It Isn’t You

This Friday, many of us will remember Jesus, as he led his disciples in the first Communion, the night before he would be crucified. If we can believe this, I think Jesus was more compassionate to them than we often make him out to be.

Many of us, myself included, have celebrated communion knowing that we are sinners and need forgiveness. That’s right, we are, and we need to eat the Lord’s Supper for our cleansing and sustenance. But it was a regular Passover meal and the disciples believed that this Passover would be no different. They knew what they would be celebrating.

Because Jesus was never condemning of anyone who had true faith, his followers believed that his words this evening would be no different. Because they all had true faith, right?

Just as Jesus acted among his disciples and the crowd, he criticized no one except for the self-righteous who ‘knew’ that they did not need communion to be cleansed. And there was no one like that here, right?

But according to Matthew 26, after they reclined at the table, and had already drunk a few glasses of wine and eaten a few loaves of bread, Jesus said, “one of you will betray me.” The disciples’ mouths fell open, and some of them must have thought, “Is Jesus drunk?”

Jesus continued, “One who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” (Matthew 26:23-24)

As they realized that their teacher was serious, but did not condemn any of them, a silence fell and the finger pointing stopped.

As we might expect, “[the disciples] were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, ‘Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?’” (Matthew 26:22) I encourage you, for just a minute, ask the Lord that question.

--------------------------------30 seconds or so-------------------------------------------------------

As the disciples, each in turn, asked Jesus weather they were the one, I believe Jesus answered each of them individually, “No, Peter it isn’t you.” “No, Thomas, it isn’t you.” “No, Matthew, it isn’t you.”

As you partake of our Lord’s generosity, insert your name here “No, David, it’s not you.” “No, Mike, it’s not you.” “No, Kim, it’s not you.” “No, ______, it isn’t you.” Satan had picked Judas to do the dirty deed, and only one person was and ever will be needed.

Weather you remember the death of our Lord Jesus by yourself, in pairs, or a group, come, receive the gift of God. Tare off some bread and dip it in the grape juice. Pass the bread and wine down the aisles. Or as I did by myself as an elementary student, eat your peanut butter and jam sandwich with a juice box, and remember. Then, as the lunch bell rings, you may leave knowing that as far as Jesus is concerned, it isn’t you, and it never will be.