10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.
Comment: The ‘then’ at the beginning indicates that possibly because of the waste of money on Jesus, by the woman yesterday, Judas betrayal of Jesus was forthcoming. Maybe it was a warrior Messiah that He wanted Jesus to be not the meek and caring person Whom He was! No one except God only knows what Judas’ real motives were, but he was responsible!
12 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?” 13 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, 14 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?’ 15 And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” 16 And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. Comment: On the first day of the Passover feast the Paschal lamb was killed and prepared between midday and 3pm. In the book of Exodus it was clearly told how it was be eaten on the first day and commemorated annually. What behind the scenes arrangements had been made by Jesus, maybe through one of His followers to have this meal in this particular place? The two disciples detailed to carry out Jesus bidding found the water-carrying man (?servant or slave) as Jesus indicated (how did He know where the man would be at exactly the right time) – we don’t know. Was it arranged or was it because as God He just knew? It doesn’t matter, it happened as Jesus indicated. The need for a meal for at least 13 people suggests to me that some preparation had been foreseen and performed!
17 And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. 18 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.” 19 They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” 20 He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. 21 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.” Comment: Why did they all say “Is it I?” when Jesus indicated His coming betrayal? Jesus didn’t immediately indicate at that time who His betrayer would be. I can say that because by the custom, as it still is in many cultures, the main food was in the centre and people broke off bread and took a portion of the main meal, mouthful by mouthful! They would have been eating from the common bowl! The gospel of Matthew indicates that almost immediately Jesus put the others minds at rest and gave Judas the confirmation that he was the betrayer, which he already knew as he had gone behind Jesus back to the authorities! According to John’s gospel, having heard from Jesus he immediately left the meal and was not present at the institution of the Eucharist!
Proverbs 14: 25 – A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.
Prayer: You have called Your followers to witness for You. Please keep me faithful in word and living style to You,
As I read it! 
The shame of it all is how often we also should ask ourselves, “Is it I?”
LikeLike