Have you ever been betrayed by someone you love? I know I have. And I’ve been on the other side, too. Betrayal seems to be woven into the thread of humanity after the fall; we disappoint others and turn our backs on them, and they do the same to us. Oftentimes apologies and reconciliation follow, but sometimes the cut is just too deep to heal without an ugly, nasty scar on the relationship.
Judas and Jesus were friends. Judas was one of Jesus’s twelve disciples, the group of men who traveled around with Him as He taught and preached. These disciples had great responsibility—they were chosen by Jesus to be fishers of men, to be by His side as He worked to spread the good news. They were even with Jesus during His last days on earth.
The story of Judas betraying Jesus is familiar to me. I heard it all the time growing up, particularly around Easter time while studying the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Wicked Judas, betraying his Teacher for thirty pieces of silver. There are a couple of things that prick my heart every time I read this story. The first is that Judas tells the chief priests that the one he kisses is the person to arrest. A kiss, a sign of affection, turned on its head and used for unspeakable means. And even more poignant is that in the midst of betrayal, Jesus calls Judas “friend” (Matthew 26:50). Jesus knew exactly what Judas was there to do—He even hinted at it during the Last Supper in the upper room (vv.20–25). Jesus knew He would be betrayed, and He knew Judas was going to do it.
These two things—the kiss and the use of the word “friend” to describe Judas—communicate to the reader that Jesus was being betrayed by someone who He’d been in relationship with. Jesus’s disciples saw Him in some of His darkest moments on earth. They were with Him when He went to raise Lazarus from the dead (John 11:11–16) and when He ate His last meal (Matthew 26:26–35). Friendship is an intimate, sacred thing, but in the end, Judas betrayed his friend.
And when Judas led the chief priests and elders to Jesus, greeting Him with a kiss and setting His arrest into motion, that is how Jesus addressed him:
“Friend,” Jesus asked him, “why have you come?” (Matthew 26:50).
Jesus knew exactly why Judas had come, yet He called Judas “friend”—perhaps giving him a chance to choose differently, to choose reconciliation instead of betrayal, though we may never really know. What we do know is that the character of Jesus does not change (Hebrews 13:8). And while you and I and all of humanity were still sinners and enemies of God—that is when Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8–10).
He died for our reconciliation to God. He died to bring us into a right and lasting relationship with the Father, so that we could be called “friends” of God (John 15:15).
When I finished reading the Matthew 27:3-10, I realized I had never either read that far or really paid that close of attention to the scripture. I say this because I never knew that the chief priests had bought “the potter’s field” and were to use it “as a burial place for foreigners.” I am glad that SRT included these verses into our reading.
I want to be asked, “ ‘Friend,’ Jesus asked him, ‘why have you come?’ ” (Matthew 26:50) by Christ. I want to know each and everyday God and Christ love and care for me. I know after all I have been through these last few months God, Christ and the Holy Spirit are my die hard, always count on friends. As kids now days put it, my BFFs or besties. What better best friends could I have? They are reliable and always there when I need them.
Father, thank you for being here when I need you. Thank you for knowing my needs ahead of time and knowing what is best for me. Please help me to listen more to what You are saying and less to what i want. Amen.
Judas’ story has a very personal connection for me. About seven years ago, I went through a devastating time with my illness and it turned into a dark night of the soul. While before this time the word of God often brought me comfort, conviction and counsel to aid me in my suffering, during a span of about four months every time I read Scripture I only found condemnation. I began to believe I was like Judas and could not repent. In my confusion and the lies I was believing, I did the unthinkable and attempted suicide.
As Tina often says, “But God…” As I awoke in the hospital, I slowly began to realize that because I was still here, God must be granting the mercy I had been pleading for previous to the attempt, but thought he had withheld. Then about a week later, through a Billy Graham message on TV, I heard him call me to fully receive his forgiveness, not only for my suicide attempt, but for ALL my sins.
I see myself in Peter’s slow to understand the cleansing of Jesus in his life. It takes a work of the Spirit to grasp this idea that when we are born-again through faith in Jesus, we are cleansed by his shed blood. Yet, because we walk in a filthy, broken and sin-filled world with a remnant of sin in our hearts, we need a continued cleansing, a foot washing of sorts.
Today, as I re-read Judas’ story, I am so thankful to believe now that I am no longer a slave to the sin of unbelief I had before. I am a child of God! My life is not for me to take and control the outcome, but the Lord’s to give and to take. Because of his great mercy, I offer all my members to him as a living sacrifice.
