Betrayal Plot!

Events on Nisan 12

Please read Matthew 26:1-5; 14-16; Luke 22:1-6

Jesus apparently spends Nisan 12, quietly with his apostles. He realizes that the hypocritical religious leaders are seeking to kill him. Jesus does not show himself openly. He does not want anything to interfere with his celebrating the Passover with his apostles the following evening.

Jesus prepares his apostles for what is soon to come saying, "You know that two days from now the passover occurs, and the Son of man is to be delivered up to be impaled." -Matthew 26: 1 & 2

In the meantime, the chief priests and the older men of the people have gathered in the courtyard of the high priest, Caiaphas. They are making plans to seize Jesus by crafty device and have him put to death. Yet they keep saying: " Not at the festival, in order that no uproar may arise among the people." They are in fear of the people, whose favor Jesus enjoys.
-Matthew 26: 3-5; Luke 22:1, 2.

While the religious leaders are wickedly conspiring to kill Jesus, they receive a visitor. To their surprise, it is one of Jesus' own apostles, Judas Iscariot, the one into whom Satan has implanted the horrible idea of betraying his Master! How pleased they are when Judas inquires: "What will you give me to betray him to you?" They gladly agree to pay him 30 silver pieces, the price of a slave according to the Mosaic Law covenant. (Exodus 21:32) From then on, Judas seeks a good opportunity to betray Jesus to them without a crowd around. -Matthew 26:14-16; Luke 22:3-6.