After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, "Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me." The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. John 13: 21-22

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us…

I am going back to a petition of the Lord’s Prayer that I have already thought much about. As I write this devotion, I am surprised by the plethora of new insights that this prayer provides.

I receive a daily devotion from Luther Seminary and today the comments were about the story in the Gospel of John that we read on Maundy Thursday (tomorrow). Jesus is sitting at table with his disciples celebrating the Passover meal, which will be his last, and after dinner, he looks around and announces that one of them will betray him. It’s amazing, not only that Jesus knew all the events that were about to take place, but that, as he announced that one of his beloved and trusted disciples would betray him, they looked around at each other, not sure of who he was talking about.

“Betrayal. Lord, who is it? Even Judas seems curious. We ask, but do not want to know. It is like Hemingway's bell for us. We are the ones who have betrayed, denied, abandoned. It is true of the apostles at the table with Jesus. Which of us can assume superiority?” (from God Pause, Wed April 8 John Martin Mann)

We are all the ones who need forgiveness. Maybe we don’t even realize what we’ve done, but when we look into our hearts, we cannot accuse or judge anyone. God loves each one of us, even when God knows what is in our hearts.

Look around. Which one of you will be the betrayer? It is each of us.

Prayer for today

Lord, we thank you for your mercy for each of us, poor and miserable sinners. We need it – if we didn’t, it wouldn’t be mercy. Forgive us for our trespasses and help us to forgive. Amen.