What Jesus Did! 'BETRAYAL!' — Matthew 26:17-21

It's such an ugly word. It's such an ugly action. BETRAYAL! Betrayal and rebellion against Jesus by one of his very own. We've heard hints and warnings, but now Jesus makes it clear during the celebration of Israel's great deliverance from Egypt. He will be handed over to the enemy by one of his most trusted and closest friends.

Jesus' warning that "one of you will betray me" stands in such stark contrast to the phrase "the disciples did as Jesus told them."

Disciples, dedicated followers, do what their master tells them to do. They don't go sell him out for a few coins — or for many coins. They surely don't have the audacity to share in the most intimate and private moments of worship and leave to go betray him (John 13:21, 25-27). But this is precisely Jesus' point. One of his very own will sell him out. In the very moment of joy, Jesus reminds them (and us as well) that we can find it easy to play the game and then leave the room and become someone very different, someone despicable. It's a lot to think about. On this night, the disciples will do just that! When we take the Lord's Supper, it would be good for us to remind ourselves not to become someone different when we leave!