When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.” They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely not I?”
Pastor Art Barrett
New Life Christian Fellowship (Concord)
The challenge is to be honestly there with the Twelve and hear Him say, “One of you will betray Me.” You are there. You don’t know precisely to what He is referring, but you know you are guilty enough. You know at some level you have betrayed Him. You have not believed, not enough, not the way He believes. He says, “If you believe if you have faith you can move mountains.”
You walk with Him, pal around with the others, this eclectic band of wannabes.
You are one of His inner circle, but you know you have never budged a mountain. You hope He never challenges you to do it. You know you would not measure up; you would not make the cut. If He knew what was really in your heart, you fear He would cut you from the team. You would cut you.
You want to walk with Him; you want to be there when He cashes in and takes the throne, and you know there is something of a betrayal even in your self-interested fellowship. You know your heart is not like His, though you wish it was. No wonder you are saddened as He raises the specter of exposure.
What does He mean? What does He know? What doesn’t He know? To which of us is He referring? You figure we are all in the same boat. Like the time all twelve of us were in the same boat in the storm. Without Him, we would have sunk. It’s no different in this room. Whatever is going on, He knows, if I were left to lead, I would sink us. It’s best to go with the corporate bluff; the odds are 111 He’s talking about one of the others. So you go with the flow. “One by one they said to Him, `Surely it is not I?’” The challenge is to be honest, to believe and be honest to Jesus, Honest to God.
Jesus, You already know everything about me. Help my faith to become strong enough to be honest with You.
Wow. It's Quiet Here...
What do you hear God saying?