Mensa Otabil - The Pain of Betrayal
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Luke Chapter 22: While he was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and 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 gone through it, it’s painful, and everybody understands the pain of betrayal. When somebody who knows something about you uses what they know about you to do harm to 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, the place of quiet. That’s where they would go to be away from the crowds. Judas knew that this was the time to get Jesus alone because the Jews did not want to arrest him in a public space; that would cause a commotion. So, they looked for somebody in the camp of Jesus who knew how to get Jesus in 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 guards as well, and they came to arrest Jesus Christ. For the price of thirty shekels of silver, Judas betrayed the man he was committed to, the man with whom he had lived for three years, learned from, and shared so much of a relationship, and he betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ. He did it 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?» Now, 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 and prod his conscience, so that Judas, even after this, will go and think about what he has done and repent.
We know that he took the money and 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’s 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 had come to arrest Jesus Christ, and Jesus healed the ear that had been cut off. Isn’t it 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 when he was being arrested? In the midst of all of 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 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 and amen.