græd over den fortabte by. I hans hjerte lød dette råb: Hvordan kan jeg ofre dig. Judas mærkede denne kærligheds tvingende magt. Da Frelserens hænder badede disse smudsige fødder og tørrede dem med klædet, bævede Judas hjerte atter og atter af en trang til der på stedet at tilstå sin synd. Men han kunne ikke få sig selv til at ydmyge sig. Han forhærdede sin sjæl mod angeren, og de gamle tilskyndelser, der for en kort stund var visket bort, fik atter herredømmet over ham. Nu blev Judas krænket over, at Kristus vaskede disciplenes fødder. Hvis Jesus kunne ydmyge sig i den grad, kunne han ikke være Israels konge, tænkte han. Alt håb om verdslig ære i et timeligt rige var gået til grunde. Judas følte sig overbevist om, at der ikke var noget at vinde ved at følge Kristus. Da han først havde set ham nedværdige sig sådan opfattede han det blev han bestyrket i sin hensigt om at fornægte ham og indrømme, at han havde ladet sig føre bag lyset. Han var besat af en djævel, og han besluttede at fuldføre det værk, han havde indvilliget i, ved at forråde sin Herre.