14 Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me, that I should deliver Jesus to you?” They weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

17 Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?”

18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain person, and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.”’”

19 The disciples did as Jesus commanded them, and they prepared the Passover. 20 Now when evening had come, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. 21 As they were eating, he said, “Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me.”

22 They were exceedingly sorrowful, and each began to ask him, “It isn’t me, is it, Lord?”

23 He answered, “He who dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes, even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.”

25 Judas, who betrayed him, answered, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?”

He said to him, “You said it.”

Matthew 26:14-25 - World English Bible

Like the gospel from Tuesday in Holy Week, today's gospel presented the betrayal scene from the Last Supper, but with a slightly different view. The passage began with Judas conspiring to hand over the Lord to the religious leaders; for his efforts, the Iscariot would receive the infamous "thirty pieces of silver" (according to some scholars, about four months wages).

Other disciples went to prepare the Passover meal, then Jesus and his inner circle met to celebrate the ritual supper. During the meal, he announced one would betray him. When pressed about the identity of the traitor, he indicated with the dipping of bread in a bowl of sauce at the same time as the betrayer. The act of such a man was so shameful, "it would have been better if he had not been born" (26:24)

When Judas asked, "Is it I?" Jesus responded, "You said it." The wheels of the plot to kill the Lord were set in motion.

Do you anticipate the celebration of Jesus' death with dread, resignation or both? Why?