Saturday, April 7, 2012

We All Betray Jesus

Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. -- Luke 22:3-4

Why does betrayal from a friend, a family member, someone loved and trusted, cut so deeply and hurt so badly? There’s something horrible about trusting someone, by allowing them to know your heart, and then having that person turn on you in the worst way.

Jesus knew Judas would betray Him. He knew. And still the Son of Man didn’t lash out at His betrayer. He didn’t badmouth Judas or encourage others to avoid him. He let the truth do to Judas what the truth would do to him. Judas accepted money to betray Jesus and the guilt drove him to suicide.

We look down on Judas. How could he do such a thing? And yet we do it everyday. Yes. That’s right. You and me. We betray Jesus every single day. We really are no better than Judas because we are willing to cast Jesus aside to earn more money, to have more things, to sit mindlessly in front of the television.

We betray Jesus every time we condemn a homeless person. We betray Jesus every time we look down on someone because of their skin color, their accent, or their address. We betray Jesus every time we refuse to see someone who is hurting, someone who is sick, someone who just needs a friend.

We don’t think ourselves as betraying Jesus when we do those things. In fact, we aren’t thinking of Jesus at all. We consider Jesus when we want something from Him. We maybe feel a little guilty when the pastor reminds us to give to the mercy fund or volunteer at an outreach event. But mostly we just go our own way and do our own thing. If we feel like helping others, we do. And if we don’t feel like it, we don’t.

What much did it take for Jesus to prove how much He loves us? How much did it cost for God’s Son to show us how to live our lives? And still we don’t get it. Still we live focused on ourselves and not on others. Still we betray Jesus day after day.

During this season of darkness and light, let us also remember our own guilt and betrayal. Because it is in the remembering that we learn how to walk with Jesus day by day, showing His love, compassion and kindness to all of God’s people.