Rev. Dr. Julie Higgs
“On the night when he was betrayed.”
Not on the night when he entered Jerusalem to cheering crowds.
Not on the night when he had taught about how physical blindness isn’t about sin.
Not on the night when Peter got the confession right—
“You are the Messiah, the son of the living God.”
Not on the night he turned water into wine,
Not on the night when he gave the woman living water,
Not on the night after he raised Lazarus from the dead,
Not on the night after he had been resurrected.
But on the night when he was betrayed.
We live in a world where people do unspeakable things to one another,
where differences of opinion become reasons to hate,
where self-interest often overcomes our ability really to see—and love-- others.
We live in a world where confrontation, even violence, are often our first responses,
where reconciliation is confused with “giving in,”
where trust is broken over and over again.
And we live in a world where, on the night when Jesus was betrayed,
on the night when Judas brought the soldiers and police,
on the night when his disciples first tried to use force to protect him,
on the night when Peter denied him,
On that night,
on the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and
gave thanks,
broke it and
gave it to his disciples, saying,
Take and eat;
This is my body,
given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper,
he took the cup,
gave thanks, and
gave it for all to drink, saying,
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people
for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
And, as if that weren’t enough,
on that same night,
on the night in which he was betrayed,
Jesus gave us a new commandment,
that we love one another.
Just as Jesus has loved us,
we also should love one another.
O Christ, this is so hard. When we feel betrayed, help us remember your response, your commandment, and your promises. We pray this in your holy name. Amen.
