“Betrayed For My Salvation” (Holy Thursday)

Scripture: John 13:21-30

Jesus is “troubled in spirit”. He had just completed the task of washing his disciple’s feet – all of them, and not just the ones who were worthy of that gift, not just the ones who were willing to receive that gift – all of them! Peter would relent and allow the washing, even though he was very uncomfortable with it; Judas would be “washed”, even though he was about to turn his back on his Lord! Foot washing was a sign of welcoming into the life of a home, and even Peter and Judas received that invitation.

And Jesus knows that one who has just accepted his “welcome” will soon turn away him. What does it really mean to accept Jesus’ offer of welcome? It means, basically, that we are accepting the Lord’s offer of become part of his life and way. Peter and Judas had both accepted that offer of grace, and in spite of that, Jesus would soon be betrayed by one of his own. How would any of us react to that level of deception? How would any of us feel if someone who was that close to us, not only turned against us, but left to join up with the ideals and plans of our greatest enemy?

And in anger, Jesus proclaims “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.” This was the first time he spoke of betrayal, and it would have hit those who were present very hard. And they all began to wonder who this traitor might be. And there is no question that each of these men feared that they might be that one. But no one was willing to actually ask the Lord out loud! So Peter quietly encourages his friend John to ask the Master, and the Lord answers in such a normal way – he doesn’t actually answer! He says that it will be the person who he gives the dipped bread to.

Passover gives a great significance to every portion and every item in the meal. The maror and matso were dipped into a bitter sauce, or combined with a bitter vegetable, as a remembrance of the “bitter” time in Egypt. The sauce could be made of horseradish or beetroot, without any additives like vinegar or other liquids that would dampen the taste. The symbolism was in memory of the thick mortar that the people were forced to make and use in their forced construction labor. It was a “bitter” memory of burdens that brought no benefit to the people - only to their oppressors. As Jesus handed the bitter dip to Judas that night, it reminded the Lord of 1) the bitterness of who was about to betray him, and 2) the bitterness of why he had to accept that betrayal at all.

The first bitterness was especially poignant because it wasn’t an obvious enemy who was working against him – it was one of his inner circle, one who had been with him, and had listened to him, and had just allowed him to welcome him in the washing of his feet. He was one who was celebrating the most holy meal of all Israel, and would soon betray the Messiah of Israel.

The second bitterness would be representative of the relationship that the world in general has with the Christ. And in the context of today, this bitter burden is the failure of all who call Jesus Lord, to live a Godly life that would reflect the hope that is offered through faith in Christ. Our sinfulness is very possibly the greatest bitterness that our Almighty God has to endure. But the truth is that sin should be our burden, not God’s! And yet, he took that bitter dip away from us, and placed it upon himself.

Judas is the one who the Church recognizes as the Betrayer, and certainly, he was on that night. But if we are perfect honest with ourselves, we betray the Lord every time we stray from the divine way that Jesus lived and died for. And he never hesitated to claim the bitter load of Calvary, so that we might know the joyful blessing of a complete and whole relationship in him.

Tonight, we will celebrate three gifts that Jesus offered us on that Passover night. The first will be a washing of hands. Jesus told his disciples “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14-15) Except that we will wash each other’s hands. The second gift will be the eating of a bitter herb. After you have washed your friend, there is a plate of “bitter herbs” (Romaine Lettice) and a dip that will probably linger in your mouth for more than a few minutes. Please take a piece of the lettice, dip it, and eat it, remembering the bitter sin in your life that Jesus has taken upon himself. The third gift will be Holy Communion, when we celebrate the Body and Blood of Christ that is our only hope of a sweet life in glorious salvation.

Jesus accepted the bitterness of betrayal, and denial, and hatred, and lies, and torture, and crucifixion – all so that we might know the precious life that we can have in him.