Our Savior Is Betrayed
Open Your Bible
Matthew 26:30-68, Luke 22:55-62, Isaiah 53:7
BY Rebecca Faires
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.
48 thoughts on "Our Savior Is Betrayed"
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How often I too choose sleep over prayer or time in God’s Word. It’s easy for me to “justify” that extra 30 minutes when I haven’t slept well or I’m in the middle of a rough work stretch. The truth is, when I’m weak or tired or emotionally drained, I need God. I need Him far more than I need an extra 30 minutes of “sleep”. I need to cling to Him. Pour out my heart to Him. Admit my desperate need of Him. Worship Him. Rest in Him. Delight in His perfections. He is my true need. Spending time at His feet is the “one needful thing”. He can restore my strength. He can refresh my heart. He can fill me with joy. I need Him!
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I’ve never thought of it this way. Judas didn’t join to betray. Wow. Our best intentions are never enough. I struggle with starting good intentions, then doubting what my motivations are…it’s so hard but I have to keep my eyes fixed on the Lord. This was such a good reminder that without Jesus, anything “l” do is not enough.
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Even knowing what was to come, Jesus still says and refers to Judas Iscariot as ” Friend.”
Friend.!!!!
Dictionary describes a friend as…friend(noun). a person you know well and regard with affection and trust.
Seriously!
Would I be calling someone whom I know is going to betray me in the most awful way, for a few coins, my friend…
Would I?
Would I?I am afraid no matter how
I splice it, my earthly, judgemental ‘not much like Jesus’ being, does not allow me to believe i would!But God…
Thank God, for But God.. because we, mostly do not know things are going to happen until they Have, whether it is premeditated or not..
I’m sitting here at the vets with my mother’s cat right now feeling as though I have betrayed both mum and the cat.. I am not a cat lover and the cats past history of scratching and attacking has not endeared me to him.. but I do all that needs doing to keep Him alive, warm, fed and watered..but that said I missed the scratches on his face that now need the vets attention..
“… why have you come?” O Lord, I have come with a saddened heart at the rubbish way I live my life, I have come that by your sacrifice I will and can change..
Thank you Jesus that though you know this sinner, you still felt me worthy to die for.. I must stop asking why and use this gift to be and do as Jesus trusted I can be.. Thank you Jesus. Forever I will praise you. Forever.. Forever..
Amen. -
After reading a few comments, I realized some of you ladies where confused about Peter being called the rock. Peter was a great disciple, he lead many people to God because God chose him to do that work for him. In Matthew 16:18 Jesus says “Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it”. I hope this helps clear any questions ladies. God bless you all.
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Today’s message was filled with so much, is amazing how we can read the Bible over and over and always miss something. After reading a few comments, I realized some of you ladies where confused about Peter being called the rock. Peter was a great disciple, he lead many people to God because God chose him to do that work for him. In Matthew 16:18 Jesus says “Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it”. I hope this helps clear any questions ladies. God bless you all.
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I’ve been thinking and reading about Jesus: how He lived, how He treated the outcast, how He healed, how He humbled Himself, how He taught is the way to live, and how He loved. What a beautiful Savior. I want to fall in love with Him and give Him the upmost praise!
Also, for those talking about binge eating. There is a book called, Brain over Binge. I’ve heard some interviews with the author. There is also a book called, You are not Your Brain that I just bought. I think his view is from a Creation perspective. I haven’t read the first either, but people says it helped them. Even if it’s not a Christian perspective, I can give God the credit for anything learned from it.
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This hit home (directly) with some deep personal reflections I had been asking myself. Rebecca’s explanation was perfect, on the mark and had the most perfect timing for the self examination that I am currently in. Thank you!!!
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How I long to be in His Word more, to learn more about Him. But then, every morning, I find myself doing other things before getting into God’s Word. Lord, I come because I need your grace and mercy. I confess, I have denied you, not like Peter, but I have denied you in my actions and thoughts. Please forgive me. Thank you for sending Your Son to die for me, for just these reasons.
Thank goodness, Sunday is coming.
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