Passover Supper
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began to examine their own hearts to ascertain if one thought against
the Master found lodgment there. With the most painful feelings, one
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after another inquired, “Lord, is it I?” But Judas sat silent. John, in
deep distress, inquired at last, Who is it, Lord? and Jesus answered,
“He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray
me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him, but woe unto that
man by whom the Son of man is betrayed; it had been good for that
man if he had not been born.” The disciples had searched one another’s
faces closely as they asked, “Lord, is it I?” and now the silence of
Judas drew all eyes to himself. Amid the confusion of questions and
the expressions of astonishment, Judas had not heard the words of
Jesus in answer to John’s question. But now, to escape the searching
scrutiny of the disciples, he asked as they had done, “Master, is it I?”
Jesus replied with solemn accents, “Thou hast said.” Confused and
overcome by the unexpected discovery of his crime, Judas hastily rose
to leave the room; but as he went out, Jesus said, “What thou doest, do
quickly.”
There was a touching forbearance manifested in the dealing of
Jesus with Judas. It evinced an infinite mercy, giving him one more
chance of repentance, by showing him that all his thoughts and pur-
poses were fully known to the Son of God. He deigned to give one
final, convincing proof of his divinity to Judas before the consum-
mation of his treachery, that he might turn from his purpose before
repentance was too late. But Judas, although surprised and alarmed,
was not moved to repentance. He only became more firmly settled
in his plan as the discovery of his guilt was made apparent. He went
forth and proceeded to carry out the work he had engaged to do.
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The purpose of the Saviour in pronouncing the woe upon Judas
was twofold: First, to give the false disciple a last opportunity to save
himself from the betrayer’s doom; and, secondly, to give the disciples a
crowning evidence of his Messiahship, in revealing the hidden purpose
of Judas. Said Jesus: “I speak not of you all; I know whom I have
chosen; but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread
with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it
come, that when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.”
Had Jesus remained silent, in apparent ignorance of that which was
to come upon him, an impression might have been left on the minds of
his disciples that their Master had not divine foresight, and had been