Matthew 26:17-30
Jesus eats the Passover meal with his disciples and establishes a tradition believers have been observing ever since.
Judas Iscariot was one of the original twelve apostles. He
is known for his kiss, betrayal of Jesus Christ and thirty pieces of silver.
His name is often synonymous with betrayal and treason. When reading these few
verses it is such a mystery to me. Jesus identifies his betrayer. He knows…he
has always known. I long to be there to witness the nuances between the
players…the whispered words, the eyes locking with knowing glances…the enormity
of a dipped bread. When we visualize the crucifixion we focus most of the time
on the brutal treatment of our Lord’s body. We wince at the whips, we cringe
with the crush of a thorny crown and we can hardly even imagine the ringing of
the hammer on the nails that pierce our Lord’s flesh.
I wonder…I really wonder if the betrayal of someone you love
is as equally or more painful than fleshly wounds. To love and trust someone
that completely throws you away for greed or temporary pleasure. Here is a man
that has loved and lived with Jesus for three years. He had heard the sermons.
He had eaten meals with God. He had shared joys and tears. Judas watched in awe
the miracles…watched Jesus raise the dead! Even still his heart was overcome by
selfishness and greed. A forever love, an eternal home with God…thrown away for
thirty pieces of silver. I can’t imagine…
I can’t imagine what he must have been thinking? I wonder if
he just thought it wouldn’t go that far. Maybe he just couldn’t imagine that
they would actually kill Jesus…because after all he had not really done
anything to be worthy of a death sentence. Maybe he thought that Jesus would
show them all and do something spectacular and all would be well. I just
wonder. Some scholars say that Jesus asked Judas to sacrifice himself so that
the scriptures would be fulfilled. But somehow that doesn’t match the words of
Jesus when he says, “But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would
be better for him if he had not been born.” Jesus called it a betrayal.
Finally, the kiss…the betrayal kiss…loosed a chain of events
that would change the world forever. Judas…the betrayer became Judas the
broken. He could not live with himself.
I am incensed. What kind of character does such a thing? But
then…I gasp. Do I betray him when I hold on tight to my own money or things? Am
I so weak that I might avoid a “holy” conversation? Am I so clean? Do I betray
my Lord daily when I put Him last instead of first? It drops me to my knees.
Father, forgive me. Forgive me when I am so arrogant to
believe that I could not fall. Shore up my faith. Help me to dress each morning
in the armor of God to shield my heart against the deception of the devil.
Create in me a clean heart, one that loves the Lord my God with all my soul.
Help me to be generous with my love and
stingy with my judgment of others.
Father, thank you from our broken hearts…for coming and
living among us to teach us and show us how to love and live. We can’t wait to
be with you someday. Please, walk with us…until we can walk with you. In Jesus name, Amen
Becky Russell
**************************************
17 On 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?”
18 He 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.’ ” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus
had directed them and prepared the Passover.
20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with
the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of
you will betray me.”
22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the
other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”
23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the
bowl with me will betray me. 24 The 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.”
25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely
you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”
Jesus answered, “You have said so.”
26 While 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.”
27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave
it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the
covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I 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.”
30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of
Olives.
No comments:
Post a Comment