Have your ever been betrayed
by a spouse or a friend? I have. And it does not feel good. I have also experienced death of people I love. And in my own personal experience - Betrayal is worse. Betrayal comes in so many forms - but mostly it means you are severed and hurt by the people that you love the most. Truly cut off - from that which you love... from that which gives you breath. Death - well, that just means people are gone. Cut for now, from the physical realm. But if they believe in Jesus, then I can confident hope that I will see them again. That’s how I got through my baby brother’s death. Betrayal - well, that’s a different story. Like death, it’s typically accompanied by intense shock and denial. But it also includes feelings of hopelessness related to someone you love and you trust. It’s one thing if you have time to turn, or to be able to run - it’s one thing to be able to respond to a vicious attack that is about to come. But to be totally exposed, in a complete trust position, Eyes closed and falling backwards, expecting to be held - and then unexpectedly feel a blade slash through your back - well, that’s just wrong! In confusion, you’re left wondering, “What the hell was that?” That’s what betrayal feels like. The initial pain is totally bad, but to turn around and see the knife came from your wife or husband, or your best friend - well - that my friend, is worse than death. It’s totally mind-numbing! How does one come back from that? The only way is through a repentant heart and forgiveness. Something only Jesus can do. Betrayal comes in many forms - It can look like a parent abandoning their children, or intentionally hurting them. It can look like a spouse loving, or lusting after, another man or woman - completely breaking your vows! And betrayal can come from a trusted friend, going behind your back, spreading your secrets, and selling you out. In essence, Betrayal is when someone you love, walks away and denies you. Betrayal feels like you don’t even exist - like everything you have trusted in is a total farce. Your whole life falls into a pit! In my opinion, Betrayal is the ultimate murder weapon. The blade comes out of nowhere, from someone you love - someone you trust, and instead of dying on the spot, you are left to suffer the horror of it all. The physical pain is deeply diminished by the shock of how it happened and who it happened by. The emotional pain is truly what kills you - and it’s such a slow, tormenting kind of death. How can anyone learn to trust again, when they’ve been betrayed by the people they love - the people who are supposed to love them? Who then can they count on? It’s like they never knew them at all! Well - this is the story of the Father, who was betrayed by His children. And this is the story of Jesus who was betrayed by His friends. But there is a difference between us and Him. God knows our hearts - nothing takes Him by surprise. He knows which vessels will deny him, but repent and return again; and He knows which vessels are too prideful and headstrong to apologize. But for us, our hearts are the most deceitful of all. We certainly can not trust in them. We must hold onto the covenant that has been given to us. Our only hope is to trust and hold onto Jesus. It’s only through Him that we can learn to love and forgive - other people and ourselves. Listen to this. “Then one of the Twelve - the one called Judas Iscariot - went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’ ” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?” Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.” While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” Matthew 26:14-30 Can you imagine to be like Jesus, to know the heart of a person from the very beginning. He knew Judas was going to betray him. And yet, He let it happen. Jesus let this evil vessel out God’s plan. From the very start, Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him. And yet, He washed his feet and allowed him to come to His last supper. Jesus allowed Judas to participate in the feast of the covenant - by sharing the bread and the wine that represent Him and the new covenant. Jesus said, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me." Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.” You see, the new covenant meal was an oath. The bread and the wine represented God’s blood sacrifice. No more animals would die. Jesus was the Passover Lamb of God. By participating in the meal, and then betraying Christ - Judas tied a rope around his own neck. Peter would also deny Christ. Jesus said, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.” Matthew 26:34-35 What Peter did not even realize his own heart. He never thought he would deny Christ. But Peter did exactly as Jesus said. And yet, Peter repented. His heart was good. He loved Jesus, his friend. Peter would spend the rest of his life spreading the message of Jesus until he died - Peter was hung on a cross, upside down - fulfilling his oath to pick up the cross and never again set it down. Peter would never again betray Christ. And the blood of Jesus was enough to save him from experiencing eternal death.
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