In pronouncing the woe upon Judas, Christ also had a purpose of mercy toward His disciples. He thus gave them the crowning evidence of His Messiahship. "I tell you before it come," He said, "that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I AM." Had Jesus remained silent, in apparent ignorance of what was to come upon Him, the disciples might have thought that their Master had not divine foresight, and had been surprised and betrayed into the hands of the murderous mob. A year before, Jesus had told the disciples that He had chosen twelve, and that one was a devil. Now His words to Judas, showing that his treachery was fully known to his Master, would strengthen the faith of Christ's true followers during His humiliation. And when Judas should have come to his dreadful end, they would remember the woe that Jesus had pronounced upon the betrayer.

Ved at udsige veklagen over Judas havde Kristus også en barmhjertig hensigt over for sine disciple. Han gav dem på denne måde det højeste bevis på, at han var Messias. "Jeg siger jer det allerede nu, før det sker, for at I, når det er sket, skal tro, at jeg er den, jeg er." Hvis Jesus havde forholdt sig tavs, i tilsyneladende uvidenhed om, hvad der skulle ramme ham, kunne disciplene have troet, at deres Mester ikke havde guddommelig forudviden, og at han var blevet overrasket og forrådt i hænderne på den mordlystne hob. Et år tidligere havde Jesus sagt til disciplene, at han havde udvalgt tolv, og at én af dem var en djævel. Nu ville hans ord til Judas, som viste, at dennes forræderi fuldtud var kendt af hans Mester, styrke troen hos Kristi sande efterfølgere under hans ydmygelse. Og når Judas var nået til sit skrækkelige endeligt, ville de mindes det veråb, som Jesus havde udtalt over forræderen.