17 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”
22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I, Lord?”
23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?”
Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.”
It was the appointed time for the Passover Feast and Jesus’ guys sought His directives as to where they were to make preparations and eat the meal. They took it for granted that their Master would certainly be celebrating the Passover even though at that time His life was being threatened and sought after by the religious elite of His day. Jesus never deterred from His duty and His closest companions were fully aware of this. Remember, our Lord came to fulfill all righteousness. Luke tells us the disciples Jesus sent to prepare the Passover were Peter and John:
7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” Luke 22:7-8 (NIV)
Jesus gives them clear detailed directions even down to what to what they were to say. I am reminded of the instructions Christ had previously given the twelve when He sent them out to do great works in His Name earlier in Matthew. Our Lord always supplies His followers with everything they need to do His bidding - we will never be lacking if we go in His power to do His works:
18 “On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Matt 10:18-20 (NIV)
“When a man has not strength, if he leans on God, he becomes powerful.” D.L. Moody
“Grace can make a few feeble instruments the means of accomplishing great things – things greater even than we can conceive.” Hudson Taylor
As they were celebrating the Passover meal together, reclining at the table, our Lord tells them that one of them would surely betray Him. The traitor would be a familiar friend. It magnifies His love that Jesus was well aware of all things that were about to transpire yet He did not draw back. Interestingly, they were even all questioning who it would be. Obviously, Jesus had not treated Judas any different from the others or it would have been clear to them. Our Lord loved him to the end. I am reminded of the Master’s lament over Jerusalem showing the depth of His tender love for those unwilling to turn to Him and be saved. Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus:
34 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 35 Look, your house is left to you desolate.” Luke 13:34-35 (NIV)
“Jesus was God spelling Himself out in language humanity could understand.” S. D. Gordon
“Human love is capable of great things. What then must be the depth and height and intensity of divine love?” Lord Shaftesbury
Though Judas was a hypocrite – a common thief masking as a man of piety – he carried it off so plausibly that the other disciples had no idea the depth of his depravity. It is possible for hypocrites to go through this world undiscovered by man but never fooling God Who knows every heart and the motive behind every action. Scripture tells us all the other disciples were saddened over Jesus’ Words. Gracious souls grieve over the sins of the others, well aware that every sin carries with it a death sentence. Sin always begets death, righteousness, life. The disciples were fully aware of their own ability to spiral low in sin evidenced by their continuing to question Him one after another: “Surely not I, Lord?” We are never to be high minded that we are incapable of a fall (as Peter can attest to) rather we are to be fervent in prayer against temptation as well as continually relinquishing our pathetically inept strength for the fullness of the Spirit’s achieving power.
“Contrary to the world's beliefs, the spiritual fruit of self-control does not come about through the discipline of self-mastery, but rather through surrendering ourselves to God's control. None of us fully have the power, capability, or wisdom to master our own lives. You cannot resist all the temptations that are hurled at you, control the behavior of those closest to you, or limit the ideas that pop into your mind. What you can do is surrender your life to the Holy Spirit. You can control how you respond, yield, and submit to Him.” Michael Youssef
Jesus’ affirmation to Judas’ query was certainly enough to convict him. Interestingly as well, Judas calls Him Rabbi (teacher) rather than Lord (owner, master, head). This should be a red flag to us also. If Judas’ heart had not been so wretchedly hardened he would have turned from the evil plot when it was revealed by the Master. Remember Pharaoh hardened his heart and hardened his heart until at long last God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. The time of opportunity is always the present.