The Dark Night / Mark 14:12-25

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Some moments can only be described in one word: dark. As the sun sets on the night before Jesus’ crucifixion, evil is on the move. The religious leaders seek to destroy him and find their opportunity through a surprising source - one of Jesus’ closest friends, Judas. In just a few hours, Jesus will find himself betrayed, arrested, and alone.

Some seasons, some nights, get real dark real fast. A loved one dies. A sin that seemed dormant erupts with damaging effect. A relationship that was at peace is gripped by division.

In the darkest night, who is in control? God or Satan?

The answer seems simple if you’re not currently in a dark season. God is good and God is in control.

But when the unexpected happens, this is not an easy answer.

If God is good, why did he allow her to get sick? If God is in control, why am I still alone? What is his plan? If God is good, why would he allow his perfect Son to be betrayed and even killed?

In the darkest night, who is in control? Let’s read.

12 And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?”

13 And he sent two of his disciples (John and Peter) and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. (Men would typically carry water in an animal skin) Follow him, 14 and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ (“Teacher” instead of “Jesus” because they need to be discreet.) 15 And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” Just as the room was ready, Jesus was ready to face the darkest night head-on. His hour has come, and he was in control. 16 And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. 17 And when it was evening, he came with the twelve.

This past week, we celebrated the most traditional meal in America - Thanksgiving. Though we all gathered in different homes, there was likely turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and, if you’re southern, sweet potato casserole.

For ancient Jews, no meal was more significant and symbolic than the Passover. As family and friends packed into the upper rooms of Jerusalem homes, the host would retell the story of Israel’s deliverance from their slavery in Egypt. Every component of the meal was a visual aid. As they ate the bitter herbs, they would remember the bitter conditions of their slavery. As they drank the salty water, they recalled the tearful prayers of the people. As they broke the unleavened bread, the host explained the speed of their exodus, moving so fast they didn’t have time for the bread to rise. And most importantly, as the cooked lamb was brought into the room, they remembered the cost of the passover.

To warn hard-hearted Pharaoh of the consequences should he choose to reject God’s command, God sent 9 plagues—nine invitations to change. But instead of changing, Pharaoh became callous. So God brought the final and most costly consequence, death. Here is his description from Exodus 12: “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. But he provided a way of escape. For all who believed his words, they could sacrifice a spotless lamb and mark their doorposts with the blood. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you.

Why did God instruct his people to recount this story each year? To remind them, sin has a cost. But God has provided a way for an innocent one to pay the cost on your behalf. So do not allow your heart to become callous like Pharaoh. Receive God’s offer of rescue, and you will be delivered from your bondage.

As Jesus recounts this story, before him is the roasted lamb. And next to him is a calloused heart. The attitude of Pharaoh is in the room. The lamb is in the room.

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?”

The Passover meal, which is typically celebratory, turned cold and sorrowful that night. Throughout the book, Jesus predicted his death, but little did they know that the betrayer was in the room.

In this culture, sharing a meal symbolized relational intimacy and trust. More than the 12 disciples were likely in this full room, so the small crowd began to clear their own names.

The grammatical form of their question in the original language assumes a negative answer. It’s as if they said, “You don’t mean me, do you?” “Surely not me.”

If you come to church frequently and claim to be a Christian. We assume that we would never betray Christ. Sure, we fall into sin, but overall, we are loyal.

We can never overstate God’s commitment to us, but we must be humble about our spiritual strength.

Though only one betrayed Jesus, all left him in his greatest moment of need. Peter, who said he’d be willing to die with Jesus, was the one who denied him.

1 Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.

As the people ask with hearts pounding, “Is it I?’ Jesus gives them a shocking clue,

20 He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me.

One of the twelve. One of the disciples Jesus prayed over before selecting his group. One of the disciples who witnessed Lazerous rise from the dead. One of the 12 who saw him walk on water. One of the 12 who were sent to cast out demons through the power of the Spirit. One of the 12. One of his friends. The circle of influence gets smaller, one in this room. One of the twelve. One dipping the bread into the dish with him.

The dish would have been shared by 2-3 people sitting near one another. The betrayer is in proximity to Christ, sitting next to him. Here is the scene in John 13:

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. 27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

John was sitting at Jesus ' right. Judas was sitting at his left, a place of honor. For the host to offer bread dipped in herbs was an offer of friendship to a special guest. In a room full of people, Jesus was the only one who knew that Judas was the betrayer. And even in his final moments, he extends the handshake of friendship and reconciliation, but Judas slaps it away through his betrayal. Like Pharaoh, Judas’ mind was made, his heart was already callous. And rocky soil is fertile ground for Satan to take root.

Two plans are unfolding. God’s plan of salvation. Satan’s plan of destruction. A cosmic battle that was predicted in the garden. Gen. 3:15

I will put enmity between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and her offspring;

he shall bruise your head,

and you shall bruise his heel.”

Who would have guessed that the counterattack would have been initiated by a friend?

