Judas Arranges for Jesus Betrayal
June 8, 2022
Commentary
Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests to arrange for Jesus’ betrayal and agreed to thirty pieces of silver (vv. 10–11). Perhaps we wonder how he could do such a thing. Judas may have expected Jesus to start a political rebellion and overthrow Rome. But when he saw that Jesus’ kingdom was not physical but spiritual, his desires for gain and status were disappointed. His heart slowly turned away from truth and devotion. Whatever his reasons, Judas allowed sinful desires to control him. He chose self over loyalty, opening his life to darkness. The love of money can blind a person to what is right and true.
It was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (v. 12). The Passover lamb was to be slain between 3:00–6:00 p.m. on the fourteenth day. Since the Jewish day began at sundown, it would have been evening when Jesus and His disciples gathered. Each worshiper offered a lamb at the temple and took it home to be prepared. It was to be eaten between sunset and midnight. A group of ten to twenty people shared one lamb, making the disciples a fitting group. This sacred meal reminded them of God’s past deliverance and faithfulness. It also pointed forward to a greater redemption through Christ, the true Lamb.
Jesus told Peter and John to find a man “bearing a pitcher of water,” who would lead them to a prepared upper room (vv. 13–15). This was unusual, since men did not usually carry water. They followed him and found everything just as Jesus had said (v. 16). This showed that Jesus was fully in control of every detail. Even in the shadow of betrayal, His plans moved forward with purpose and certainty, showing His authority, wisdom, and perfect divine timing in every moment of His mission.
Application
Do I allow wrong desires to grow quietly? Am I choosing Jesus, or my own personal interest? Will I stay faithful when things get hard? What steps can I take today to keep my heart true and loyal to Him? What is one choice I must surrender today? I’ll trust the Lord’s timing and follow His way, even when I do not understand.
Mark 14:10–16 (NET)
10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus into their hands. 11 When they heard this, they were delighted and promised to give him money. So Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray him.
12 Now on the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 13 He sent two of his disciples and told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” 16 So the disciples left, went into the city, and found things just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
William Tyndale Burned at The Stake
William Tyndale, first translated the Bible from Hebrew and Greek into English, making a Bible for the common people. In 1535 he was betrayed by a friend, taken prisoner to the castle of Vilford, and continued to work on his translation. He w … Continue