14Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
17On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
18He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’ ” 19So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
20When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”
22They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”
23Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
25Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”
Jesus answered, “You have said so.”
26While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
27Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28This is my blood of theb covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
30When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
31Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:
“ ‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’c
32But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
33Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”
34“Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”
35But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.
Thoughts: The Gospel of John (12) says that Judas objected to Jesus' being anointed so extravagantly. Perhaps that is why he betrayed him. Some say Judas wanted to force Jesus' hand to cause a rebellion because he was Judas was a zealot.
It is a bit ironic that Jesus knew he would be betrayed by Judas yet he still gave him the holy supper (20-23). Jesus predicted at the Supper He would not only die, but he would be betrayed. At that time, the disciples were more worried about the betrayal than their lord being arrested or killed. Jesus also predicted Peter would deny him.
This is another example of Jesus turning the other cheek even to the one who would betray him. He loves us while we are yet (still) sinners. He still loved Peter and called him back. He still loved those who ran away. They all repented. Judas never repented, he only had deep remorse, regret, and despised Jesus. Jesus never forced his love on anyone. But He offers His love to everyone (as he offered the supper to Judas). Judas rejected and despised it- even betraying Jesus with a fake kiss- a fake sign of love. That was his woe. His faith and trust was fake and meaningless. As C.S. Lewis said, the doors to hell are locked from the inside out. Judas locks his own door to Jesus' love. Let us always come back to Him in humility and repentance.
It is a bit ironic that Jesus knew he would be betrayed by Judas yet he still gave him the holy supper (20-23). Jesus predicted at the Supper He would not only die, but he would be betrayed. At that time, the disciples were more worried about the betrayal than their lord being arrested or killed. Jesus also predicted Peter would deny him.
This is another example of Jesus turning the other cheek even to the one who would betray him. He loves us while we are yet (still) sinners. He still loved Peter and called him back. He still loved those who ran away. They all repented. Judas never repented, he only had deep remorse, regret, and despised Jesus. Jesus never forced his love on anyone. But He offers His love to everyone (as he offered the supper to Judas). Judas rejected and despised it- even betraying Jesus with a fake kiss- a fake sign of love. That was his woe. His faith and trust was fake and meaningless. As C.S. Lewis said, the doors to hell are locked from the inside out. Judas locks his own door to Jesus' love. Let us always come back to Him in humility and repentance.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your love for me. Help me, when friends abandon me, to follow your example of kindness and love.
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