Scripture Reading: Matthew 26:17-30
Jesus left the temple for the last time on Tuesday evening and spent Wednesday in retirement. He gave instructions to two of His disciples on Thursday morning, concerning preparations for the Passover. They were go to a certain man and tell him, “The Master saith, My time is at hand; I keep the Passover at thy house.” The man was to be known by a certain sign — he would be carrying a pitcher of water (see mark 14:13; Luke 22:10). As women carried the burdens in those days, the sight of a man carrying water was uncommon. Hence the identification would be easy. Evidently secrecy was intended in the choosing of the place for the Passover. It is thought that the reason for this secrecy was to keep from Judas the knowledge of the place, as he was watching for an opportunity to betray Jesus. The Master is always coming to people and saying, “I keep the Passover at thy house.” He wants to be a guest in every family. Blessed is the home that opens to Him and gives Him its upper room as His guest chamber.
It was a sad announcement that Jesus made to the disciples that night when they had gathered about the table. “Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray Me.” Judas himself was at the table, and possibly one reason why Jesus made this announcement was to give him an opportunity to repent even at he last moment. It is remarkable that not one of the disciples seem to have suspected anyone as the traitor to whom Jesus had referred. They did not begin to say: “I wonder which of us it is? Do you think it can be Andrew? Do you suppose it can be Peter?” Instead of suspicion, each one shuddered at the possibility that he himself might, after all, be the one. “Is it I, Lords?” they all began to say. “Surely not I!” is the more accurate rendering. We should examine ourselves rather than look at others for sins we find condemned.
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