The Upper Room – Week 2
The Upper Room
Bruised but Not Broken
September 14, 2025
The betrayal of Julius Caesar —> “Et tu, Brute?”
What do we do w/ that pain?
What does God do with it?
John 13:18–20 (ESV)
I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
Psalm 41:9 – ʿā·qēḇ
Genesis 3:15 (ESV)
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.
Jacob – (heel-grabber) עָקֵב & יַעֲקוֹב
Genesis 25:26; 27:36
Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
… 27:36
Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.” Then he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?
John 13:26-30 (ESV)
Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
Judas exits, into the darkness!
Light vs Darkness
John 1:5
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Satan – adversary, accuser, opponent
“Heel” in the biblical storyline = treachery and betrayal
John 13:31–35 (ESV)
When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’
Bring Christ your bruises & scars. Allow those places of deepest pain to become the place where resurrection breaks through.