ESOCS Devotional 27 October 2022
TEXT: MARK 14:12-31
MEMORY VERSE: “Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with me will betray me.’ And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one, ‘Is it I?’ And another said, ‘Is it I?’ He answered and said to them, ‘It is one of the twelve, who dips with me in the dish. The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born.’”Mark 14:18-21
0 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted lace ”
When Jesus started His ministry, He began to call His disciples who left all and followed Him. Several other people, because of what they saw and heard from Jesus, also followed Him. These were His disciples. Out of these people, He called twelve to Himself and made them His Apostles. Among them was a man called Judas Iscariot. By his appointment as an Apostle, he was among the privileged few. Christ invested much more in them. He spent extra hours teaching them, explaining things to them, preparing and equipping them for the ministry. They were with Him wherever he went and shared His private life. It was a relationship of trust. They were His closest friends, His confidants and He loved them. No one knew Jesus as they did.
It is unthinkable that a person from this category of followers will be false to Jesus and betray Him. That is why the Apostles reacted with shock and sadness when Jesus told them that one of them would betray Him. Betrayal is a very painful experience for it is done only by a trusted and very close person. If someone has ever betrayed you, you will understand that Jesus was in pain because a trusted friend who He had given much to and still had so much in stock for, was about to betray Him. Judas did. He violated the confidence Jesus had on him; he proved to be false and delivered Jesus into the hands of His enemies.
Christians are very dear to Christ. We are His priceless treasure for whom He shed His blood. He has freed us from sin and the power of Satan, saved us from eternal death and gave us eternal life. He has made us priests and kings. He has given us the Holy Spirit and filled us with great grace and ability. We are His Apostles, His representatives, His mouth pieces, and His examples to the unbelievers. It is a most unfortunate thing and heart breaking when a believer falls away and betrays Christ. We must learn from the fall of Judas.
- He communed with the enemy. Believers must keep away from all evil communications, otherwise it is a matter of time before they fall and betray their salvation.
- He was a man that loved money. Believers should take care to ensure that money or the material things do not rule their lives and become the driving force that dominates them. For the love of money is the root of all evil and the love of the world is enmity with God. A believer that loves money or loves the world will fall and betray Christ.
Guard your salvation jealously!
CHALLENGES
- Apart the two things enumerated above, how else can a Christian guide his life?
PRAYERS
- Lord, help us to stand firmly in faith. May our daily life bring glory to you. Amen.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
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ESOCS Devotional 27 October 2022
