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Betrayal. There’s nothing like it. Perhaps you’ve experienced it from a friend, a loved one, or even your spouse. Maybe you’ve even been the one to betray the trust they put in your friendship or relationship. It’s messy, harsh, and feels like it tears your heart out.
But no matter the case, it always catches us by surprise. Otherwise, if we knew it was coming, would we put that kind of trust in them? Would we put forth such a love and devotion?
Jesus did.
“And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.” (Matthew 26:1-2)
I’m always in awe of Him. Really. He knew the betrayal was coming. He knew what that would lead to. He knew what kind of torture and death awaited Him on that cross. And yet, He still pressed forward. He didn’t come up with some plot to take out the man who would be responsible for His arrest and crucifixion. Instead, you know what He did? He remained His friend and He ate with him.
Just pause for a moment and think on that.
Why?
Because His love for us was far greater than protecting Himself.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
Remember, the very one who betrayed Him was a disciple. A man standing there hearing these very words. A man that walked with Jesus. A man that had seen His miracles, had professed to be His follower, a man that was devoted to Jesus…and yet, Jesus still moved forward.
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
The same love that He showed for His betrayer Judas, He shows to you and me. We too have betrayed Him with our sin. And yet, He loved us so much that He chose to die for us, knowing that we would still sin and reject Him.
Why?
Why would Jesus do that?
Because that is what real love is. And there is nothing else in the world like it. There is no other way to find it. Only from Jesus comes this unconditional, sacrificial love, and it’s been given to us, if we will only accept it.
Confess. Repent. Surrender.
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