Nougat 24

What’s the worst thing someone has said to or about you? Was it true? What did it spur you on to do? These and more may comprise our reflections as we consider today’s Holy Nougat

“The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭14:21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So Jesus is having yet another meal with the disciples, and while it was the Last meal before His betrayal and arrest. The day started cryptically enough and every- one was perhaps rightfully distracted by the lavish spread before them. The room has the right ambiance; there’s enough space for them to recline and food and drink have been provided.

Then, His very Jesus-like fashion; Jesus offers a Word that challenges and perhaps struck fear, or at least more than mild concern. Jesus not only reintroduced the issue of His death; but He also suggested that ONE of them would be part of the scheme. Amidst the disciples’ expected, shocked exclamations was Jesus’ calm, unexpected and equally shocking answer:

”it would be better if that person had NOT been born!”

I don’t know what my response would have been. I think it might have stopped me in my tracks. No one desires to hear that it might be better to not exist. Not even wrongdoers! But then; had I been on the slope towards evil, could it, that statement that is, provide an excuse for me to blithely continue; taking no responsibility for my actions?

Is that what we do when on a path to disaster?

We don’t know Judas’s emotional response but one version of the Supper indicates that the moment after Judas took the took the sop, Satan entered him, … perhaps strengthening him to be hardened against Jesus.

Folks, offense is dangerous. Whereas Jesus was justified in His comment; for He knew what was coming next – Judas’ ostracism from both his co-conspirators and his peers; his quandary on how to undo the damage; and his remorse-grief over his susceptibility to Satan – suicide by one who was in the inner circle of Jesus, but did not see himself as an integral part of Jesus’ life.

Jesus knew that and was qualified and authorized to say what He did; especially since the deed had not yet been done. He didn’t call Judas by name; but spoke generically to all gathered. Jesus’s words were a warning that wasn’t heeded.

Could our words impart a sense of doom or rejection if we said the same thing? More critically, would we have the authority to say that?

Words matter

Motives matter

People matter

Lord

May our words and actions bring life; and may we surpass any negativity spoken into/over our lives by careless influencers in Jesus name amen

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May all we seek be found in Christ