(Matthew 26:17-75)
17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” 18 And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near; I am keeping the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’” 19 The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.
20 Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” 22 Being deeply grieved, they began saying to Him, each one: “Surely it is not I, Lord?” 23 And He answered, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. 24 The Son of Man is going away just as it is written about Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” 25 And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself.”
TODAY'S TAKEAWAY:
The Lord is sovereign! And that includes knowing exactly who already knows Him, who is going to want to know Him, and who will reject Him. Therefore, Jesus had always known that Judas Iscariot was going to betray Him. And Judas Iscariot knew full well that Jesus was talking about him. He had already struck up a deal with the Pharisees and established how much they would pay him to betray Jesus. It's hard to imagine how a person could be working and traveling along with Jesus, seeing amazing miracles each and every day, and still not choose to love Jesus and believe in Him. It really takes an insane amount of arrogance and pride to stand firm in one's selfish and self-centered ways.
20 Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” 22 Being deeply grieved, they began saying to Him, each one: “Surely it is not I, Lord?” 23 And He answered, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. 24 The Son of Man is going away just as it is written about Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” 25 And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself.”
TODAY'S TAKEAWAY:
The Lord is sovereign! And that includes knowing exactly who already knows Him, who is going to want to know Him, and who will reject Him. Therefore, Jesus had always known that Judas Iscariot was going to betray Him. And Judas Iscariot knew full well that Jesus was talking about him. He had already struck up a deal with the Pharisees and established how much they would pay him to betray Jesus. It's hard to imagine how a person could be working and traveling along with Jesus, seeing amazing miracles each and every day, and still not choose to love Jesus and believe in Him. It really takes an insane amount of arrogance and pride to stand firm in one's selfish and self-centered ways.
We can see that all the other disciples deeply loved the Lord, because they were deeply concerned that they would be the ones to betray Him. When we really love someone, the last thing we want to do is hurt them. Yet, we still do. If we are honest with ourselves, we know full well that we are absolutely capable of falling into any sin. I learned long ago to stop saying, "Well, I would NEVER do that..." This in itself is prideful.
While it is not a sin to be tempted, it is a sin to succumb to the temptation. And it would also be a sin to start obsessing about it, which is to lust and covet. So for us to think that we could never be tempted in various areas is a little naive, because while on earth in flesh, even Jesus experienced every temptation. The only difference is that Jesus never sinned...
(Hebrews 4:15-16) For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.
Because of God's grace and His indwelling Holy Spirit who seals us for all eternity, as believers, we cannot ever lose our salvation. Although, we also know that because God loves us, He will discipline His children (while on earth). Therefore, when we do sin, it is all about what we do after that... do we continue sinning so that we burden ourselves with our own consequences, or do we run back to God, confessing our sins, so that He will help us with our burdens, and so that we can continue on in the blessings of having a close relationship with Him.
In our secure relationship with the Lord, we can be confident that God will never leave or forsake us. Just know that He does not want us to be living in worry or fear that we will let Him down somehow, because, He already knows we will! Instead, He wants us to look to Him, and keep looking to Him, to continue growing closer in our relationship, with greater and greater trust.
We can also be confident in our obedience, because we know the Lord, and we understand that He is all-knowing! Notice in verse 18, that when Jesus sent the disciples out on the errand to secure the place for the Passover, He already knew which person was going to be willing to offer the room. Therefore, the disciples could, with confidence, carry out what Jesus asked them to do.
In this very same way, we can be confident in trusting that when God directs us and calls us to do something, we can with confidence be willing and obedient. And this is not just because the Lord is omniscient, He is also omnipresent and omnipotent, which means, as we are willing and obedient, the Lord will always be helping us, all along the way! There isn't any relationship greater and more secure than this!
