Whats Important

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MARK

WHATS IMPORTANT

Mark 14:17-21

17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me — one who is eating with me."  19 They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, "Surely not I?" 20 "It is one of the Twelve," he replied, "one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 21 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." 

NIV

Other accounts make mention that each man asked, “is it I?” which when Judas asked Jesus replied, “Yes”. We certainly are seeing a record of a historical event and one that had to be played out accounting to the words of Jesus when he said, “The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him”. But are we seeing anything that would have a bearing or effect on our lives? Surely Judas was one of the twelve who seemed to love Jesus as much as the others, yet here he is about to do something which brings the death of Jesus. Again we have to ask if he was predestined to be the one to betray Jesus, or simply that Jesus knew eventually Judas would decide to make this kind of choice. Surely we are aware that Jesus, being God, has the power to see into the very heart of man, knowing his thoughts and choices before they are even made. Jesus had not treated Judas any different than the other eleven; even if he did know in advance Judas would be the betrayer. That is how Jesus treats us, all the same, the respecter of no person, or he does not show favoritism. Jesus treats us all with every ounce of love he has, even if we decide to betray him. Now surely we are not going to hand him over to the chief priests as Judas did, but we can still in some way betray Christ. Could we betray him by not speaking out against sin? Sure we like to think we are righteous and holy, and we come to church and act as if we are righteous and holy, but are we truly living the gospel out loud in the world where it counts? It is not the people of the world, the unsaved who are the betrayers of Christ; it is the ones who eat with him, those who partake in the communion at church, who would be capable of betrayal. If we confess we love him, but live for our own benefit is that a form of betrayal? If we confess we follow Christ, but follow after the material goods of this world, which takes on so many different views, is that a form of betrayal? If we profess our faith in Christ but look to self for security, is that betrayal? If we love Jesus but love our life more, is that betrayal? If we try to make our churches look like non-churches, so the unsaved will not be threatened, even if we say we are doing this so they will come in, is that a form of betrayal? If we soften, or dilute the gospel message in any way, is that betraying Christ? We have to be on guard at all times and be aware of not being like Judas in any manner at all. We need to take our stand no matter the cost. Maybe Judas thought being a follower of Christ was not all it was cracked up to be. Maybe he though Jesus was going to overthrow the Romans, or even the king of Israel, and set up a great powerful reign of his own in which Judas would have a starring role. Maybe Judas felt betrayed by Christ and wanted to regain the graces of the chief priests. Maybe the worlds way seemed better then Christ’s way. What we know is that we cannot ever afford to allow anything to be more important in our lives than Jesus.