Lent 2025 Day 25: Wed 2 Apr
Matthew 26:20-25
20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.’
22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, ‘Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?’
23 Jesus replied, ‘The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.’
25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, ‘Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?’
Jesus answered, ‘You have said so.’
The Gospel writers display variations in the Last Supper narrative, and John’s Gospel is the most extended, though Judas has left early on in John’s narrative. Matthew, Mark and Luke all share this moment of shock amongst the disciples when Jesus reveals that he’s about to be betrayed. Imminently. There was one present who may not have been saddened by this news. Jesus had talked to his disciples about his impending death, but he hadn’t intimated that he’d be betrayed by one from this close circle!
Jesus does not name Judas, but the person who had dipped his hand into the bowl with Jesus is the one. There are slight variations in the three accounts. In this passage we have a sense of the severity of Judas’ betrayal from what Jesus warns – the one who has betrayed him has embarked upon something so awful, so significant, that it would have been better were he not born at all. Judas’ life has counted as less than nothing.
This disciple may have feigned his sadness. Jesus responds simply to him. “Surely not me, Rabbi?” “You have said so.”
Is it possible that Jesus only now knows who his betrayer is?
Would it have been for Judas had he not been born?
Father God, Jesus knew that following this Passover meal he’d be arrested, yet he washed feet, ate a meal with friends and instituted the Eucharist. I pray for Christians across this world who live constantly in fear of arrest, that you will bless them and protect them as they seek to serve you in dangerous places. Amen.
1:35:22 Gebt mir meinen Jesum wieder! (Arie)
42. Aria B (Chorus II)
Give me my Jesus back!
See the money, the murderer's fee,
tossed at your feet by the
lost son!
43. Evangelist They held a council, however, and bought a potter's field with the money for the burial of pilgrims. Therefore this same field is called the Field of Blood to this very day. Thus was fulfilled what was spoken through the Prophet Jeremiah, who said: “They have taken thirty silver pieces, the price of him who was bought from the children of Israel, and have given them for a potter's field, as the Lord has commanded me.” Jesus, however, stood before the Governor; and the Governor questioned him and said:
Pilate Are you the King of the Jews?
Evangelist Jesus, however, said to him:
Jesus You say it.
Evangelist And to the accusations from the high priests and the elders he answered nothing. Then Pilate said to him:
Pilate Do you not hear how harshly they accuse you?
Evangelist And he answered him not even one word thus, to which even the Governor was greatly amazed.
Ends at 1:40:14
Paul