Psalm 41:9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.

Jesus was not the only one who trusted Judas. This news would have been the biggest plot twist of the disciples' journey so far.

If you had seen a group photo of the disciples, you wouldn’t have been able to pick him out. He didn’t have a shady look. He didn’t have a suspicious personality. He was an insider. He was one of the guys. He was devoted.

In the beginning of Luke, when Christ selects his disciples, it says,

Luke 6:16 And Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

He became a traitor. He did not begin as a traitor.

What happened? How did he drift from one of Jesus’ trusted friends to his greatest traitor?

Developing callous hands when playing guitar. - what initially felt foreign and uncomfortable, became easy and pain-free.

The gospels tell us that Judas was in charge of the group's moneybag. He was the treasurer. When selecting a trustworthy guy to handle the money of the faith community, they chose Judas. Not realizing that Judas has a disease of the soul. The money that might have begun as an offering to God turned into a whisper of temptation.

When we reach John 12, we are told, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

Hear the language, “help himself.” Those two small words were seeds that foreshadowed his destruction. I wonder if he thought, “Jesus has enough support, I can help myself.” “Jesus can multiply fish miraculously, let me help myself.” And with each pocketed coin, Judas’ love for self increased, and his love for Christ and his community grew numb. Eventually, the coins in his secret stash were not enough; he needed 30 more.

Friend, today you need one more. Tomorrow you’ll need two more. Someday you’ll need 30 more, and you’ll find that your love of Jesus is no more.

“Slow Fade.” by John Hall

Be careful if you think you stand

You just might be sinking

And it's a slow fade

When you give yourself away

It's a slow fade

When black and white have turned to grey

And thoughts invade, choices made

A price will be paid

When you give yourself away

People never crumble in a day

Daddies never crumble in a day

Families never crumble in a day

Adultery doesn’t happen in a day. At first, flirting with that co-worker feels unnatural. But you help yourself to the friendship and emotional comfort. You deserve it. Then you become callous to texting and secrets. And a family crumbles.

Hatred doesn’t happen in a day. At first, jealousy feels uncomfortable. But you help yourself to gossip to make yourself look better. She hurts you, and instead of forgiveness, the root of bitterness grips your heart. Making you callous. Your friendship crumbles.

We are all prone to wonder, Lord, we feel it. How can we avoid the slow fade of a calloused heart?

Come clean before you become callous. Confess to a friend. Ask for forgiveness. Even if you still have the mud of the pig’s pen on your clothes, run home to the Father. Don’t wait until tomorrow.

Hebrews 3:12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15As it is said,

“Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

If you pay attention, God will give you opportunities to change. He gave many to Judas.

As he washed their feet, he said that one of them was unclean. Judas, you’re not clean. Let me wash you.

He offers bread to Judas. Judas, you’ve made a plan to sell me, but I want to save you.

Even at his arrest, he calls Judas, friend.

I believe that even in the Garden, if Judas had repented, he could have been saved. But he closed his heart to grace.

Hear the words of Christ at the table.

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.”

“If you have never been born again, one day you will wish you had not been born at all.” Warren W. Wiersbe

Judas’ story does not have to be your story. Even if you’ve already made your plan, there can be an alternative ending. There may be some in the room who plan to harm themselves or others. You might have already sold out. You might have already made a plan to do evil.

God has an alternative plan for you. God has an alternative will for you.

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

“Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” Romans 2:4

Will you take his bread of friendship? Will you let his kindness change you? Will you dare to believe that Jesus died for you? Will you dare to believe that his resurrection can give you a new start?

22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

Communion was not introduced during the mountaintop of the transfiguration. Communion was introduced right after the sharp knife of betrayal. Jesus felt the sting of being left and forsaken. Right after, he tells his followers through the new covenant, I will never leave you. I give my whole person to rescue you, not to reject you. I’d rather pour out my blood than condemn you.

In this moment, Jesus gave the traditional meal of the passover a deeper meaning. The bread that is broken will be my body on the cross. The drunk wine will be the blood of an innocent lamb. But no longer the passover lamb. It will be Jesus, the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

He was blessed by God. He was broken for you. He was given to you. Have you taken?

For all who have,

25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

Despite the darkness of the night, Jesus sees the joy set before him. He was going to accept the cup of God’s wrath so that all who believe in him will taste the cup of his victory.

This morning, we witnessed the table of his betrayal. Will you be present on that day, when he drinks a new cup in the kingdom of God? Where there will be no more betrayal. No more death. No more darkness.

In the darkest night, who was in control? God or Satan?

Blake Harcups Class: Why would God allow this to happen? “I don’t know. But God used the darkest situation to produce the greatest good. The death of his innocent Son provided salvation for all who believe.”

Genesis 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Benediction

After the meal, Jesus and his disciples sang a hymn. It was tradition to conclude the passover meal with Psalms 115-118; hear these lyrics,

Psalm 115:1

To Your Name Give Glory

[1] Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory,

for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! (ESV)