Scripture

Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?”
(Matthew 26:21-22)

Devotional

For three years the disciples walked with Jesus. They saw the miracles and heard the preaching; they lived and ate with Him. Yet, His trusted administrator, Judas, betrayed Him. It was inevitable. The seed of betrayal was planted when the disciples became indignant and judged the woman who anointed Jesus with the very expensive oil. (1) The judgment of man produces a root of bitterness that will, in due time, bring forth the fruit of betrayal. Unfortunately, there is a little Judas in all of us; the condemning attitude that comes through our tendency to judge in our own understanding. It brought the fall of Lucifer, Saul, Judas, and others; and it will bring the fall of you and me, if we do not check it through repentance. The betrayal came because the disciples judged Jesus for not “dealing” with the woman for wasting the expensive oil. They judged Jesus wrongly when He said of the woman, “She has done a good work for Me.”(2)

(1) Matthew 26:9, (2) Matthew 26:10

Thought For The Night

“Think of Judas. Judas decided to follow Jesus. Judas heard Jesus teach. He went out two by two with the others, healing the sick and exorcising demons. Judas did a lot of disciple kinds of things. Yet he is remembered solely for how his relationship with Jesus ended. How a life, a ministry, or a relationship ends is absolutely crucial to everything that goes before it.” Craig Brian Larson, Strong to the Finish

Evening Text

Matthew 26:21, 22: Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?”

Looking for Answers

How is it that many who have been the closest to God have fallen: Adam, Lucifer, and Judas?
Even in our day, why is it that many once staunch pastors and believers have fallen away?
What is it that would cause you to fall away?

Evening Study Guide

Defining: “One of you shall betray me.” Was the first announcement that the ‘delivering up’ of the Son of man was to be by one of the Twelve. What shock that statement must have caused! The fact that eleven of the disciples innocently asked, ‘Lord, is it I?’ shows that they realized their own weakness, although their questions were so phrased as to expect a negative answer—‘It is not I, is it?’” Wycliffe Bible Commentary

Referencing: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall,” 1 Corinthians 10:12.

Applying: Take heed to 1 Corinthians 10:12 and Romans 11:20, “Do not be haughty, but fear.”