Unity and Betrayal

I was talking yesterday about the fact that it seems like there are no characters who are pure, few stories about people who are simply good. (Except Samwise Gamgee, and Yoda of course)
As I read Scripture, again it is true that the more we get to know about people in the Bible, the more we are disappointed in their fallen state. It is hard to stomach the scene as the passover should have been a night of brotherhood and unity before the storm to follow. One more opportunity for Jesus to teach, and one more opportunity for the disciples to partake of his love in a very physical sense. But things are strongly tainted by Jesus' ominous prophecy.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus' disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"

So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, 'The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there."

The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me."

They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, "Surely not I?"

"It is one of the Twelve," he replied, "one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 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 14-12-21

How could they stand it? How is it that Peter doesn't draw his sword right here at the table?

Even as I ask the question, i find the answer apparently in these words. "They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, 'Surely not I.'" It was not because of a lack of desire to fight Jesus' enemies, but out of fear and sadness at the truth of their own hearts.

Not even the disciples was able to know for sure that they wouldn't be the weak one. And though this lack of strength might be troubling when we see it in ourselves, it is not troubling when it leads us to simply acknowledge our lack of strength, and seek the true source.

When we talk to Jesus, we can say, Surely not I Lord. And Jesus can look us in the eyes, and say "I gave myself for you to redeem you from all wickedness and to purify for myself a person that is my very own, eager to do what is good." -Titus 2:14

When we are troubled and weak. He is not.

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