Mark 14:12-21  It is the evening when the Passover lamb would be sacrificed.. the 7 days of the celebration of 'Unleavened Bread" began.. and the disciples come to ask Jesus where to prepare the meal.  Jesus sends them to a man that He knows well.. but they do not seem to know at all..  He tells them, "Go into the city and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him;"  

There is a prepared place..an upper room.. "furnished and ready;"  That evening, Jesus and the twelve came to the table together. They did not know it would be their last meal.. the last Passover with Jesus. They did not know the significance of this moment.. the things that would happen in the next few moments.. the next few hours.. or the next few days. It was an ordinary meal.. that was anything but ordinary. 

Mark begins setting the scene and then leaps straight into the dramatic events.  Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you that one of you will betray Me - one who is eating with Me."  This came as a shock to all but one of the disciples.  They were so shook up that they each wondered if they were that one.. "Surely, not I?" 

Jesus looked at His disciples.. the ones that  He called friends.. the ones He had chosen and spent the last three years with, teaching them.. loving them.. . He said, "It is one of the twelve, one who dips with Me in the bowl." A close friend, sharing a special meal together..was the ultimate betrayer..

 Jesus knew.. Judas knew..  but the others seem to be  looking at this from outside this scene.. perhaps focused on their own doubts and fears.

Imagine what was going on inside Judas' mind. He could have repented.. but he did not. He could have humbly wept at the feet of the Savior, but he did not. The next words spoken to him should have shaken out of his hardened heart.. but they did not.. "For the Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born."

In my mind and heart I feel that Jesus was heart-broken for Judas.  He knew that Scripture would be fulfilled.. He knew that Satan would enter Judas.. but still.. He knew and loved Judas. 

" Man of Sorrows.. what a name, for the Son of God who came, ruined sinners to reclaim! Hallelujah, what a Savior!"  This is our Savior, our Lord, our King.. Jesus Christ, the Son of God who faced sorrow... who faced  betrayal.. who faced death.. to reclaim us sinners!  Hallelujah! 

Oh Father, how we love You.. for You sent us Your One and only Son to save us from ruin and shame and darkness.. and death.  Thank You!  We our forever Yours for You have granted us repentance.. You have redeemed us.. You have adopted us.  We call You" Good".. Your lovingkindness and grace has poured down upon us through Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! What a Savior! Amen.