We are human.  We have been betrayed by other humans led by self.  We have betrayed people with actions that have hurt others.  Some of those actions could have been unintentional on our part, but it still hurts.  Sometimes we betray those who betray us because in our human minds this kind of betrayal to get back at the one who betray us is justified.  This is what the world thinks.  We are not of this world if we believe in Jesus and walk in His ways.

Jesus shows us, as the Son of Man and of God, that indeed, betrayal is painful.  Jesus was “visibly upset” while talking about the one who betrayed him.  This man, Judas, a beloved disciple, sat at the last meal Jesus would share with his disciples. Imagine the small, jingling bag of coins in his pocket given for “selling Jesus out” to those who were plotting to kill Him. 

What does Jesus do at the meal knowing his betrayer?  Jesus shows the full extent of His love by serving His betrayer. The betrayer’s feet were washed by Jesus, Son of God.  Can we camp on this thought alone right now?!  We wonder how Judas is keeping his emotions in check that night.  Don’t you wonder?  But we see, that Jesus does not hold his emotions to himself.  The others know he is in pain because of the betrayal.

When we betray each other do we break the heart of God?  (Yes!)  What we do to each other we do to God.  Jesus taught us this truth.  See Matthew 25.

“What you must do,” said Jesus, “do. Do it and get it over with.” 

Judas, with the piece of bread, left.

John—God’s Love

John 13:18-30, The Message

The One Who Ate Bread at My Table

^18-20 “I’m not including all of you in this. I know precisely whom I’ve selected, so as not to interfere with the fulfillment of this Scripture:

The one who ate bread at my table

Will stab me in the back.

“I’m telling you all this ahead of time so that when it happens you will believe that I am who I say I am. Make sure you get this right: Receiving someone I send is the same as receiving me, just as receiving me is the same as receiving the One who sent me.”

²¹ After he said these things, Jesus became visibly upset, and then he told them why. “One of you is going to betray me.”

^22-25 The disciples looked around at one another, wondering who on earth he was talking about. One of the disciples, the one Jesus loved dearly, was reclining against him, his head on his shoulder. Peter motioned to him to ask who Jesus might be talking about. So, being the closest, he said, “Master, who?”

^26-27 Jesus said, “The one to whom I give this crust of bread after I’ve dipped it.” Then he dipped the crust and gave it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. As soon as the bread was in his hand, Satan entered him.

“What you must do,” said Jesus, “do. Do it and get it over with.”

^28-29 No one around the supper table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that since Judas was their treasurer, Jesus was telling him to buy what they needed for the Feast, or that he should give something to the poor.

³⁰ Judas, with the piece of bread, left. It was night.

WHAT DO WE LEARN?

Betrayal to God and to each other breaks the heart of God.

Lord,

We betray you when we are only self-motivated for self-survival in this world who would betray us in a heartbeat.  You do not and cannot betray us.  Betrayal is not in your nature or character.  Lord, we repent of those times we have fallen to betrayal as a last resort to cover up our tracks of sin.  Cleanse us.  Set us free of this sin that can maim our walk and can destroy the lives of others trying to walk with you.  May truth, Your Truth always rise to surface.  We know, without a doubt, you have already won over the enemy.  May we live victorious in you, leaving all acts of betrayal behind.  Betrayal just does not fit in a life that is fully devoted to you—heart, mind and soul.  Continue to grow us, Lord.  We’re not there, yet.  And you know this.

In Jesus Name, By Your Power in us, For Your Glory, Amen.