Jesus knew the Scriptures and knew he was going to be betrayed. By this point he knew who that betrayer would be. But he still dined with him anyway. He welcomed him at his table.

Judas was all about money. I’m certain he didn’t think he was about money. People who are fixated on money do not realize it. They truly believe they are doing the right thing.

We’re not sure what all Judas was thinking that led him to betray him to the chief priests. But he did. And he was even more happy when they offered to pay him.

When Jesus said that one of them was going to betray him, I’m guessing he sincerely thought it was not him. I’m wondering if he thought by talking to the chief priests it would propel Jesus into his calling. We just don’t know.

But on this happy occasion, the Passover, Jesus spoke about sad things. Because betrayal is one of the most painful of all.

Here’s the thing. Jesus knew. And yet he didn’t speak hatefully. Nor did he let bitterness root in his heart.

That’s really amazing.

Because being betrayed by someone you care so much about is awful. It cuts to the heart deeper than almost anything.

And if there’s any act of greatness, it is forgiving a betrayer.

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Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them.  And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.

And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?”  And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him,  and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’  And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.”  And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

 And when it was evening, he came with the twelve.  And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.”  They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me.  For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”