Wednesday, April 16 ~ The Betrayal

~~John 13:21-30
After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. One of his disciples – the one whom Jesus loved – was reclining next to him; Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival”; or, that he should give something to the poor. So after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out and it was night. 

~~Others will suggest Judas action permitted Some believe Judas was the evil betrayer. Jesus to achieve his destiny. I served a church which had a living portrayal of the Last Supper. The characters arrived early for makeup application and a light meal before the portrayal. The early arrivals often had to wait in costume and makeup for up to an hour and a half. The man who portrayed Judas had done so for several years. He was a very insightful person, the kind who had been nominated for Kentucky Teacher of the Year several times. One evening as he waited he remarked, “They all begin to avoid me about an hour before the portrayal.” He was very friendly, funny and a gregarious extrovert. But when they began to get into character, they kept their distance.
Even a character, pretending to be Judas 2000 years later, bore the brunt of all our fears that we could be the one to betray our Lord.
However you feel about what Judas did that night at the Last Supper, we must remember the direction in which we are headed. In a couple of days, we will stand at the foot of the cross, witnessing Jesus willingness to be the one who reconciles us to the Lord God of all time and eternity. Judas handed the authorities access to Jesus and all that followed.

The darkness prepares us to welcome the light. But who among us wants to be known as Judas Iscariot? Who wants to be known as the person who betrayed a friend? In spite of our intentions, some may know what it means to walk away from friends who have helped save us without so much as a goodbye. Forgive us Lord. Please forgive us.
Let us learn from our temptation to betray those who have loved us along the way.
Jeff W. Bell