The Betrayer is at Hand - Matthew 26:46

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus came, “unto a place called Gethsemane, and said unto the disciples, Sit you here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then said he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry you here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as you will. And he came unto the disciples, and finds them asleep, and said unto Peter, What, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, your will be done. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then came he to his disciples, and said unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse forty-six of his book, Matthew wrote how Jesus told His disciples, “he is at hand that does betray me” where we read:

Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that does betray me.

The verse reads, “Rise, let us be going:” Matthew began word, “rise” which means “arouse from sleep and awake”, “let us” or “allow and permit Jesus and His disciples to” “be going” which means “to lead away, be impelled and depart”. Matthew shared how Jesus stirred His disciples and instructed them to depart from where they were.

The verse continues, “behold, he is at hand that does betray me.” Matthew added the word, “behold” which means “look and see”, “he is at hand” or “the man is present” “that does betray me” which means “who will deliver up treacherously and commit Jesus to the chief priests”. Matthew shared how Jesus declared that His “betrayer” was nearby.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus knew not only that He would be “betrayed”, but He also knew the timing of it as well. Jesus prayed to His Father God to remove this “cup” if possible. He submitted His “will” to God's, and He knew the timing of His betrayal. Through these deliberate acts, God demonstrated His love for people, and He showed His desire to have a personal relationship with every one of them through His Son Jesus. Only when they yield their lives to Him as their “Savior and Lord” shall they begin to know the extent that He went so they might be “saved”, and they shall also inherit His promise of “everlasting life” with Him.

Next time Matthew shares “while he yet spoke, lo, Judas … came”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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