Matthew 26:20-	February 19, 1998

The facts: When it was evening he took his place with the twelve;

and 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?"

What was the order of events in verses 20-22?

Evening, took his place with the twelve, eating, said one of you will betray me, they became distressed, began to say to him surely not I, Lord

Why, when Jesus said, "One of you will betray me," did His disciples become distressed, willing to risk the shame of being told, "Yes, it's you?"

Hadn't he been saying that his time was near? Was it only one who betrayed him? Didn't all the rest flee, and Peter deny him?

It's the rejection of kindness that characterizes sin. Does that mean that I sin when I am angry about someone's patience?--Like if Coreena allowed Barbara Michaels to drop the kids off here this morning? I was angry at Barbara's request!

How did the disciples think they felt about Jesus?

Surely I'm not the one who will betray you!

I will never desert you!

Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny you.

--and so said all the disciples

Why did the author write this?

February 20, 1998

How did they really feel about Jesus? Why did Matthew put all this stuff in about Jesus predicting Judas' betrayal and Peter's denial and the disciples' desertion?

It says something about how Jesus felt about them even knowing that this would happen. He still entrusted them with the Lord's Supper at this time. I'm quite sure it wasn't done in the spirit Jesus intended the first time. (Does that comfort me when I've taken beautiful things God made and not participated in them with the right spirit the first time? Doesn't God still love me? Doesn't he want me to enjoy those gifts when I do have the right spirit? Does this also make me realize how blinded I can be when something I really want is at stake? I look back now and say, why did I ride so close to the edge? Did I think I was going to outsmart the devil? I trusted way too much in my own ability to control myself. I couldn't do it. Lord, teach me to be distrustful of my strength to do what is right.