Scripture to Read: Luke 22:21–23
What God had Luke record next shocked the disciples when they first heard it. We read in Luke 22:21–23, “‘But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table. 22 For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!’ 23 And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing.” Jesus dropped a bombshell on the disciples by revealing that one of them would betray Him. None of the other disciples even suspected that it was Judas. This speaks volumes about the way our Lord Jesus Christ loved Judas and sought to reach him through His love, grace, and mercy. If Jesus had treated Judas any differently than the other disciples, they would have noticed over their three years together. John 13:21–30 shows more clearly that the disciples did not know Judas was the betrayer. God the Father, through Christ Jesus our Lord, loves everyone and desires all to come to Christ and surrender to Him as Lord (1 Timothy 2:3–4, 2 Peter 3:9). That was Jesus’s desire for Judas, but Judas had set in his heart that he wanted what the world had to offer more than desiring to follow Christ as his King. Too many people today make that unwise decision, choosing the temporary trappings of this world over the eternal riches found only through Christ our Lord. We must lead them to Christ and pray their hearts will turn to Him.
Challenge & Application
Why did the disciples have no idea Judas was the betrayer?
How can we follow Christ’s example to love those who hate us and even those who betray us?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!