Betrayals

Luke 6:12-16 AMPC Now in those days it occurred that He went up into a mountain to pray, and spent the whole night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He summoned His disciples and selected from them twelve, whom He named apostles (special messengers): They were Simon, whom He named Peter, and his brother Andrew; and James and John; and Philip and Bartholomew; And Matthew and Thomas; and James son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, And Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor (a treacherous, basely faithless person). Isn't it fascinating and intriguing to note after a whole night spent praying Jesus actually included Judas Iscariot in His inner sanctum of apostles. There were obviously other disciples with the group, it wasn't as if he was the only one in offer. Yet with perfect foreknowledge, Jesus chose him. There's a clue in the verses of Psalm 55:12-14 AMPC For it is not an enemy who reproaches and taunts me - then I might bear it; nor is it one who has hated me who insolently vaunts himself against me - then I might hide from him. But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my familiar friend. We had sweet fellowship together and used to walk to the house of God in company. Jesus had to go through the special pain of a friend's betrayal to be fully conversant with the human condition.

But what of Judas?

At that time was he sincerely seeking to follow the Son of God? We don't know the inner motives of his heart. We don't know of the subtle seductions of the evil one, who wanted to stop Jesus in His salvation mission. Satan was waiting for a chance to destroy Jesus and used Judas as his tool. Genesis 4:7 AMPC If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you, but you must master it. But God used this dark betrayal to bring about the greatest victory of all - the cross! When we are betrayed by a close friend or relative we want to keep them at bay, but perhaps this person holds the key to our greatest victory!? They will cause us to walk our own "Via Dolorosa" and bring us closer to Jesus. Philippians 3:10-11 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Can I, like Jesus, continue to break bread with my "Judas" without reproach? It's a hard ask! Luke 6:27-29 “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also.