Betrayed

Mark 14
And he answered and said unto them, "It is one of the twelve, that
dippeth with me in the dish."   Mark 14:20

LET IT GLOW

Places can have a special significance for us. Often, I recall the many times
I sat on a stool in Mom's kitchen, sharing what was going on in my life at the time.
Now I live in the same house and do the same thing with others. Such
precious memories.

The Upper Room-
It was a place provided by an unnamed man.
It was a place where Jesus washed His disciples' feet and instructed them
to do the same.
It was a place where the Lord's Supper was instituted. The bread represented
his body and the wine represented His blood that He would give as Himself
being the Passover Lamb.
It was where Jesus and His followers had their last meal together.
It was the place where Jesus' betrayer, Judas Iscariot, was identified.
It was the place where Jesus told His followers, the last time, that He would
rise and meet them in Galilee.

The time spent in the upper room must have been very precious to Jesus.
In the book of John, chapters 14-17, there are many things Jesus told
His disciples while there in this room. These will be discussed later.

Do I have rooms where Jesus has accessr, or are they shut off from
Him entering?


LET IT GROW

It hurts when a friend betrays your confidence, telling others what was a
secret between the two of you. Also, it hurts when a friend tells lies or
changes what you said. As bad as these occurrances  may hurt us, it does
not compare to the betrayal of Judas to Jesus.

In verse 10, we are told that Judas went, which was on purpose, to the high
priests in order to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted with Judas'
offer and promised to pay him money for it. Judas looked for the opportunity
to betray Jesus, turn Him in, so to speak.

Jesus tells the disciples that one of them would betray Him, as in verse 20.
Each one asked if it was himself. All along Jesus knew what was going to
happen. It didn't make any easier for Him.

Back in chapter 3 of Mark, Jesus  identified Judas as His betrayer (verse 19).
I wonder why Jesus appointed him as a disciple. Maybe He wanted Judas to
have first hand experiences witnessing the Savior's miracles and words. He
certainly had a chance to be faithful. Maybe it happened according to God's
will.

Jesus already knew about Judas' selling out for just thirty silver coins. How it
must have hurt to have a close follower betray Him. Satan entered Judas. I
suppose that the money was the temptation for Judas. He had been the
keeper of the  money bag for the group.
Later, Judas would be the one to take the Roman soldiers to where Jesus
was and identify Jesus to them for the arrest.
The rest of the story of Judas Iscariot is found in Matthew 27. What a fame-
to be forever known as the one who sold out the Savior.


LET IT GO

I, for one, do not want to betray my Savior.
I must keep money and Jesus in the right perspective.
I must daily stay in His Word, submit to His Spirit's leading, and obey Him in
all things. This is very hard, but mercy is available when I sin. Praise God!