Be blessed today, my sisters. And if any of you may be in a dark night of the soul, know that I have empathy for you and pray for the mercy of the Lord to meet you where you are (just as he did me!)
Amen ❤️
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Amen❤️ such a powerful testimony. Thank you for sharing with us. May the lord continue to bless you and love you unconditionally
Thank the Lord you are still here with us, thank you for sharing that ♥️
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Thank you for sharing the Lord’s work in your life! ❤️❤️
ANGIE: I just wanted to make note of your comment from yesterday. First know that I pray for the Lord to bring healing to your ankle and repair to your car. Yet, I join your own words of thanksgiving for all the blessings of presence and provision the Lord gave out in the midst of your trials. I love how you are seeking to find the good and the opportunities to be Mary-like in the moment. May the Lord bless you richly as you grow in his abiding love!
Wow!!! This is so good. Jesus met Judas’ betrayal with love and relationship which led to his remorse and repentance. May we always meet betrayal this way! His plan is to bring reconciliation to our lives. He died for our reconciliation to God. May we be instruments of that as well. ♥️love wins
I also see myself as Judas. Jesus forgive me. Make me new. Forgive me…
I wonder: Did Judas drink of the water-turned-into-the-finest-wine at the wedding?
Was he with Jesus when Bartimaeus’s eyes were opened and he saw the beauty of creation for the first time, but chose to follow the Creator? Was he there when Jarius’ daughter was raised to life, or when the woman with the issue of blood touched the hem of His garment and was healed and lovingly affirmed by Jesus? And, what about the rich young ruler and Zacchaeus, did Judas observe both? One lost everything when he held tight to earthly treasures, and the other gained eternity when he opened his hands and poured his life out for Jesus. Judas was the money guy…what did he think of both? Did he recognize pride in the one as he left Jesus compared to the joy and new life of the other as he stayed. Did he see Lazarus raised to life, lepers healed, the lame walk, and demons driven out? When I read the Matthew 10 verses I wonder, “Did Judas drive out unclean spirits and heal disease and sickness in the power of Jesus name?” Verse 1 would infer that he had may have.
I also pondered, what if someone wrote about the things I have seen Jesus do? Would it read: She drank from the Well that never runs dry – followed by example after example of God showing Himself in little and big ways. Would it list, through the power of prayer, God, Himself, in my circumstances and in those people prayed for? How many lines would be filled with examples of the Holy Spirit leading, guiding, comforting? I don’t think there is enough paper or time to fully write out all the ways God has been active in my/our lives. I do not think we will fully comprehend until the day when our tears of amazement and love wash His feet. When He welcomes us home.
But, for today He has given breath and a heartbeat, opportunity to live for Him, in Him, empowered by Him. To praise Him for His Living Water, answered prayer, ears to hear, eyes to see, hands to do, feet to go, and a heart of obedience, lead by the Holy Spirit. I pray that my heart would remain faithful. That Psalm 27:4 would be true, all the days of my life…that I will dwell in the house of the Lord and gaze upon His beauty, seeking only Him-until my last breath, until I bow before Him. I pray that in the todays and tomorrows He gives I leave behind a witness for Him. That people will not see me, but Him (spiritual brothers and sisters and the lost drawn closer to Him). I pray for souls to saved – maybe a thief, maybe the person who sat/sits behind me in church, a neighbor, my sister, or my friend.
From He Reads Truth today, Russ Ramsey says, “Is Christ offering you reconciliation today? If you are a pretender, it’s possible the only ones who know it are you and Jesus. There is grace and joy to be found in Him, but this isn’t a game. Judas reminds us that we can sit under solid teaching, spend time with believers, even participate in ministry, and still be a fraud. Being known as a Christian and loving Jesus can be two entirely different things.”
Yes, loving Jesus and being a Christian CAN be two different things as we see in Judas’s life, but praise God they do not have to be! Jesus made a way. There is therefore, no condemnation in Jesus…there is also no pretending, it is not a game. It is literally eternal Life or death. Let’s choose Life. Let’s love Jesus first and fully, and live purposely in the many, many, many God activities, moment by moment by moment.
Tina….thank you. I’m undone.
But God…
He’ll put me back together
Yes, satan is a liar who wants nothing more than to use us to betray Jesus. This story always scares me because I too see myself in Judas’ place. I too pray he cried out for forgiveness. I wish he would have ran back to Jesus and fell at His feet asking forgiveness. I’m so thankful Jesus provided a way for reconciliation, for forgiveness. I pray I always recognize the lie and turn away toward Truth. Creat in me a clean heart oh God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Praying we all walk closer to Truth❤️