20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.” (Matthew 26:20–25 (ESV)
17 And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. 18 And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” 19 They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” 20 He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. 21 For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” (Mark 14:17–21 (ESV)
“And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him.” (Luke 22:14 (ESV)
21 After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side, 24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.” (John 13:21–26 (ESV)
As the last week of the Lord Jesus Christ is studied, it is important to compare all four Gospels, their particular narratives and themes pertaining to the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord. Today’s focus concerns the celebration of the Passover Meal. This particular feast would picture, and immediately precede, the historical death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Per the custom of their day, Jesus and His disciples recline at the Passover, lying on cushions arranged like a horseshoe around the table (Matt. 26:20). Some commentators believe that the room in which they are commemorating the exodus belongs to John Mark, an associate of Barnabas and Paul (Acts 15:36–41) and probable author of the second book of the New Testament. Whether or not this is the case, we do know that Jesus sees this Passover as the beginning of events absolutely critical to His work,” explains one commentator.
Jesus ate the meal with the Twelve Apostles, including Judas Iscariot. It was during the feast when Jesus announced one of the twelve would betray Him. The response by the eleven was a mixture of sorrow and uncertainty. Judas did not respond. He knew what he was going to do and why he would do it; he would betray Jesus for money.
The eleven began asking Jesus if any one of them was the betrayer. Jesus responded in the follow manner. ““He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me.” ““It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me.” ““It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” ” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.”
Judas played along with the rest of the disciples by asking if he was the betrayer. Matthew records Jesus’ response to Judas’ question. Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”
“Such knowledge of the future is also shown when Jesus reveals that He will be handed over to sinners (vv. 20–21). This betrayal fulfills Scripture (v. 24), but how? First, the Messiah must feel the punishment His sinful people have earned and Judas’ betrayal may be one way the Father metes out His wrath. Israel pledged to follow God and then betrayed Him, breaking His Law (Hos. 8); now Jesus — the true Israel — endures in the place of His people the same betrayal they deserve for double-crossing the covenant Lord. In Christ, God repays Israel in kind. Moreover, though the Psalms belong to the entire covenant community, the Psalter is uniquely the king’s song book. David’s greatest son can only sing the Psalms if He feels a friend’s betrayal (see Ps. 55),” states Dr. R. C. Sproul.
Judas did not operate independently of God’s providence. As with Joseph’s brothers, what Judas intended for evil God meant for good (Gen. 50:20). God was in complete and providential control.
“Judas does not operate independently of the Almighty’s sovereign decree (Matt. 26:24–25). But Judas’ evil purpose makes him no less guilty for bringing about what God has ordained,” concludes Dr. Sproul.
John Calvin comments, “Men can do nothing but what God has appointed, still this does not free them from condemnation, when they are led by a wicked desire to sin. For though God directs them, by an unseen bridle, to an end which is unknown to them, nothing is farther from their intention than to obey his decrees.”
Christ’s betrayal results both from divine providence and human sin. However, the LORD mysteriously remains unstained by evil in the process. This demonstrates the doctrine of providence; God’s purposeful sovereignty.
Soli deo Gloria!
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