Steadfast love
This week is the flip side of a story we all know. The betrayal of Jesus by Judas. Usually we focus on what it says about Judas, but it also says a lot about Jesus. We'll start with Matthew 26:20-25
Jesus is just hanging out with his closest friends here. They're about to have an intimate dinner together at the beginning of passover. It's an occasion for family. But Jesus knows that Judas is about to betray him.
He doesn't call him out directly though. He allows him to keep his dignity by addressing him indirectly. "One of you will betray me," he says. The disciples all start counting off and denying his accusation though. Some people will start their rebuttal before you even finish your sentence. "One of you will betr -- Wasn't me! Not me either!" Can you imagine them all rushing to clear their names?
Not to be left out, Judas denies that he will betray Jesus too, but Jesus then calls him out specifically. Judas is saying that nothing is going on, that Jesus is imagining the whole thing. He's hoping to bluff his way through things and keep the people around him from suspecting the truth. Jesus has to call his bluff at that point. I don't think Jesus did it to shame him, but to say "I want you to know that I know. There's still time to make a better choice."
At this point, Judas had three chances to turn things around and do the right thing. First, when he decided to betray Jesus. Then when Jesus said that someone was planning to betray him and mentioned that things would not turn out well for the betrayer. And finally when Jesus drew attention to him specifically as the betrayer. I think Jesus knew he had made his mind up to do it, but maybe he was hoping he'd choose a different path.
Unfortunately we know which path Judas chose, when we read a bit further and get to Matthew 26:47-50:
This is the part where Jesus looks the most beautiful in all of this. Judas comes bringing an army. Jesus knows what Judas is going to do, but still allows him into his personal space to greet him intimately. But the beautiful thing is that Jesus calls him a friend. Jesus loves Judas despite the fact that he's come to betray him. He releases him to do the evil thing he came to do. How many of us would do that?
If it was me, my language would probably have been a lot less family friendly, and then Peter and I probably would have cut down as many people with swords as we could before they overpowered us. "Friend" is probably not the first thing I would have called Judas. But Jesus was filled with love.
Judas was a guy Jesus had spent roughly three years with, who was practically part of his family. Jesus' response to Judas was a response based on that relationship, not on his ugly actions. When people hurt us, how many of us have the perspective of seeing them for who they are, and not for what they've done? In a sense that's the root of grace, the love for a sinner despite their sin.
Jesus is the very definition of meekness in these verses. He holds all of the power of the universe, and he's got some rough guys of his own on his team, but he puts up no resistance. He doesn't even try to talk Judas out of it. Instead, he talks Peter out of hurting them in return, if you read a bit further. He is able to completely control his reaction to make his response a response of love and not of retaliation.
We should pray for the patience of love of Jesus. If we live in a world of people, we will come into contact with stupid and evil actions. How awesome would it be if our own actions could so authentically demonstrate the love and grace and meekness that comes from God? His love is steadfast and unmovable, even under the worst mankind can thrown at him. He blesses those who would curse him and absorbs the sin that would spin out of control if answered in kind.
When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”
They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”
Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”
Jesus answered, “You have said so.”
Jesus is just hanging out with his closest friends here. They're about to have an intimate dinner together at the beginning of passover. It's an occasion for family. But Jesus knows that Judas is about to betray him.
He doesn't call him out directly though. He allows him to keep his dignity by addressing him indirectly. "One of you will betray me," he says. The disciples all start counting off and denying his accusation though. Some people will start their rebuttal before you even finish your sentence. "One of you will betr -- Wasn't me! Not me either!" Can you imagine them all rushing to clear their names?
Not to be left out, Judas denies that he will betray Jesus too, but Jesus then calls him out specifically. Judas is saying that nothing is going on, that Jesus is imagining the whole thing. He's hoping to bluff his way through things and keep the people around him from suspecting the truth. Jesus has to call his bluff at that point. I don't think Jesus did it to shame him, but to say "I want you to know that I know. There's still time to make a better choice."
At this point, Judas had three chances to turn things around and do the right thing. First, when he decided to betray Jesus. Then when Jesus said that someone was planning to betray him and mentioned that things would not turn out well for the betrayer. And finally when Jesus drew attention to him specifically as the betrayer. I think Jesus knew he had made his mind up to do it, but maybe he was hoping he'd choose a different path.
Unfortunately we know which path Judas chose, when we read a bit further and get to Matthew 26:47-50:
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
This is the part where Jesus looks the most beautiful in all of this. Judas comes bringing an army. Jesus knows what Judas is going to do, but still allows him into his personal space to greet him intimately. But the beautiful thing is that Jesus calls him a friend. Jesus loves Judas despite the fact that he's come to betray him. He releases him to do the evil thing he came to do. How many of us would do that?
If it was me, my language would probably have been a lot less family friendly, and then Peter and I probably would have cut down as many people with swords as we could before they overpowered us. "Friend" is probably not the first thing I would have called Judas. But Jesus was filled with love.
Judas was a guy Jesus had spent roughly three years with, who was practically part of his family. Jesus' response to Judas was a response based on that relationship, not on his ugly actions. When people hurt us, how many of us have the perspective of seeing them for who they are, and not for what they've done? In a sense that's the root of grace, the love for a sinner despite their sin.
Jesus is the very definition of meekness in these verses. He holds all of the power of the universe, and he's got some rough guys of his own on his team, but he puts up no resistance. He doesn't even try to talk Judas out of it. Instead, he talks Peter out of hurting them in return, if you read a bit further. He is able to completely control his reaction to make his response a response of love and not of retaliation.
We should pray for the patience of love of Jesus. If we live in a world of people, we will come into contact with stupid and evil actions. How awesome would it be if our own actions could so authentically demonstrate the love and grace and meekness that comes from God? His love is steadfast and unmovable, even under the worst mankind can thrown at him. He blesses those who would curse him and absorbs the sin that would spin out of control if answered in kind.
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