Holy Week
After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death. But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.” Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him. Mark 14:1-2, 10-11
Many people have on their bucket list spending time with family, friends, and loved ones. As Jesus looks to His own death (T-2), He does spend time with His disciples. One of those disciples would betray Him.
It is interesting to note that the “chief priests” — people you would expect to be of high moral character — wanted to “put Him to death.” They knew that even the common people would recognize their malice and uproar, so their plan was to wait until after the Passover Festival before murdering Jesus.
Jesus had other plans. He knew that He must die soon. In fact, Jesus says to Judas in John 13:27, “What you are about to do, do more quickly.” (EHV) Jesus seems to force Judas and the chief priests to move up their time-table!
We have a tendency to love those who love us, and those who hate us. Some plan revenge (“best served cold”) and others ignore them in hopes that “they will just leave me alone.” Jesus did neither. Jesus sought earnestly to warn them of their sin, and tried to get them to repent. Even when given Judas’ kiss, Jesus asked him, “Friend, why have you come?” (Matthew 26:50)
The truth of the matter is that Jesus came to call not the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Jesus came to save sinners like us.
Whence come these sorrows, whence this mortal anguish?
It is my sins for which Thou, Lord, must languish;
Yea, all the wrath, the woe, Thou dost inherit,
This I do merit.
The Lutheran Hymnal 143:3