“And as they did eat, He said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me” (Matthew 26:21).

If the Lord were to appear in a fundamental, Bible-believing congregation and dramatically say to pastor and people: “One of you shall betray me,” what would be the immediate response? Anger? Denial? Mutual accusations? Self-proclaimed piety? The disciples of our Lord were faced with just such a startling revelation and reacted in the following three ways: “They were exceeding sorrowful” (Matthew 26:22). What tragedy results when one who has followed the Lord for many years betrays Him. Our hearts should be grieved and very sad over the thought that someone might turn his or her back on the Lord and betray Him. They “looked one on another” (John 13:22; Luke 22:23). The twelve disciples began a mental search of each other, wondering whom it could be. Possibly John thought Peter’s vacillating had caught up with him, while Peter thought John’s love had waned. Perhaps we would know right away in our church whom it would be. It’s probably the one who sits on the other side of the auditorium. “We’ve always suspected him anyway!” Finally, they each said, “Lord, is it I?” (Matthew 26:22). This is undoubtedly the best reaction of all. They stopped looking on others, did a little heart-searching, and realized that the potential for betrayal was within each of them. “If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O LORD, who shall stand?” (Psalm 130:3).

Judas was the one, yet they all soon “forsook Him and fled” (Matthew 26:56). Thus, each one, in his own way, betrayed the Lord. If we take our eyes the Lord, we have the potential for betraying Him as well. It caused Judas’ death and Peter’s broken heart. NPS