One element of Absalom’s rebellion against his father, King David, involved Ahithophel. He was one of David’s trusted counselors, but he sided with Absalom instead.

The deep hurt that David felt from this betrayal was evident in Psalm 55:12-14. “For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, then I could bear it,” David wrote. “Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, then I could hide myself from him. But it is you, a man my equal, my companion and my familiar friend;we who had sweet fellowship together walked in the house of God in the throng.”

Ahithophel was a prototype of Judas, Jesus’ betrayer in the New Testament. But one of the differences in the situations is that Jesus knew beforehand that he would be betrayed — and he knew his betrayer. He called out Judas at the Last Supper, the prototype for this memorial that we partake of this morning.

I merged the accounts of that story in the gospels and will read it now:

When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.”

When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me. Behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table. For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”

The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking. Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. So Simon Peter gestured to him, and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.” He, leaning back thus on Jesus’ bosom, said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus then answered, “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.” 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.” So when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; andit was night.

… Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!” While He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Judas was preceding them. Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.” And he approached Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss? Friend, do what you have come for.” Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.

Jesus felt the sting of that betrayal, just as David felt the sting of Ahithophel’s betrayal. And it was actually just one of multiple betrayals Jesus endured. Peter denied him three times, and most of His disciples left Jesus that night. Yet He went through with the crucifixion — for all of us, who betray Him still every time we sin.

Let’s think about that this morning as we remember the emblems of His broken body and blood, given for us so that we could have the hope of heaven.