An English Passion According to Saint Matthew, Part One: III. The Upper Room - Hymn 2

One of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said

What will you give me if I betray him to you?

They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him. On the first day

of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to

Jesus, saying

Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?

Jesus said

Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, The Teacher says, my time is near I will keep the Passover at your house

So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve, and while they were eating, he said

Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me

And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another

Surely not I, Lord?

Jesus answered

The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl

with me will betray me, the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed, it would have been better for that one not to have been born

Judas, who betrayed him, said

Surely, not I, Rabbi?

Jesus replied

You have said so

While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of

bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said

Take, eat, this is my body

Then he took a cup and, after giving thanks, he gave it to them, saying

Drink from it, all of you for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom

The bread and wine that Jesus gives

Is love that binds us all to him

Judas was there

And so it is

Your faithless friend can walk with you