Mark 14:44-46
“Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him.”
Mark 14:44-46 NIV
Friendship usually comes from the depths of our heart. In the culture of that day, a kiss on the cheek was an ordinary greeting between friends.
How sadly ironic. With a kiss, Judas betrays the one who loves him most. For everyone whose heart has been broken by someone he or she loves.
Judas act is a great reminder that Jesus knows those deep feelings of betrayal and loss.
Here is a Savior in whom we can confide. He knows our dashed hopes and our broken hearts. He promises to strengthen us and be with us in our dark hours of need.
Most of all, He promises to dry every single tear from our eyes and welcome us home.
This image hurts my heart. A close friend who had walked with Jesus over several years sold Him out, betrayed Him secretly in the middle of the night.
I know this feeling intimately the cutting pain of being rejected by a friend, sold out by someone who was expected to care. Chances are, you know this pain too.
Yes, our friends betrayed us. They forsook us, they hated us, they handed us over to the authorities. They beat us, they gossiped about us, they lied about us, they misunderstood our intentions, they denied they ever liked us.
We became an enemy to them, and they treated us like an enemy. We are the bad guy now. As difficult as it is to experience this, we must remember that God will use this. He will take the betrayal and turn it around to victory.
The fact is, if it were not for the rejection, we could not obtain the victory. In our moment of weakness, when we are completely vulnerable, that is when God steps in.
When the rug is pulled out from under us by those whom we have loved, then look for a greater place. God is on the move.
Jesus was only able to withstand the emotional pain of rejection because He had just been on His knees, prostrate before His Father.
Grounding Himself in His Father meant that He knew who He was and whose He was. Even when one of His disciples was selling Him out and the rest were sleeping through His agony. Despite His very direct requests for their support.
No one was there for Jesus except His Father. No wonder He talked so often through His life about the crucial nature of that Father relationship. In the end, it was literally all He had. And it was enough.
But we too can betray Jesus. We can sit in a church service on Sunday while our mind is a million miles away. We can have ten Bibles in our home and yet rarely open one.
Pretended affection is a dead end street. But when we dwell in the presence of Jesus, true devotion and compassionate kindness flow through us. We can be loyal defenders of Jesus in all we think, say, and do!!!
Father thank You for this day and Your unfailing love for us. Lord let Your abundant blessings be my friend and family’s portion today. Lord betrayal by someone we love is such a deep and cutting wound that many of us on Your small blue planet never recover. Lord thank You for reminding us, reminding me that You know this deep bitter sorrow firsthand and can help us in our time of need. Lord help us to renounce disloyalty, pretense, and fakery in our lives and keep us loyal to You. Lord use my friend to share Your Word with all today. Daddy we love You amen. Be a blessing. Love ya
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