Our scripture this morning is Matthew 26:21-24.
While they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.”
Jesus and His closest followers gather to celebrate the Passover, a remembrance of God’s saving power when the children of Israel escaped from Egypt. During this meal Jesus institutes the Last Supper as a way to remember His sacrifice for us. Then He stuns them with the words “one of you will betray me.”
“Surely not I, Lord?” the disciples ask. While in this specific moment Jesus knows Judas is the betrayer, He is speaking to us as well. Sadly, we all fail Him just as they did, shrinking and scattering before the fear of human reprisal. We may not face the physical threat they feared but we worry about “what people will think” and are as spiritually paralyzed as the disciples were following His statement.
Afterward there was failure – most of the disciples run away from the Roman cohort in the garden. John follows the Lord to the High Priest’s house, and Peter tags along but when questioned he denies even knowing Jesus. There were many failures that night and through the rest of history, but there was also forgiveness. Christ’s cry from the cross “Father, forgive them” was not just for His executioners but all of us.
Loving Lord, we are ashamed of our fear and failure and how we have deserted You. Forgive us and make us strong in faith to tell the world the Good News of Your love for all. Amen.
