Gospel John 13:21-32
21After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit,
and declared, "Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me." 22The
disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. 23One
of his disciples — the one whom Jesus loved — was reclining next to him; 24Simon
Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25So
while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?" 26Jesus
answered, "It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have
dipped it in the dish." So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave
it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. 27After he received the piece of
bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "Do quickly what you are
going to do." 28Now no one at the table knew why he said this
to him. 29Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse,
Jesus was telling him, "Buy what we need for the festival"; or, that
he should give something to the poor. 30So, after receiving the
piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
31When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the
Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32If
God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will
glorify him at once."
Thought:
Betraying Jesus, it had to be done but
I am sure none wanted to be the one.
Today, we surely don’t want to be the one who betrays Jesus. And yet we do, don’t we? We often fail Christ in our life – fail to
see or fail to share. We are reminded in
the gospel of Matthew that whatever we
do to the least we do to Christ. How
often have we let judgment nail someone to a cross? How often have we allow differences to do the
same? Or have you been nailing yourself
up to the cross? Unable to accept
Christ’s offer for forgiveness?
Exercise:
In the kitchen get some salt and a
small bread plate. Dump some salt on to
the plate and use this time to write a letter or draw a shape that represents
your sin. After that pray to God
offering your sin and then simply throw the salt in the garbage. It is as simple as that, your sins are not
only forgiven but God is offering you new life.
Someone had to betray Jesus but today, everyone is worthy of the wonder
of grace! Rejoice
Prayer:
Glorious Redeemer, take
away my sins this day. Help me to see my
worth and to accept my forgiveness.
Grant me courage to continue to your will in this world. Give me strength each day to live for you as
I glorify your Holy Name. Descend upon
me and engulf me in your loving spirit so I may go out into the world
glorifying your name. Amen
