Mensa Otabil - Betrayed
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Welcome. Today is a special day for this broadcast; it marks one year since we started. A year ago, about this time, it was a Monday, and we began this broadcast to minister to people during the lockdown era. It started as a five-day broadcast and then became a seven-day broadcast. It has been my joy and privilege to bring you God’s word daily. I trust that it has been useful for you and has been a blessing to your life. I pray that God gives us the grace to continue doing what we do. I pray for the video crew and everyone who is part of the team that makes «Where to Go» come to you.
All right, let’s get into our reading for today: Luke chapter 22. While he was still speaking, behold, a multitude. He who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said to him, «Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?» Betrayal—if you’ve experienced it, you know how painful it is, and everyone understands the pain of betrayal when someone who knows something about you uses that information to harm you. That is what betrayal is all about. The disciples were accustomed to praying with Jesus in Gethsemane when they were in Jerusalem. It was their place of rest and quiet, a refuge away from the crowds. Judas knew this was the time to get Jesus alone because the Jews did not want to arrest Jesus in public; that would cause a commotion. They looked for someone in the camp of Jesus who knew how to get Jesus to a quiet place, and that’s how Judas led the team to Gethsemane.
After Jesus had finished preaching, there came Judas with guards from the temple and Roman soldiers as well, and they came to arrest Jesus Christ. For the price of 30 shekels of silver, Judas betrayed the man he had committed to—the man he had lived with for three years, learned from, and shared so much of a relationship with—and he betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ, feigning affection with a kiss. Isn’t it amazing? Sometimes betrayal comes camouflaged as affection, and that’s how it happened to Jesus Christ.
So Jesus asked Judas the question, «Are you betraying me with a kiss?» If you look at the question, it doesn’t seem like Jesus is hurt or angry, or that he feels betrayed or let down. He is asking Judas a question: «Are you really sure you know what you’re doing?» That question is meant to touch the heart of Judas, to prod his conscience so that Judas, even after this, will think about what he has done and repent. We know he took the money, later felt bad about it, but he didn’t really repent. He felt sad and condemned, but repentance is not just about feeling sad; it’s about feeling sad, turning away from what you have done, and accepting forgiveness. That is what repentance is, and Judas did not accept forgiveness.
Although it’s not in the passage we read, after Jesus was betrayed, Peter cut off the ear of one of the people who came to arrest Jesus Christ, and Jesus healed the ear that had been cut off. It’s amazing that the last recorded healing ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ was at the time when he had been betrayed by a close friend and was being arrested. In the midst of all that, instead of bitterness, we see healing. That is the awesomeness of the Lord Jesus Christ; he was fully in charge of his emotions and constantly doing the will of the Father.
Have you felt betrayed? Do you think people have hurt you? Are you carrying that betrayal? Look to Jesus and see how he handled this betrayal, and perhaps you can learn from him and also be a person of healing and restoration, not a bearer of pain and anguish.
Let’s pray. Say with me: «Heavenly Father, heal my heart from any experience of betrayal in my past. Help me never to betray another. In Jesus' name, amen.»
You know Jesus is our example in so many ways, and today we learn how to deal with betrayal from him. I’ll catch you again tomorrow. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.