He Knows My Betrayal
Scripture Reading: Matthew 26:17-30
Meditation
The time of treachery is near.
In a few hours Jesus will be betrayed into the hands of sinful men. A cabal of religious leaders will deride and persecute him. They will prosecute him with a mock trial and render a contrived verdict of blasphemy. Then they will march him to Pilate and demand that Jesus be sentenced to a criminal’s death—crucifixion.
That all of this is to happen is no surprise.
The Scripture has made it clear. The Lamb of God will be sacrificed. At the cross, the angel of death will pass over the transgressions of the world so that an eternal Exodus might occur: freedom from sin; a passage through death; and a release from the bondage of the Devil. The redemptive path is well marked by Scripture. But how it is to happen is a shock. One of the Twelve will turn traitor to the Son of Man.
Tonight the set purpose of the Father will cross paths with the promptings of an evil heart. The Father’s predetermined plan will join ranks with the premeditated kiss of Judas and lead the Passover Lamb to the slaughter. But before the angel of death comes to the cross, Jesus must eat the Passover meal with his disciples, Judas included.
While still outside of Jerusalem, Jesus orders two of his disciples to go ahead into the city. When they go, they find, just as Jesus had said, a certain man who was more than willing to provide his house for the Feast. Once the room is secured, the two make all of the preparations for the Passover meal. They take a spotless lamb to the temple to be sacrificed by the priest. On their way back, they purchase bread, bitter herbs, and wine. They roast the lamb and set the table. By evening, everything is ready for the Master.
As the sun sets, Jesus arrives with the rest of the disciples. The Twelve take their places around the table and Jesus sits down last, next to Judas. He treats Judas as his brother even though he knows that, after the bread has been broken and the cup has been passed, Judas will get up from the table of fellowship and leave the family of God forever. Soon he’ll run away from the embrace of his Master and run toward the open arms of the conspirators, straight into the Devil’s clasp.
Betrayal is always an inside job. It can only come at the hand of a friend. This foreknowledge pains Jesus. Such treachery is anticipated among enemies. But when the attack comes from within the ranks, at close range, it’s unbearable—grief upon grief.
Beyond the murderous depths of the deed is the reality that Judas’ chosen path will lead to two deaths: his and the Son of Man’s.
Jesus is overwhelmed with sorrow. As its weight tries to crush the life out of him, he turns to his disciples during the meal, silences their table talk, and says,
“I have something hard but important to say to you: One of you is going to hand me over to the conspirators.”
They were stunned, and then began to ask, one after another, “It isn’t me, is it, Master?”
Jesus answered, “The one who hands me over is someone I eat with daily, one who passes me food at the table. In one sense the Son of Man is entering into a way of treachery well-marked by the Scriptures—no surprises here. In another sense that man who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man—better never to have been born than do this!”1
The disciples are stunned by this revelation. At first, the shock of such a statement numbs them. But then fear mixes with confusion and the two begin to pulse rapidly through their bodies.
Still dazed, each of them begins to ask Jesus if he’s the one who will turn traitor. Playing the charade, Judas turns to Jesus and asks with a straight face,
“It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?”
Jesus said, “Don’t play games with me, Judas.”2
Then he dipped the crust and gave it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. As soon as the bread was in his hand, Satan entered him.
“What you must do,” said Jesus, “do. Do it and get it over with.”3
No more pretenses. No more masquerade. It’s time for the real Judas to take off his mask and reveal his true intentions. Whatever he has purposed in his heart to do, Jesus tells him to do quickly. Eternity has been waiting for this moment. The cross is ready. Salvation is near. The appointed time has come. The Son of Man and the son of perdition must both play their parts.
With the thirty pieces of silver clanking in his purse, Judas leaves the Master’s table. He now belongs to another—Satan. He has become hell’s agent not by divine destiny but by his own rebellion. So dreadful is his decision that it would have been better if he hadn’t been born.
While Jesus leaves the house and goes to the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas heads for the chief priest. He’s going to make good on the blood money advanced to him. He’ll lead them to the Son of Man, as promised, and deliver him with a prearranged signal. One last time he’ll mask his deceit and betray his Master with a serpent’s kiss.
“The one I kiss, that’s the one—seize him.” He went straight to Jesus, greeted him, “How are you, Rabbi?” and kissed him. 4
Reflection
When was the last time Jesus stunned you by saying something hard but important?
What does it feel like to be betrayed? Why is it that only a friend can betray a friend?
In what ways have you sold Jesus out? What was your price?
Is there any deceit in your relationship with Christ? In what ways has Jesus said to you: “Don’t play games with me.”?
Prayer
Father,
I wear many masks in my relationship with your Son. I masquerade as one of his followers and yet—too many times—my heart is far from him. There have been times when I have sold him out for far less than thirty pieces of silver. Like Judas, I have kissed his face only to stab him in the back.
During this day, don’t let me go the way of Judas. Soften my heart. Break my will. Do whatever you need to do to save me from myself. When I am bent on betrayal, may your Son stun me with his grace. Even when I am about to turn him over with a kiss, may he still call me “friend”. Assure me that the road to perdition is not divinely destined but rather paved by the steps of human rebellion. Remind me that the offer of eternal fellowship at your table comes to me through the sacrifice of your Son. Today, as I reflect on the sacrifice of Christ, may I receive his kiss from the cross.
It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
1Matthew 26:21-24 2Matthew 26:25 3John 13:26-27
4Matthew 26:48-50
All Scripture references in the meditation are marked by italics and are taken from the Gospel reading for the day. Those verses quoted outside of the chosen reading for the day are noted. All Scripture quoted in this post is taken from THE MESSAGE: Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001 & 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.