Table Talk

Matt 26:17-35 - 17 On the first day of the Festival 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, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, 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 you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.” 26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” 34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” 35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.

When you hear the word "betrayal", what do you think of? Do you think of --- Joseph, Jacob, David, Julius Caesar, Benedict Arnold, or perhaps someone close to you? To "betray" means "to prove faithless or treacherous to, as to a trust or one who trusts; to fail or desert in a moment of need." Using the story of Jesus, let us look at THE TRUTH ABOUT BETRAYAL:

Timing is Everything (26:17-19)

A. The disciples were concerned about preparing for Passover, how often are we side tracked with jobs, holidays, relationships, or anything

B. Jesus declared that His "time" (kairos a word meaning “appointed time”), His moment had come.

C. Jesus taught us to treat every moment in life as being precious. In this most decisive time for Him, Jesus was betrayed. Gen 4:7 says , "sin crouches at the door" of every moment of your life.

Sin of the heart and mind (26:20-25)

A. This scene speaks of betrayal in both the specific and general sense. Judas would literally hand Jesus over in betrayal, but its meaning goes deeper.

B. Curiously, when Jesus spoke of one betrayer during their meal together, all of the disciples wondered, "Is it I?"

C. Wouldn’t they know? You see, they did know in their hearts that they were guilty before Him.

D. We have all betrayed Jesus. Each one has placed his/her hand in that dish with Jesus. Every sin has such dire consequences that it means it would be better had we never been born. Judas here becomes the example of what we look like apart from faith in Jesus Christ. To not live in faith is to be Judas--the betrayer.

Forgiveness and Free Will (26:26-29)

A. The Lord’s Supper teaches to us that Jesus came to forgive and cleanse us from our sins or of missing the mark. We have all fallen short of His Glory, but He has become the great sacrifice for our sin and stands ready to forgive us and make us new again.

B. Whatever our Sin(s) Jesus’ desires to forgive and renew.

Sin Replaced by His Love and Sacrifice in our lives of Faith (26:30-35)

A. This scene is a sobering reminder for us when we feel superior to Judas.

B. The other 11 disciples swore they would die with Jesus rather than deny Him.

C. Like them, we often declare with words our love and devotion to Jesus and then sin against Him in a multitude of ways, such as:

1. Being hateful/spiteful in attitude toward others 2. Holding grudges 3. Loving Jesus at church but treating our own family members hatefully 4. Being unwilling to give or serve 5. Refusing to study God’s Word 6.being late or not on time 7. Preachers not prepared to preach/believers unprepared to defend their faith.

D. If we are honest with ourselves, there are many people ---from our own family members to Jesus Himself---whom if we looked them in the eye, we would have to confess "It is I" who has betrayed you.

Let Jesus cleanse you of your sin; forgive you; and empower you to be faithful to Him.