Betrayal is to be given over to an enemy by a friend (Ps 41:9): someone with we had shared bread together. The pain is great because it done by a friend.
Why does betrayal happens? Why did Judas betray Jesus, a master with whom he had lived with for 3 years?
Even though Scripture tells us that "Satan entered Judas", that doesn't absolve him from the betrayal that he did to Jesus.
Judas had 2 main interests:
1. As a zealot, he had been challenging the establishment of a Jewish state, independent of the Romans.
2. To be loyal to Jesus Christ. Yet this loyalty is questionable since we are told too that he often helps himself to the common pool of money that they share as a team, over which he had been placed in charge.
When approached by the High priests, he weighed those 2 interests and found (1) to be more important than (2). In fact, he felt that Jesus would undermine the possibility of an independent state. So he decided to betray Jesus and protect his interest (1).
Another part of betrayal is denial. To deny someone is to claim that we don't know him, we turn our backs on him. Denial happens e.g. when a colleague claims credit for what you have done, when a friend does not acknowledge you. This is hurtful and painful.
Jesus experienced both: Betrayal by Judas Iscariot and Denial by Peter. So it was more than just the physical wounds that Jesus experienced but also the emotional ones inflicted by dear friends.
Peter also had 2 interests:
1. Self-preservation: it was unsafe to be associated with Jesus
2. Loyalty to Jesus
Peter weighed them and gave Jesus up for self-preservaton.
What happened to these 2 men who inflicted such pain on Jesus?
- Judas Iscariot: he returned the 30 pcs of silver (the price for a slave) and committed suicide
- Simon Peter went through dark days till the day the resurrected Christ absolved him.
Lent is a time to reflect on what the Lord had gone through, how he had bore in addition to his physical wounds (of crucifixion), he had to contend with the emotional wounds of betrayal. Lent is a time to become more mature as followers of Jesus.
Heb 4:15-16 says, "15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. "
Whatever pain you've gone through, Jesus understands the hurt inflicted by friends. When our days are dark and lonely, we can be sure the Lord draws near for he has been through those darkest moments as well.
Betrayal is wrong and none of us should ever do it. When given 2 options, choosing an option that suits your best interests, your ideals, your jobs and Jesus, would you ever deny him?
Lent is a time to weigh our priorities and values, take stock about putting God first in our lives rather than choose the easy way out. God does make demands on us, would we be like Judas and Peter, choosing rather to uphold our own interests?
We deny Christ everyday when we:
- do not acknowledge one another in the community.
- gossip in the name of sharing Prayer items.
- make public statements about being a christian (via sticker on car, wearing of crosses etc.) by do not live up to it.
That's where the church community is so important.
Suggestions how the church community can strengthen us to pick up our cross and follow Jesus daily
- Practice together showing gratitude to the Lord and extending God's forgiveness. This works particularly well in small groups. When we are constantly grateful to God and reminding each other of God's goodness in the community (e.g. in a prayer meeting), that helps to strengthen our bonds. You will notice how the Psalmists often invite others to join him in showing gratitude to God for his blessings, even the simple act of saying grace is a constant reminder of God's provision.
- Sharing answers to our prayers in the community also reminds us of our priorities and God's significant place in our lives.
- Practice forgiveness when there are times of failure. We need to learn to forgive just as Jesus forgave Peter the terrible words of denial. Forgiveness is something we do when we are reminded of the costliness of forgiveness. Through the monthly practice of Holy Communion, we have the opportunity to forgive the hurts that we have caused each other, praying for forgiveness intentionally. This can also be done corporately within the family as well.
- Have you experienced the pain of betrayal? Meditate on Heb 4:15-16 Jesus has gone through the worse of these betrayals, he invites you to come to him because he understands and cares for you.
- Have we betrayed Christ in any way? Is it time to seek the Lord to ask for his forgiveness? Do not run away, he waits for you the way he waited for Peter.
- How can you strengthen your loyalty to Jesus with the help of the community? What are some of our competing interests and priorities that need to be straightened out?
- How can you participate in the community to grow in appreciating God's faithfulness and goodness? in learning to exercise confession and being forgiven?
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