Betrayal – Lent Day 43

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over. Mark 14:10-11


Betray – to expose to danger by treacherously giving information to an enemy. The word brings to mind the worst possible connotation concerning someone’s actions, which may cause us to feel deceived, forsaken, abandoned or even jilted. These are ugly words that no one wants to think about or should need to deal with.

Jesus’ darkest night, when He was preparing to die on the cross, was already heavy with pain, agony, misery and physical suffering. As if this were not enough, betrayal at the hand of a close friend reared its ugly head. Judas, one of his trusted disciples, betrayed Jesus with the most intimate of all signs, a kiss.

Out of this act of betrayal, comes “The Judas Test.” At some point in our lives, we will all face “The Judas Test.” Someone will approach, unsuspecting, and betray our trust, faith, and love. It has the possibility of devastating a life. 

How one handles “The Judas Test” will determine levels of trust and love given following this devastating betrayal. How will we respond when given the “Judas kiss?” What will we say? How can we possibly go on or continue with life?

According to Matthew 26:50, Jesus responded to Judas by calling him, “Friend.”

Os Hillman said, “The Judas Test is God’s graduate level course in faith, designed to reveal the truth about ourselves: Are we willing to trust Him enough to forgive the Judases in our lives?” (Os Hillman, https://todaygodisfirst.com/the-judas-test/)

Are you willing to forgive your “Judas”? 

Let’s take it a little further…are you willing to love in the face of…betrayal?

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