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Writer's pictureDevin Otte

Holy Week Part 4: Betrayal

Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

Psalm 41:9





Most of us have faced betrayal at one time in our lives. Betrayal can be both direct or indirect. Sometimes people act with intent and purpose to betray. Yet sometimes we have also been betrayed by those who just acted foolishly without intent. Either way it hurts. There is probably no greater emotional pain than that of betrayal. The very implication of betrayal implies trust that was broken by someone close and dear to us.


Jesus faced the worst kind of betrayal. Judas Iscariot betrayed Him. This was someone that He chose to be one of His closest followers--one of the 12. He ministered to Judas. He loved Him. He called Him friend. He gave Judas gifts and abilities to heal and perform miracles, and sent Judas out to minister with the other apostles. (Matthew 10:1-10) Judas saw the mighty wonders that Jesus did as he walked, talked, and fellowshipped with Him. But Judas had a problem.


Judas never let go of his brokenness. He was a thief. And even though he was involved in ministry, He stole money from the ministry. (John 12:6) He even got mad at a missed opportunity to take some money. Jesus rebuked him (John 12:7) and it looks like that was the last straw for Judas. In John 13 we find that Satan had already put it into the heart of Judas to betray him. Judas fell for the lies of the enemy and became the Son of Perdition (scary judgment for being the betrayer). That is what happens when we cling to our brokenness. We end up falling to the lies of the enemy. Judas went to the chief priest and sold out Jesus for 30 pieces of silver and then led the army of people to arrest Jesus. He even betrayed Jesus with a kiss. That tells you how close he was to Jesus. This was the familiar kiss on the cheek that was reserved for those who were very close.


The amazing sad thing is that Jesus knew Judas would betray Him. Yet He walked forward through the pain of betrayal to pay the price for our sins on the cross. And by so doing He fulfilled another prophecy of Scripture that talked about Him being betrayed by His close friend (Psalm 41:9). Let us go to this Son of Man who has felt the agony of betrayal and receive the comfort that only the Risen Savior may give to our hearts.


Blessings to you!

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