The summer I was seventeen, I spent a few weeks house sitting for family friends. The house was beautiful, the owners had cable, and I got to have full independence so, let’s be honest, they were doing me the favor. I was working down the road at a country club in the esteemed dual position of waitress and lifeguard, and after work, sometimes the cool kids wanted to come hang at my house. I definitely did not have permission to bring lifeguards and bartenders back to the house, but I was intoxicated with the independence that only real estate can bring. When the homeowners returned, they found a picture frame upstairs that someone had accidentally broken, and every once in a while, I still feel a little prick of embarrassment due to my betrayal.
I had one job. But instead of doing it perfectly and responsibly, I did an okay job with a little betrayal along the way. I had watered the plants but failed to protect the house. We like to think that we are so close to getting it just right every time, but then some external factor seems to hold us back from pitching that perfect game. (If only I hadn’t been so young and naive! If only I’d had more time. If only I weren’t so tired.)
What if Judas felt the same way? He was so close to being a great disciple, but he missed the mark because the lure of silver proved too strong. When Judas joined the inner circle, he didn’t do it just so he could betray their leader.
Certainly the rest of the disciples intended to do a great job of following Jesus. Peter, James, and John wanted to stay awake and wait with Christ while He prayed in the garden. But then they grew tired, their eyes heavy, and every single one of them gave in to sleep.
If anyone could come close to showing us an example of perfect righteousness and devotion, surely it would have been Peter; he’s “the rock,” after all (Matthew 16:18). Peter strenuously insisted that he would never make the mistake of betraying Christ, but even his very best intentions were garbage by the time the rooster crowed. If even Peter betrayed Christ in His hour of need, where does that leave us?
Is it really just external hindrances holding us back, or is it possible that we don’t even understand how desperately we need the gospel? None of our righteousness—even our shiniest stuff—is sufficient. We all have Judas hearts, and even our best intentions are filthy rags. Our betrayals show us that, in big and small ways, our selfish interests are so strong we can’t resist those silver coins or those teenage lifeguards. We are all capable of deep betrayal.
When Judas arrives in the garden to betray Him, Jesus asks, “Friend,… why have you come?” (Matthew 26:50). And He asks us the same question: Why have we come? We come out of our desperate need for a Redeemer. We come with ash smeared on our faces.
Whether we feel like Judas or like Peter, we need Christ’s grace exactly the same. Even in our betrayals, Christ reaches out to His people with mercy. We are to come for this alone: Christ. We are to come for His perfect righteousness, leaning wholly upon Him, for He is the Messiah, the Son of God, and is now seated at the right hand of Power, and will come again in glory.
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48 thoughts on "Our Savior Is Betrayed"
Reading the passage about Peter denying Jesus 3 times in Luke reminds me a lot of me in my youth. In the Matthew passage, the Message translates v 41 as “There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there’s another part that’s as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire.” That is/was so me!! I was the person that people looked up to and admired for “standing by my convictions” in college. But there was another part of me that I was desperate to keep hidden, because I knew this part of me did not match my beliefs. I was powerless to change this part of me and yet desperate to conceal it.
Graciously, God uses all of life to bring up all these parts and transform them one by one. There are trials which are like “holding my feet to the fire,” which seems painful at the time but will produce a harvest of righteousness in the end.
Good Friday is coming. Each day I am more conscious of my sin, knowing it as the cause of my Savior’s suffering. Each day I weep. It is an ugly cry because that is what sin is: ugly. I know Sunday is coming. I know the Resurrection celebration is on the horizon. But I feel the need to sit and contemplate what led to His death before I can rejoice in His rising. Grief and gratitude are my emotions this holy week.
This was so humbling to read. Jesus knows us far better than we can even claim to know ourselves. The deepest spaces in our soul where we may not even realize we are falling weak. Let us humbly come before Him and ask Him to reveal that weakness in us instead of trying to hide. We are found. Let’s claim that so we can be strengthened to walk stronger in and with Him!
“After singing Psalms…”
I never noticed this before. After singing praises to God together in worship. After lifting their hearts and voices in praise—joyfully and vibrantly singing of God’s attributes, His mighty power, and His glorious grace—-they fell asleep; they betrayed Him; they denied Him; and they scattered. The abrupt reversal of motive and emotion looks regretfully familiar. How drastically my circumstances take me from praising God to wallowing in self pity and hiding behind every grievance done unto me! “Why do you come?” I come to You because as much as my heart can love and believe in You, like the disciples who lived with you, learned at your very side, and loved the sight of your face, I am unable to keep from falling and failing, but in You I receive grace and from that grace, I gain freedom through the power of the Holy Spirit to do better He next time. Peter proclaimed Christ until his death. James and John awoke the spirits in Christ as they preached the gospel. He disciples scattered around the earth to tell of Jesus! May my folly reveal God’s great mercy and his ability to transform the heart.
This is really good!
Jesus knew all would fall away and yet, as we read yesterday, He washed each one’s feet. And yet, He continued to love and guide. He still does. All praise, honor, and glory goes to Jesus. Make us more like You every day we pray. Amen
Selah
“When Judas joined the inner circle, he didn’t do it just so he could betray the leader.” This statement resonated with me. Where did Judas get so off-track? And how easy is it for me to do the same?
Lord, make me desperate for You. Nothing I have, nothing inside me is sufficient. I need Your grace. I need Your mercy. I need Your perfect righteousness.
This verse stood out to me today:
Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
I’ve been struggling with finding and keeping a healthy lifestyle the last few years and recently been struggling with temptation in the form of sugar and binge eating. I felt like this verse was for me today. I need to stay awake and aware and keep praying. If I let my guard down, that’s when Satan finds a way in. My flesh is so weak (especially lately) but the spirit of God is willing and able. Amen.
Amem. Our flesh may fail but our God never will!
I have been struggling with the same thing, too, Tracy, especially with binge eating. Thank you for sharing another way to apply this verse in my life ☺️
I am struggling with consuming too much sugar and finding a healthy lifestyle as well. Thank you for sharing how I can apply this verse to my life! God is good
Amen! I’m right there with you sister!
Thanks for sharing Tracy – I can relate. This struck me too and I need to remain alert and my eyes on Jesus.
That verse also stood out to me!! It’s so easy to fall into the trap of temptation. It’s also easy-easier too- to pray and face the temptation then to give in! Praying that you face and defeat temptation! :)
Stay strong and rest in God to help you through those weaknesses. Thanks for sharing. Food is such a temptation and using it to fill something that only a higher power like God can fill is essential to keep mindful
Amen! I tend to beat myself up trying to know where God wants me — waiting, asking others for their opinion and over analyzing—when PRAYING is my answer!!!
This was excellent, thank you.