READING: Matthew 26:1-5, 14-35; Mark 14:1-2, 10-31; Luke 22:1-38; John 13
“While they were eating, he said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.’”
Matthew 26:21
Jesus told His disciples that one of them would betray Him. They apparently did not think that Judas was the obvious culprit, as they “were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, ‘Is it I, Lord?’” (Matt. 26:22). Many scholars believe they phrased the question in such a way that we were hoping for a negative response – “No, you are not the one” – but either way, the disciples seemingly recognized the potential of betrayal within them. Maybe they had remembered their previous individual failures, and they hoped beyond hope that they would not fail again.
Only Judas would betray Jesus to His death, of course. All of us, though, have the potential within us to deny Jesus with our actions and our words. We could be like Simon Peter, who said he would never deny Jesus but did so anyway. The minute we think that we could not be the one to ruin our witness by foolish actions is the minute that our naïve arrogance could quickly lead to trouble. Perhaps our words should be, “Lord, I pray I’m not one who will turn against You, but I know that only Your grace keeps me from doing so.”
Now almost 44 years after God saved me, I’m still learning how much God’s grace sustains me. I could easily go the wrong direction, but God grants me His power, mercy, and grace. I need Him year after year, month after month, day after day, hour after hour, minute after minute, and second after second.
ACTION STEPS:
- Humbly recognize how much we must rely on the grace of God. Moment by moment.
- Thank God for any victory He gives you today.
PRAYER: “Lord, I don’t ever want to let You down. Help me.”
TOMORROW’S READING: John 14-17
