Day 54: Jesus predicts Judas’s betrayal
Have you ever been really let down by a close friend? Maybe you’d spent a lot of time together. He or she had been to your house tons of times. You’d told them your secrets and really trusted them. Then one day they just stopped being your friend—or worse, started saying nasty things about you to other people. It really hurts when someone does that. Yesterday, we saw Judas Iscariot going to betray Jesus to His enemies. Today, we’ll see that Jesus knew what Judas was up to.
What day was it in verse 12?
What did the disciples ask Jesus (v. 12)?
What does Jesus tell two of His disciples to do (v. 13)?
What does Jesus tell His disciples to say to the owner of the house (v. 14)?
What does Jesus say the owner will show the disciples (v. 15)?
What do Jesus’ disciples find when they follow His instructions (v. 16)?
Just like when Jesus sent His disciples to get a colt for Him to ride into Jerusalem (Mark 11:1–6), He’s totally in control of this situation.
What does Jesus say when He was eating with His disciples that evening (v. 17)?
How did Jesus’ disciples feel when He said this (v. 19)?
What did they each say (v. 19)?
How does Jesus respond (v. 20)?
Jesus had lots of other disciples (including many women) in addition to the twelve apostles (see Luke 8:1–3). But Jesus is specifying here that it’s one of His twelve apostles who will betray Him.
What does Jesus say about Himself in verse 20?
What does Jesus say about the person who betrays Him (v. 21)?
How does this conversation show us once again that Jesus is completely in control as He heads toward His death?
See if you can remember our memory verse from Mark 10:45. Try to write it down. If you can’t remember all of it, look it up and write it down and have another practice. We’re getting close to the part of Mark’s gospel where Jesus gives His life, just like He planned.
Praise Jesus that He was not just a passive victim of His circumstances, but that He knew exactly what was going to happen, even down to which of His disciples would betray Him. Tell God about a time when you felt deeply hurt by a friend letting you down, and thank Him that Jesus knows exactly how this feels. Pray that God would help you to be a faithful friend and a faithful follower of Jesus.