The evening is filled with an atmosphere of celebration and joy. It is a beautiful restaurant with great food and drink. Everyone is laughing as they reminisce about old times working together. You realize in the midst of the loud storytelling that the place you have been assigned to sit is next to an empty chair. Moments later, in walks the final guest…your mortal enemy who forced you out of the company with his lies and backstabbing! The empty chair next to you has been assigned to THAT person. Seriously, who put your enemy, your betrayer, right next to you? What were the planners of this event thinking? Forgiveness? Healing? Confrontation? Truth revealed?

Jesus understands.

Mark 14, The Message
12 On the first of the Days of Unleavened Bread, the day they prepare the Passover sacrifice, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations so you can eat the Passover meal?”

13-15 He directed two of his disciples, “Go into the city. A man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him. Ask the owner of whichever house he enters, ‘The Teacher wants to know, Where is my guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ He will show you a spacious second-story room, swept and ready. Prepare for us there.”

16 The disciples left, came to the city, found everything just as he had told them, and prepared the Passover meal.

17-18 After sunset he came with the Twelve. As they were at the supper table eating, Jesus said, “I have something hard but important to say to you: One of you is going to hand me over to the conspirators, one who at this moment is eating with me.”

19 Stunned, they started asking, one after another, “It isn’t me, is it?”

20-21 He said, “It’s one of the Twelve, one who eats with me out of the same bowl. In one sense, it turns out that the Son of Man is entering into a way of treachery well-marked by the Scriptures—no surprises here. In another sense, the man who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man—better never to have been born than do this!”

“EATING OUT OF THE SAME BOWL..”
Jesus knows his betrayer well. They have shared everything, camped out together, eaten together many times along the way to accomplishing the mission Jesus was sent to be and do. Jesus also knows his betrayer’s heart. He has known it all along, yet he eats out of the same bowl with him. Jesus tells him He is not surprised at His betrayal, but He is still saddened by it. “I have something hard but important to say to you”…

I am surprised at the guilty consciences, but innocence, of the rest of the followers gathered around the last meal, the Last Passover Meal, Jesus will spend with them on earth. “It isn’t me, is it?”

We “eat out of the same bowl” with Jesus as we live this life for Him, to glorify HIM, to tell of His love, mercy and grace, to be a witness of all He has done, is doing, and will do in everyone’s lives if they believe. As believers, we know all the right words. But is our heart right with Him? He knows our hearts. He knows us from the inside out. He does not care about what our outward appearance might be but looks at our heart’s motivation and condition.

Does our behavior line up with what we say we believe? Who are we inside? We must ask ourselves every day, “It isn’t me, is it?” as we evaluate ourselves before the Lord. Is there someone we need to forgive, whether they ask for it or not? Is there something we have not done that God is telling us to do? Pray, Lord, break my heart of those things that break Yours and we will know where we stand, for the Lord will answer this sincere prayer quickly.

Dear Heavenly Father, Teach us to begin the day with Jesus. Let Him have His way. Ask for forgiveness and Forgive. Move on. Promised Peace will come. Love will overflow. No matter what the circumstance. It isn’t me, is it? Not anymore. We believe. And will listen and obey.
In Jesus Name, Amen