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).
I’ve read the story of Judas but never really understood it. As I read today’s devotional and readings it opened my eyes. For god knows all of our decisions, god knew what Judas was going to do but Jesus asked him once more. God is all loving and all forgiving.
I pray that the lord can forgive me for my sins as I repent for I have sinned. To have the love of god and mercy of him on my shoulder and to continue to guide me as I walk through this journey of life. I pray this in your name – amen ❤️
It’s so easy to sit in judgment of Judas…but how often do my own motivations and decisions at times make me just like him? Susceptible to the arrows from the enemy that aim to take me down and pull me away from that intimacy with Jesus? I wonder what thoughts of struggle may have filtered through Judas’s mind? Sometimes we know we are going to follow a bad idea through, even while denying it with our lips, but somehow hoping someone will call us out and stop us before we do. Was it like that for Judas? The compassion that Jesus displays, knowing He is facing certain death, is truly amazing. His compassion extends to us as well. How blessed am I to have the love and affection of such a merciful Saviour!
I can’t imagine anyone of us would have behaved differently if we had been possessed by Satan. Even though I have read and heard this story so many times, I don’t remember that part or that Judas hanged himself. It said the deceit was lifted i.e. the possession by Satan. Was Jesus really betrayed by Judas? I just can’t get over that part of him being possessed by Satan; that makes it sound like Judas was no longer in control. I’ve always judged Judas to be such a terrible person, but who could by possessed by Satan and make the right choices?
I also wondered this when reading today! I grew up in catholic school and they never mentioned possession— I’m interested in what that means!
Amen, amen, amen
In the passage in John 13, it says that the devil had already put it into Judas’ heart to betray Him. This made me think about how often my outward sins began a long time ago within my heart and my thoughts. It just reminds me that we are in a spiritual battle and it’s so important to put on the armor of God, to hold fast to the truth, and submit our thoughts to Christ. I love how when Jesus knows that Peter will deny him he tells him that he has prayed that Peter’s faith won’t fail and when he turns back to strengthen his brothers. Jesus is gentle and gracious with us and there’s always hope for redemption.
Diana, your vulnerability in sharing your “dark night of the soul” brought me to tears. Tears of gratitude that you cast aside the lies and grabbed onto the Truth that set you free. May your words shared today bring hope to all who may feel distant, forgotten, or too far gone from God. Whatever the issue, God is always bigger. He is always in love with you.
“What a friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and griefs to bear.” Wow. That is quite a friend! He sure bears a lot for us!
I’m so grateful for Jesus’ friendship. Amen and amen.
Oh Wow, Tina, oh wow. Your words just resonate throughout my whole being. I am with you and will be saying these words also. I hope you don’t mind if I copy them into a notebook I have so I can read them frequently and remind myself of needing Jesus’ forgiveness.
Churchmouse, I am with you about wanting to know about Judas and the rest of his story. I can’t wait to find out.
Alexis, I’m with you. I can’t fathom how Jesus can love us even when we betray Him.
CeeGee, your words ring true to me. I have wondered about this also.
Elisha Anne, you have words of wisdom. Thank you.
Angie, you have given me some much (in a good way) to think about and digest and wonder about. To even praise the Lord about. Thanks.
Francis Robles, your last two words say it all. If we could get the world to go along with it what a wonderful thing that would be. As the song says, “What the world needs now is love sweet love, It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.”
Amen, Sharon W., Nancy Singleton, Jill, Tanya B., Lindsay C., Monie Mag, amen.