On the Ides of March 44 B.C., Julius Caesar was assassinated at a meeting of the Roman senate. Sensing a bad omen, his wife urged him to stay home. Yet he pressed his way to the meeting. Within minutes of his arrival, Caesar was stabbed twenty-three times by senators. The final wounds were inflicted by Marcus Julian Brutus, whom Caesar considered a son. His final words were to Brutus, “You too, child?” 

 The assassination of Julius Caesar is considered the greatest act of betrayal in history. What Judas did to Jesus is infinitely worse than what Brutus did to Caesar. 

• Brutus betrayed a tyrant in the making. 
• Judas betrayed the incarnate Son of God. 

Caesar was an expert and experienced general. Yet betrayal caught him by surprise. Not so with Jesus! The betrayal, arrest, trial, condemnation, and execution of Jesus were man at his worst. But he was not the victim of circumstances. Jesus was in control to the end. Mark 14:17-21 illustrates the authority of Jesus during these crisis moments. It was Thursday of Passion Week. Jesus sent two disciples to make preparations for the Passover. The instructions Jesus gives begin a series of predictions Jesus makes on the eve of his crucifixion. 

• In verses 12-16, Jesus predicts the arrangements for the Passover. 
• In verses 17-21, Jesus predicts the imminent betrayal of Judas. 
• In verses 22-25, Jesus predicts the coming of the kingdom of God. 
• In verses 26-31, Jesus predicts that Peter will deny him three times. 

These prophetic declarations prove the sovereign authority of Jesus. No one took his life. He laid it down to pick it up again. We see that clearly in Jesus’ prediction of Judas’ betrayal. The protagonist of the story is Jesus, not Judas. What Jesus says here about Judas speaks to us: Jesus knows who is with him and against him. You may fool some of the people all of the time. You may fool all of the people some of the time. You cannot fool Jesus. What does Jesus know about you? Mark 14:17-21 shows us three ways Jesus deals with a traitor in the midst. 

Jesus Knows The traitor in The Midst. 

Verse 17 says, “And when it was evening, he came with the twelve.” Sometime after 6 PM, Jesus slipped into Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. He arrived with “the twelve.” This detail establishes it was only Jesus and the Twelve at the Last Supper. The other Gospel writers give fuller accounts of the Last Supper. Mark only reports Jesus’ prediction of his betrayal and the institution of the Lord’s Supper. He spends more time on Judas’ betrayal than the Lord’s Supper.

Verse 18 says, “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.’” W. Graham Scroggie wrote: “This announcement of the betrayal is very brief, but very full, brief in syllables but full of sorrow.” 

A Solemn Announcement. “Truly, I say to you” introduces a solemn affirmation. “Truly” is the word for “Amen.” Jesus never needed to confirm the validity or veracity of his words. He was truth personified. Matthew 25:35 says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” “Truly, I say to you” does not affirm or confirm his words. It emphasizes his words to get their full attention. 

John 13:21 says, “After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, ‘Truly, Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.’” In the shadow of the cross, Jesus made this solemn announcement with a troubled spirit. Isaiah 53:4-5 says, “Surely he has borne our grief and carried our sorrow; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”

A Shocking Announcement. As the disciples enjoyed the Passover with Jesus and one another, Jesus dropped a bomb: “One of you will betray me.” “Betray” means “to hand over.” It was used for arresting a criminal or turning a prisoner over for punishment. Mark 9:31 and Mark 10:33 predict Jesus will be “delivered” into the hands of men. Now the disciples learn Jesus will be delivered because one of them will betray him. Notice the wording of this shocking announcement: 

• “You” is on one side of betray. 
• “Me” is on the other side of betray.

Lean into these two prepositions. You will do it. Mark 3:13-15 says, “And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.” Yet one of you will betray me. We are quick to apply this text to ourselves. But we are sinners who have been victims and perpetrators of wrongdoing. We had it coming! You reap what you sow; but you may not reap where you sow. Jesus didn’t have it coming. Yet, one of you will betray me.  

A Striking Announcement. Jesus further identifies the traitor: “One who is eating with me.” Eating together was an act of friendship, fellowship, and fidelity. To hurt or harm someone who shared a meal with was dishonorable, nefarious, treacherous. This clause alludes to Psalm 41:9: “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.” David wrote those words about Ahithophel, his ally and advisor, who turned on him to help Absalom overthrow David. Ironically, Ahithophel died by suicide. Jesus appropriated David’s words and applied them to himself.

One of the twelve will turn on Jesus and help his enemies to arrest and kill him. Luke 22:21 says, “But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.” It is not the enemies of Jesus who do him the most harm. It is those who name the name of Christ.

Jesus Hides The Traitor in The Midst. 

Jesus knew that he would be betrayed and who would betray him. But Jesus redacted Judas’ identity from this indictment. The disciples asked who would do it. Jesus answered without pulling the shade on Judas. He covers for the one who would sell him out. 

The Sad Question. Verse 19 says, “They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” The words of Jesus cause the disciples pain, grief, and fear. Luke 22:23 says, “And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.” Mark notes that they directly asked Jesus. “One after another” tells us it was not a group question. Each one asked Jesus, “Is it I?” The grammar assumes a negative answer: “It is not I, is it?” It was a statement of denial and a cry for reassurance. We have seen and will see the failure of the disciples. Here we see them at their best. 

