Matthew 26
20 When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the Twelve. 21 While they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”
22 Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one, Lord?”
23 He replied, “One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with me will betray me. 24 For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!”
25 Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, “Rabbi, am I the one?”
And Jesus told him, “You have said it.”
How sad it is that after asking and having an answer, Judas went out and did it anyway. He betrayed his teacher. He has eaten from the same bowl with his master at the same table. He has been warned that how terrible it will be for the one who betrays the Son of Man. He has been told it would be far better for the traitor if he had never been born!
But Judas did it anyway. He sold Jesus to the people who wanted to kill him. He went to them and asked how much they would pay him. Judas betrayed Jesus after he had his feet washed by the one he betrayed. He asked and he knew Jesus knew he would betray him.
Nothing Jesus did or said did anything to change Judas’ mind. He asked Jesus along with the other disciples if he was the one. Yes, he was.
To ponder:
How often do I know the wrong that I am about to do and I do it anyway? How many times was I aware that saying something I should not have said would grieve my Saviour? Why did I say it anyway? Why did I do the things that cause hurt and pain to my neighbour?
More often than not, it was because I gave in to my ego – my self-interest, self-preservation, self-sufficiency. This self-centredness is inherent in human fallen nature. Only by the grace of God and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit can I overcome this self – to be more like Jesus, to be holy as God is holy.
