We all betray Jesus–all the time. Matthew 26:25 puts the action of Judas in the present active sense: “Then Judas, who was betraying Him.” If something within you resists the claim that we all actively betray Jesus, you have something of Peter lurking. “Lord even if all are made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble” (v. 33). You poor fool. You will end up publicly (by your actions if not your words) swearing that you “do not know the Man” (v. 72). The super-spiritual among us (beware the dramatic professions of allegiance in yourself and others) are the ones who give Jesus away by kissing Him. Better to be silent and sober when we realize “all forsook Him and fled” (v. 56).
In Africa and the Middle East food is often served from a common platter or bowl. A way to honor another is to reach into the bowl, choose a choice piece of meat or vegetable and hand it to a friend. In Ethiopia, they will even place that morsel directly in your mouth. Some scholars say that this is what Jesus did: He reached into that bowl, selected a choice piece of food, looked Judas in the eye, and extended one more opportunity to him: “Judas, I love you. I love you to the end. I know who you are and what you are about to do. Judas, one more chance.” And Jesus extended grace.
When we take communion “in remembrance” of Him, with Peter we “remember the words of Jesus” and weep (v. 75). Communion should remind us that we are active betrayers of Jesus. Communion forces us to admit that not only were we sinners saved by grace, we continue to sin (betray Jesus) and continue to be saved by grace. Despite all our covenants and promises and efforts and resolutions, we ALL actively betray Jesus. That is not the wonder. The wonder is that in the Lord’s Supper Jesus reaches into the bread of His torn body, stretches across time and sin, extends mercy, looks us in the eyes and says: “This is my body. Take, eat!” We are Judas. Jesus loves us still, and offers us again a chance to turn from our betrayal and to be forgiven.
When Judas betrayed Jesus he also broke brotherhood and betrayed his friends. Our sin always affects others and usually is against others. This is why we are instructed not to take communion when our hearts are not right with our friends. Communion allows us repeated opportunities to repent and to be forgiven–by our brothers and sisters. Communion is also a prime time to forgive, to be like Philemon and release a past wrong. To admit it is incumbent on us (as active betrayers forgiven again and again by Jesus) to forgive again and again those that have betrayed us.
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Dick Brogden ( - )
I was born in rural East Africa, just north of Lake Victoria. My dad and mom are my heroes (still missionaries on the field, they went out in 1966) and taught me to love Jesus and love his passions in the earth. I married my best friend, Jennifer, and she is stronger and wiser than anyone will ever know. I have two joys in life—my sons, Luke and Zack. Together we have treasured Jesus among Muslims since 1992, first in Mauritania, then Kenya, then Sudan for the past 15 years. The next treasure stop is Cairo, Egypt.Jennifer and I love to pioneer, we love working among unreached Muslim people, we love taking the gospel where it has not yet gone. The picture Jenn has had for our lives is that of a team on an obstacle course. We run to the wall first and get down on our hands and knees so others can spring over the wall. We do believe the great opportunity of our age is to engage the world of Islam with our magnificent, divine Jesus. We do consider the Arab world to be the heart of Islam. As Jesus is enthroned in the Arab world, we will be that much closer to every tribe, tongue, and people in worship, that much closer to Jesus coming back to take us all home. Whatever that costs us, Jesus is worth it.