LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 8 – BREAD AND BETRAYAL
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Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine!
A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER
For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come and See! 30 Family Bible Stories for Easter.
Today, I am reading Come and See! Chapter 8 – BREAD AND BETRAYAL.
Come and See! invites families of elementary-aged children to experience firsthand the anticipation, the sorrow, the tragedy, the fear, and the ultimate triumph of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Through the eyes of six eye witnesses, you will be led on a journey through the busyness of the streets of Jerusalem, to the despair of Golgotha, and finally to the celebration of the empty grave.
This bookincludes 30 short devotional stories, each with accompanying Scripture references and questions for discussion and imagination.
We are going to be reading one story each day leading up to Easter. You’re welcome to grab the kids and listen together for your family Bible time. Or, if you would rather read to your kids on your own, you can DOWNLOAD A FREE COPY OF THE ENTIRE EBOOK HERE.
LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 8 – BREAD AND BETRAYAL
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READ COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 8 – BREAD AND BETRAYAL
BREAD AND BETRAYAL – Told by Judas, A Disciple of Jesus
“I coughed, nearly choking on my bite of bread. My hands began to shake, and my ears grew hot. He knew? He knew what I was planning to do? I gulped a mouthful of wine to wash down the bread stuck in my throat.”
JUDAS, DISCIPLE OF JESUS
It had been several days since I had met with the priests in the temple that fateful night, devising our scheme to capture Jesus. It was now Thursday evening, and Jesus had planned for the disciples to be together for dinner in the city. I had been doing a good job of maintaining my façade, and I was pretty sure no one suspected anything. Even so, I was nervous that evening as we ate dinner. Tonight was the night.
Passover officially started after sundown that evening, and the Passover lambs would be sacrificed the next afternoon in the temple. The priests wanted to make sure that Jesus was arrested and that all the loose ends were tied up before the Sabbath began, after sundown on Friday evening.
We sat down to a meal of grilled fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, and warm barley bread. Normally, I couldn’t resist a delicious spread of food, but that night my stomach was in knots, and I could barely enjoy the meal at all. I looked around nervously. Did anyone suspect what I was planning to do tonight?
I knew that Jesus often went to the Mount of Olives to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane. In years past, we had prayed together in this same garden, when we visited Jerusalem. I planned to sneak out after dinner and tell the chief priests where Jesus was going to be. Then I would lead them directly to him. Gethsemane was a secluded place, away from the crowds of people and the lights of the city. It was the perfect spot. Jesus would just disappear, and no one would ever know what had happened to him.
I had just taken a big bite of bread when Jesus spoke. “My friends, I need to tell you something.” He spoke slowly, and it was clear that he was upset about what he was about to say. “The truth is, there is someone among us who is not who he claims to be. He has been pretending to be a friend, but in reality, he is planning to betray me this very night.”
I coughed, nearly choking on my bite of bread. My hands began to shake, and my ears grew hot. He knew? He knew what I was planning to do? I gulped a mouthful of wine to wash down the bread stuck in my throat.
The other disciples began to murmur among themselves, clearly concerned about this announcement Jesus had just made. One by one, they began to inquire:
“Is it I, Lord?”
“It’s not me, is it?”
“Surely, I won’t be the one to betray you.”
“Who is it, Lord? Who would dare to do such a thing?”
I tried to act casual, not wanting to draw attention to myself. I tore off another chunk of bread and reached forward, dipping it into the bowl of oil in the middle of the table. Just as I stretched out my arm, Jesus too leaned forward and dipped his bread into the bowl. I glanced up, and his gaze met with mine. His eyes were sad, as if to say, “I know what you’re up to, but I still love you.” I quickly looked away and pulled back my hand. I couldn’t bear for those eyes to pierce my soul.
“Who is it, Lord?” the other disciples continued to ask. “Who will betray you?”
“It is the one who has just dipped his bread into the bowl with my bread,” Jesus replied.
Anger and hatred once again filled my heart, as if prompted by the father of evil himself. I stood quickly and excused myself from the table. “Hey guys, I’ve gotta get going. I’ve got some money business to take care of.” I hoped the others wouldn’t suspect my true motives.
As I approached the door to leave, Jesus called to me, “Judas!” I turned to face him, not lifting my eyes to meet his. “Whatever you need to do, do it quickly.” I hurried from the room and raced down the steps into the cold night air.
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