When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the twelve disciples. While they were eating, He said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray Me."
Mark 14:17-18 NLT;
In the evening Jesus arrived with the twelve disciples. As they were at the table eating, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, one of you eating with Me here will betray Me."
Luke 22:21 NLT;
"But here at this table, sitting among us, as a friend, is the man who will betray Me."
John 13:21 NLT;
Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and He exclaimed, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray Me."
1 Corinthians 11:23 NLT;
For I pass on to you what I have received from the Lord Himself. On the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then He broke it in pieces and said, "This is My body, which is given for you. Do this to remember Me." In the same way, He took the cup of wine after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant between God and His people - an agreement confirmed with My blood. Do this to remember Me as often as you drink it."
These verses have been running through my mind all week. God has put them in my thoughts for some particular reason and I must conclude that reason is to write what is on my mind and in my heart about this.
While all these verses are describing a moment with Jesus there is one particular part that overwhelms me in a big way. That part is best said in the 1 Corinthians verse,
"ON THE NIGHT WHEN HE WAS BETRAYED...."
Think about that for a moment! Jesus knew what was about to happen. He knew what He was going to endure and He knew He was going to die. He knew it all. YET! Even though one of His closest companions, a person He poured His life, heart, and teachings into was about to betray Him. Even though this person would soon betray Him, Jesus would willingly surrender His life for him.
On the very night Jesus would be (as we say) "stabbed in the back" by a friend, He shared one last meal with them. Jesus took the time and exhibited one of the most momentous moments of mercy and grace ever.
First, Jesus gave thanks for the bread. I paused at those few words and pondered them. Jesus was giving thanks for the bread. The bread was His body being given as a sacrifice for us. Could it be Jesus was giving thanks that He had been given that body? Could He be grateful He was in human form in such a way that His body could be given as a sacrifice for all of us? Can you imagine his words, "Father, thank you for this body so that I can give it in death for the sins of all mankind." Wow!
Jesus went on and broke the bread with them and told them they should always remember the night He gave His body as a sacrifice for them. They should break bread in the same manner and forever relive that moment. Have you ever been on a great vacation? Have you ever had a love for a person and forever think of the moment you met? In the original text, "remember" was meant more as "relive." You know how you relive those special moments? You run them over and over in your mind. You hear the words, feel the feelings, and smell the fragrances around you. When they broke bread in that way, they were told to relive the last moments with Jesus in that room.
He then took the cup of wine and told them He would give His blood as confirmation of the new agreement between God and man. Through Christ's sacrifice God established terms that would give mankind the opportunity to be saved of their sins through faith in Jesus. Jesus willingly allowed Himself to be betrayed and killed so that He would rise from the dead three days later so that you, me, and everyone would have the gift of salvation available to them.
Jesus did not give up on the twelve. He did not blast Judas. He did not stomp off muttering horrible things under His breath. Knowing what was to come, Jesus still explained what He offered by His sacrifice and asked them to remember Him when they took the bread and the cup. I believe, if they did it at no other time, surely they would remember that night on every Passover.
All of that caused me to look hard at Jesus and how He handled betrayal. He did not get even, He showed mercy. He did not cut them off for life, He moved in grace. We are taught to be the hands and feet of Christ. We are taught to emulate Him during our walk on earth.
Jesus' example might encourage us to react differently to a betrayal or hurt at the hand of another. The betrayal of Christ led to His death while our betrayal might hurt our feelings or embarrass us. There is no comparison. Consider Jesus' last meal with eleven who loved and supported Him and one who betrayed Him.
Consider offering forgiveness to one who may have betrayed you or hurt you deeply. On the other hand, it may be you who hurt another by betraying a confidence or friendship. Maybe in light of Christs' response to betrayal, you might seek to be forgiven.
In times of betrayal, let us walk in mercy and grace, forgiving those who have hurt us just as Jesus Christ has brought us forgiveness by His amazing sacrifice. Let us sacrifice pride and the belief that we "have the right" to be unforgiving. Let us forgive as we have been forgiven.
May God bless each and every one of you with a tender heart and the courage to forgive.