The answer is: A piece of bread dipped in the dish

John 13:26

In the dramatic scene from John 13, Jesus dips a piece of bread and hands it to Judas Iscariot, who was within earshot during the Last Supper. This moment is deeply laden with meaning! To share bread in the culture of the times was a sign of friendship and intimacy—an invitation to join as one. So, when Judas accepts this act of closeness moments before the betrayal, it adds layers of tragedy and complexity to the narrative.

Interestingly, Jesus' use of bread might echo back to an earlier incident in the Gospels with the feeding of the 5,000. In that instance, bread symbolized abundance and divine provision. It seems almost surreal that the very sustenance that once brought people together, symbolizing hope and community, could turn into a tool for betrayal.

Moreover, Judas's fate often colors discussions in Catholicism and Protestant doctrines; however, outside strict doctrines, one might consider his role as emblematic of human flaws and the realities of moral choices. His act even leads us to contemplate the nature of free will—did Judas have the choice in those final moments? Meanwhile, through the very act of sharing bread, we uncover a part of Jesus’ essence—his perspective of love and acceptance, even for those who would frustrate his mission. That's a reminder that all of us are capable of both betrayal and redemption, woven into the complex human tapestry!