Matthew 26:21

‘And as they were eating, he said, “Truly I say to you, that one of you will betray me.”

And it was during this meal that Jesus dropped His first bombshell, declaring that one of those present was about to betray Him, that is, was about to ‘deliver' Him up. This must have occurred at some time after the pronouncing of the initial blessing. To Judas, who probably thought that he had covered his tracks well, this must have come like a bolt of lightning. He must have frozen in his tracks. How did Jesus know? And in all the disciples, who probably thought of betrayal in a lesser way, it struck home at their consciences.

‘And as they were eating.' This commences a pattern which ties in with what we have seen above, as follows:

* ‘And as they were eating' - He said that one who had dipped the bitter herbs in the dish would betray Him (Matthew 26:21).

* ‘And as they were eating' - Jesus took bread and blessed and broke it (Matthew 26:26).

* ‘And He took a cup and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it -- ' (Matthew 26:27).

* ‘I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until --' (Matthew 26:29).

Thus we have Betrayal, Brokenness, and Shedding of Blood, which will be followed by rejoicing and celebration within His Father's Kingly Rule.