One of You Will Betray Me
by Juan Lane
Matthew 26:21-26:22 (KJV)
21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
One of you will betray me
Betray - Deliver to an enemy by treachery (word web definition)
How come no one at the table with Jesus could deny the fact that it was possible that they had the potential to betray Christ
It would have been different if he had said that all of them would have betrayed him then there would have not been any reason for discussion
Psalm 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
Not just a normal passerby but he was actually a familiar (Well known from long or close association) friend
This friend was trusted (reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.) by Jesus
It was not the bread or our bread but the bread belonged to David
In Europe bread is a very important. Bread is bought fresh daily. It is very tedious task to keep bread in a household.
When Jesus used the word verily
Verily - In truth; beyond doubt or question (word web definition)
He left no possibility of him saying something just for table conversation
Which brings me to an interesting point.
Did Christ laugh?
Did he joke around with the disciples?
Were there times that he said things to them that were not serious?
Truly I am led to believe that in order to fully relate to the men and have them to open up to him he had to have a side of him that was humorous
I for one am truly glad that if he did joke around that they did not write about it in the Holy Bible because many of us would say;
“There was no way that this could be the Christ. That wasn’t even funny.” Or “There was no way that Christ would laugh at such a joke as this.”
Many of us Christians have far passed the point to find anything funny or amusing
We never show that side to anyone in the public
Perhaps Christ would have times with his disciples that they would talk just for the sake of talking.
Nothing prophetic, nothing biblical just joking and light conversation.
Speaking of joking around. I would like to share a joke with you that was sent to me over the internet the other day. It is entitled “Don’t leave friends behind”
A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.
He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.
After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?"
"This is Heaven, sir," the man answered. "Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked.
"Of course, sir. Come right in, and I’ll have some ice water brought right up." The man gestured, and the gate began to open.
"Can my friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in, too?" the traveler asked. "I’m sorry, sir, but we don’t accept pets."
The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.
After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been
closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and
reading a book. "Excuse me!" he called to the man. "Do you have any water?"
"Yeah, sure, there’s a pump over there, come on in." "How about my friend here?" the traveler gestured to the dog.
"There should be a bowl by the pump." They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand
pump with a bowl beside it. The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he
gave some to the dog. When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was
standing by the tree. "What do you call this place?" the traveler asked. "This is Heaven," he answered.
"Well, that’s confusing," the traveler said. "The man down the road said that was Heaven, too."
"Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That’s hell."
"Doesn’t it make you mad for them to use your name like that?" "No, we’re just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their
best friends behind."
I realized that most of you are well past the stage of Christianity where it is ok to laugh but I decided to tell the joke anyhow.
If there was ever a time that Christ did joke around with his disciples it would have probably been at a setting like this where there was no one around except them and they were gathered around a dinner table.
It must have been quit shocking for the disciples to hear Christ say this
They probably thought that it was far beyond them to ever be accused to do anything that could hurt him
Yet when Christ proclaimed that he would be betrayed, each and every disciple wondered if he would be the one
Not one disciple could put it past himself to hurt his leader that he claimed to love so much
It was an unwritten rule for the people of that time that when you had supper and dipped bread with a person that they were your friends and it was safe to think that this person would not ever try to harm you. The dipping represented a covenant.
How are we so bold today as to think that in our sinful state that we can put on an act so holy as if it were not possible that we could ever do anything that could hurt Christ.
These were the men that seen and heard Christ everyday
They were fully confident and persuaded about what they could do
They truly believed because of what they saw and heard with their own two eyes
We believe because we hear from someone who heard from someone yet we think that we would never allow the thought of doing harm to Christ cross our mind
This is truly a good attitude to have
We should always put ourselves mentally beyond the possibility of ever hurting Christ yet when we sin this is exactly what we do
Whenever we sin against our brothers we also sin against Christ
(I Corinthians 8:12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.)
Theological explanation of sin – not allowing God to be God EXMP: 1. Paying Bills 2. Relationship issues 3. On the job
Conclusion
Some of us as Christians need to get our nose out of the air as if we are well past the point of ever doing anything to hurt Christ (sin).
We need to come to a realization that all have sinned (Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;)
We need to get ourselves in a position of repentance before the Lord returns and we find ourselves not ready to go back with him. (I Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.)
Let’s Pray
Dear God I repent right now of all of the sins that I have brought against you. Above all I am thankful that you have allowed me yet another chance to get right and live holy. I pray that I am never deceived to do such a thing as to think that there is a way that I can betray you and you not know. I pray that I never again move to betray you in my sin. Please forgive and and give me one more chance. Amen
Thank You. May God continue to bless you and keep you. Amen
Your Friend
Minister Juan D. Lane Sr.
