Lent 2025 Day 19: Wed 26 Mar
Mark 3:13-19
13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons. 16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means ‘sons of thunder’), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Surely Father God knew the heart of Judas. As he gave to Jesus his confirmation of those to be selected he would have seen the seeds of destruction that were dormant in Judas Iscariot.
As to whether Jesus knew about Judas’ future betrayal will remain forever a matter of conjecture. It is important when we talk about Jesus to separate God the Word, Creator, from Jesus of Nazareth, the Word made flesh. We are told that in coming to us the Word emptied himself of all that would make him superhuman, for he had to become man, not superman. Although Jesus was God in Man, he still had to live like us, starting from lowly birth, childhood and instruction within family life before he’d even know who he was.
There are things that only Father God knows – Jesus confirmed that himself. Jesus would not need to spend long hours or nights in prayer if he knew everything. On that night he stayed in his Father’s presence and took instructions from him.
Jesus knew he’d be betrayed, but I’m not sure that he would have known when he formed the Twelve who it would be who’d set up his downfall. It may not have been too long before he knew, though what use is there in knowing?
How do you see Jesus in his earthly life?
What do you think he knew?
When did he know who would betray him? Did he figure it out, or was it revelation?
Father God, we know that we don’t know it all. I do not want to seek knowledge and wisdom for their own sake, but only to glorify You. I pray that You give me what I need to know, to understand, to say, to do as and when I need it.
1:13:34 Mir hat die Welt (Choral)
32. Chorale
The world has judged me deceitfully,
with lies and false statements,
many traps and secret snares.
Lord, perceive me truthfully
in this danger;
protect me from malicious falsehoods!
33. Evangelist And although many false witnesses came forward, they found none. Finally two false witnesses came forward and said:
Witnesses He has said: I can destroy the temple of God and in three days build it up again.
Evangelist And the high priest stood up and said to him:
High Priest Do you answer nothing to this, that they say against you?
Evangelist But Jesus was silent.
Ends at 1:15:31
Paul