They trusted one another. The disciples did not assume it was Judas. It is a statement of Judas’ profound hypocrisy. He had them all fooled. He fooled himself. But this is about the disciples, not Judas. No one accused Judas or anyone else. They trusted one another. Christian fellowship gives one another the benefit of the doubt. Unity is shattered by gossip and slander that suspiciously points the fingers at others. In 1 Samuel 12:7, Nathan said to David, “You are the man.” I believe the prophet spoke to the king with a broken heart, tear-stained eyes, and a trembling voice. Godly people confront sin but error on the side of grace. 1 Corinthians 13:7 says, “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

 They mistrusted themselves. Instead of saying, “You are the man,” the disciples asked, “Is it I?” They pointed the finger at themselves rather than one another. The disciples believed in and were devoted to him. Verse 31 says, “But he said emphatically, ‘If I must die with you, I will not deny you.’ And they all said the same.” Yet when Jesus announced one of them would betray him, they all conceded the possibility that it could be them. 1 Corinthians 11:28 says, “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” In our text, each disciple asked, “It is I?” before the received the Lord’s Supper. The seeds of betrayal reside in the heart of the most devoted disciple.

• It is wise to confess your guilt. 
• It is foolish to confess your innocence. 

1 Corinthians 10:12 says, “Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands stake heed lest he fall.” Don’t trust yourself!

The Shrewd Answer. Verse 20 reads: “And he said to them, ‘It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping his bread into the dish with me.’” This shrewd answer makes a statement about Judas and Jesus. 

 The Treachery of Judas. Who will betray Jesus?

 A follower betrayed Jesus! “It is one of the twelve.” Verse 10 says, “And Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them.” Verse 43 says, “And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.” Jesus did not call Judas’ name. Mark ensures that there is no confusion about the identity of the traitor by telling us, “It is one of the twelve.”

  A friend betrayed Jesus! It is “one who is dipping his bread into the dish with me.”

• This clause does not identify the traitor. 
• It expresses the nearness of the traitor. 

John 13:23-26 reads: “One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side, so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So that disciple leaning back against Jesus, said to him, ‘Lord, who is it?’ Jesus answered, ‘It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.’ So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.”

 The Tenderness of Jesus. If Jesus had identified Judas, he would not have made it out of the Upper Room alive. John 18:10 says Peter cut off a man’s ear to protect Jesus. What do you think he would have done to Judas? The disciples didn’t have a chance to protect Jesus from Judas because Jesus protected Judas from the disciples. 

John 13:27-29 says, “Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, ‘Buy what we need for the feast,’ or that he should give something to the poor.” Jesus was faithful to the one who would forsake him. The tenderness of Jesus has not changed. He knows who among us is with or against him. Yet, in his mercy and grace, he hides what he knows about us. Thank God for divine cover-ups! 

Jesus Warns The Traitor in The Midst. 

The statements of Jesus in verses 18 and 20 are cryptic. But the text ends with a plain statement in verse 21 that warns of the mystery and misery of eternal punishment. 

The Mystery of Eternal Punishment. The cross was a mysterious concurrence of divine sovereignty and human responsibility. 

Divine Sovereignty. Verse 21 says, “For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him.” “The Son of Man”was how Jesus identified himself.

• Son of God states his deity; Son of Man states his humanity. 
• Son of God reflects his glory; Son of Man reflects his humility. 
• Son of God declares his sovereignty; Son of Man declares his suffering. 

 The Son of Man “goes as it is written of him.” “Goes” refers to a voluntary act. Jesus died as a volunteer, not a victim. He chose to “go as it is written of him” in Old Testament passages that point to the death of the Suffering Servant. Jesus willingly submitted to whatever was required to fulfill God’s word. You don’t believe the Bible unless you are willing to trust and obey the hard parts. “As it is written” also refers to the eternal decrees of the heavenly Father. Acts 2:23 Jesus was “delivered according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God.”

Human Responsibility. Note the stark contrast: “But woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed.” “Woe” has a twofold meaning here. 

• It is the Lord’s sorrow for Judas. 
• It is the Lord’s judgment on Judas. 

Jesus calls Judas “that man.” Judas was in the company of the disciples. He did not have a true relationship with him. God’s predestination and preordination did not exonerate Judas from moral responsibility. Henry Swete wrote: “The divine necessity of the Passion was no excuse for the free agent who brought it about.” Genesis 50:20 says, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” God redeemed us through the betrayal of Jesus. Yet he held Judas accountable for his treacherous act. This is the mystery of eternal punishment: 

• If you go to heaven, God gets all the glory! 
• If you go to hell, it’s nobody’s fault but yours! 

The Misery of Eternal Punishment. Verse 21 ends: “It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” This is the most terrible statement about hell in scripture. It does not mention unquenchable flames, gnashing teeth, or outer darkness. It is terrible because of what it does not say. How horrible is hell? It is so horrible that it would be better not to be born at all than to die and to go hell. D. Edmond Hiebert said, “There is a sinning which utterly negates the good of human existence.” This is not the final judgment of Judas. It is the final warning to Judas. The disciples didn’t know Jesus was talking to and about Judas. Judas knew! Yet he refused to hear and heed the warning. 

• His sinful heart led him down the wrong path. 
• His stubborn heart would not let him turn around. 

Jesus knows who is with or against him. What does Jesus know about you? The God of the second chance is the God of the last chance! Run to the cross!