ListenDaily - 09 April 2009; The week that Jesus died: Thursday
The Thursdaybefore He died...
"When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God."
After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him." Luke 22:14-22 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
How did Jesus spend His final week on Earth? On this day, many things took place; He washed the disciple's feet, served the Last Supper, prayed at Gethsemane, predicted Peter's denial. This, one day, could be an entire study, which we may come back to. Today, however, we will focus on Judas' betrayal.
We know that when Jesus referred to "him who is going to betray me" that He meant Judas. Much has been made of this man Judas. Just a few years ago, came the so-called 'Gospel of Judas', saying that he and Jesus had a secret understanding. Last year the news magazines ran an article that portrayed him as a terrorist, bent on removing Roman rule from Israel, and conspiring with Jesus to do so. I've heard many teachers say that Judas was simply trying to force Jesus' hand, in an effort to speed up Jesus' takeover as King.
If Judas' actions were sanctioned by God, why would Jesus say "woe to that man who betrays him"? And let us not forget John 12:4-6; "But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." "He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it."
No, Judas was not a good man, he was a thief. Many would say that the thirty pieces of silver would not have been enough to persuade him...but he was a thief!
Brothers and sisters, the church today is much like this band of disciples. There are rash, unthinking people. There are those who doubt. And there are thieves...those who would betray Him for next to nothing.
Worse yet, is when we see these traits in ourselves! Have we ever betrayed Him for thirty pieces of silver...or less? How about for a dirty joke? For a juicy piece of gossip? For how little have we turned our back on Him and provided one more nail for His cross?
This season of Easter, now nearly over, let us look at our motives and actions, as if we were leaving Jesus' table to commit them.
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Questions:
1. What do you think of this passage?
2. Why do you think the world pursues justification for Judas so desperately?
3. How do you feel as you move toward the day of His death?
May we seek God by not betraying Him. Jim
"Do not think me mad.
It is not to make money that
I believe a Christian should live.
The noblest thing a man can do is,
just humbly to receive,
and then go amongst others and give."
David Livingstone
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