Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?” And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him. From then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus.
Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.’” The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.
Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. As they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” And He answered, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself.” ~ Matthew 26:14-25
Judas was so arrogant that as he was plotting to betray Jesus, he said, “Surely it is not I?” Of course, Jesus knew all along that Judas would betray Him, and Judas surely should have realized by now that Jesus knew everything. So why did he think he could pretend to be innocent? Yet how often do we do the same thing? We try to hide our evil thoughts and sinful actions from God, when we are fooling no one but ourselves. How much better it is to confess our sins, repent, and beg forgiveness.
Lord God, You know everything I do and everything in my heart. When I sin in thought, word, or deed, may I never try to hide my sin. I want to confess it, turn away from it, and accept Your merciful forgiveness. Help me to do that. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.