Living with Deception

Mark 14:18-19
(18)  And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me."
(19)  They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, "Is it I?"

(18)  καὶ ἀνακειμένων αὐτῶν καὶ ἐσθιόντων ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν, Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι εἷς ἐξ ὑμῶν παραδώσει με, ὁ ἐσθίων μετ' ἐμοῦ. 

(19)  ἤρξαντο λυπεῖσθαι καὶ λέγειν αὐτῷ εἷς κατὰ εἷς, Μήτι ἐγώ;

This is one of those passages where I really try to put myself in the setting.  These twelve men had seen a lot and been through a lot with Jesus.  They had learned to expect the unexpected with Him as His teachings continually turned their worldviews around.  Remember, this is the same guy who touched lepers and spoke to a Samaritan woman.  

Their indignation at his statement comes through much more strongly in the Greek.  When they all say, Μήτι ἐγώ the word μητι indicates that they expect a negative response.  No one thinks that Jesus is referring to him.

Except for Judas Iscariot.  He knew the truth.  We know from a previous verse that he had already plotted with the Jews to betray Jesus.  I can only imagine how his heart must have been racing at Jesus' statement.  He had to know that he was found out.  Then it was confirmed later with Jesus' symbolic dipping of the bread in the bowl.

There are a lot of things we can apply from this passage.  However, the one dear to my heart is unconfessed sin. Are you a professing believer with unconfessed sin in your life?  I'm specifically thinking of sexual sin like porn or homosexuality.  Is this something that you are trying to hide?  When it's talked about at church do you take the stance of Μήτι ἐγώ like Judas did here?  Does it eat away at your heart every time you have to put on the good church face to cover up this secret life of sin?  Do you look at your kids and realize that these naked people after whom you lust are other people's little princesses?  

I don't care if you talk to me, your pastor, or a trusted friend.  Talk to someone.  Have the humility to get help about this.  We have too many people saying Μήτι ἐγώ at church every week.  Please stop being one of them.