Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Search Archive Print This Article Judas and Jesus Wednesday, April 20, 2011 Matthew 26:24 Jesus said, "The Son of Mankind is indeed going away, according as it is written concerning Him, yet woe to that man through whom the Son of Mankind is indeed being given up! Ideal were it for Him if that man were not born" (CLT).* Judas responded to Jesus, "Surely it's not me." When Jesus acknowledged this, Judas left quickly. This Passover celebration was full of surprises. Jesus continued with what has now become our Eucharist and Communion, giving bread and wine to his disciples while calling it his body and his blood. Judas and the rest of the disciples did not seem to get it that Jesus was about to die, even though he tried to make them understand. The rest of this night was to be agony for Jesus. The peace and quiet of reclining together at their table would be short-lived. It is so difficult for me too, to "get it." Jesus rescued me from unimaginable horrors by going through these next days and nights himself. What was it like for him? The hands and feet of St. Francis of Assisi are famous for receiving the wounds of Jesus on the cross, often called the stigmata. Francis must have felt what Jesus went through for him very deeply. In his book about this amazing man, Richard Rohr (a Franciscan himself) imagines a prayer Francis might have prayed: I thank you, Lord Jesus, for becoming a human being so I do not have to pretend or try to be God. I thank you, Lord Jesus, for becoming finite and limited so I do not have to pretend that I am infinite and limitless. I thank you, crucified God, for becoming mortal so I do not have to try to make myself immortal. I thank you, Lord Jesus, for becoming inferior so I do not have to pretend to be superior to anyone. I thank you for being crucified outside the walls, for being expelled and excluded like the sinners and outcasts, so you can meet me where I feel that I am, always outside the walls of worthiness. (from Hope Against Darkness, p. 38) And, Lord Jesus, thank you for turning away from peace and quiet toward an angry mob, toward inquisition, torture and death. For me. For me. * CLT = Concordant Literal Translation, published 1926. * For an interesting discussion of this passage, see the section marked "page 224" at this link: http://www.hopebeyondhell.net/blog/book-updates/ "; Add      Edit    Delete