Betrayers

Mark 14:12–31

¹² And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” ¹³ And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, ¹⁴ and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ ¹⁵ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” ¹⁶ And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. ¹⁷ And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. ¹⁸ And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” ¹⁹ They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” ²⁰ He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. ²¹ For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” ²² And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” ²³ And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. ²⁴ And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. ²⁵ Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” ²⁶ And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. ²⁷ And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ ²⁸ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” ²⁹ Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” ³⁰ And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” ³¹ But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.

The events of The Passion are now reported almost as if you’re reading them in a newspaper – just the facts. Jesus tells His disciples what is about to happen and everything unfolds just as He predicts, including the betrayal by Judas and even Peter. Because this event is (of course) reported by the other Gospel writers, we have a few extra details that Mark does not include. Luke tells us that it is Peter and John who went and prepared the Passover meal and that Judas was present for the institution of the Lord’s Supper. John tells us that Judas is present when Jesus washes the disciples’ feet. All of this inclusion tells me that Judas could have turned back from his betrayal at any moment along the way, but chooses to move forward with his evil plan.

The psalms prophesy Jesus betrayal a thousand years before it happens as well.

Psalm 41:9

Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.

Though Scripture was being fulfilled, that did not excuse Judas. God would hold him responsible for his actions. Judas at that moment could have refused the sop Jesus handed him and could have repented, but he did not. Instead Satan found room in his heart, and Judas left the room filled with rage and a determination to betray Jesus into the hands of the chief priests.

Wicke, H. E. ©1988. Mark (p. 200). Milwaukee, WI: Northwestern Pub. House.

Peter and Judas represent both sides of the sin spectrum. Judas refuses to repent and is thus subject to his decision. Peter weeps bitterly over his sin and is restored to Jesus side on the shores of a lake after the resurrection (John 20).

These two men have been held up over the centuries for their opposite responses to the grace and mercy of God. We hold Judas up as one to be pitied and Peter as one to be emulated and we do that because that is the way they are presented in Scripture. May we always remember that Jesus’ grace is ours and His forgiveness is readily available to all – even those who appear to be unredeemable. That’s never the case unless the sinner chooses it.