Mark14:17-21

Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me – one who is eating with me.”

Have you ever encountered a situation in which someone says, “One of you… ?” Maybe it was, “One of you really hurt my feelings,” or “One of you will be chosen,” or again, “One of you has to clean up the mess the others made.” How would that make you feel? Betrayed? “Why me?” “Why not me?” “That’s not fair!”

Jesus, in talking with his disciples, told them that one of them was going to betray him. And that person was going to sit and eat with him. Can you imagine how these followers of Jesus felt? They couldn’t imagine anyone in their intimate group ever intentionally betraying Jesus – their mentor, teacher, dear friend, and Lord.

Jesus got more specific: “One who dips bread into the bowl with me” will betray me. In this Passover setting, normally only those who loved Jesus would eat at the same table. Yet the betrayer Judas did, and he already knew he was going to betray his Lord.

God’s Word says: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). All of us! We who are created in the image of God. We have betrayed the Lord Jesus in words, deeds, and thoughts every day. God’s Word in 1 Corinthians 15:57 is our everlasting hope and promise for those who trust in Jesus alone for salvation: “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Lord, thank You for forgiving us for Jesus’ sake. Thank You for loving us so much that You went the way of Calvary to pay for what we deserved. May we, Your redeemed, be loving, forgiving, caring, and compassionate as we encounter those who still need to know and confess You as their Lord and Savior. Amen.

Contributed by Ron Merritt