“I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’ 19“I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. 20 Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.” John 13.18-20
“Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread,has turned against me.” Psalm 41.9
Consider the pain Jesus felt in being betrayed by Judas. This disciples, who he considered a friend and who had ministered with him for three years, was turning him over to death. Even though Jesus knew it was coming, and had spoken about betrayal, for it actually to happen must have been saddening (not only for a lost friendship but a lost soul to hell.)
Jesus is speaking here and fulfilling the Scripture of Psalm 41.9. A scripture that not only applies to Jesus but one to whom he is fulfilling, completing and redeeming. He talks about those whom he has chosen and its as if this Scripture was written by David for this moment of the Messiah’s betrayal. Why wouldn’t it be? Who is greater than the Son of God to fulfill Scripture written a thousand years before his time?
Yet Jesus refers to this act of betrayal before it happens. We forget, if we put ourselves in the shoes of the disciples hearing this word from Jesus — we don’t have the full story. We, in modern times, knows what happens but when Jesus says this about Judas they knew not of what he was speaking. Sure, Judas is about to give up Jesus to the authorities but how do we know this will snow ball into his suffering, death, and ultimate resurrection?
Another point is that Jesus allowed this to happen. He was born to die. Born to rise again. The process wasn’t fun or easy. To accept being falsely accused when you are the Holy One? To be accused of sin when you are blameless? God loves us so much that he is redeeming his people through the pain of his Son. His pain is our gain.
Judas reprents all of us and our own betrayal of Jesus to sin. In life we choose sin over salvation but along the way, for those who accept Jesus and his death for our lives, we sin less and begin to walk in holiness.
Are you walking in holiness? He knows our sin and our struggles. He knows our shame and our guilt. Turn from the wickedness and toward the Savior who loves you with an every lasting love of hope, peace and grace.
“O Lord God, you are good. In the midst of our struggles you remind me of how much you love me. I pray Lord for the courage to lead in a way that brings you honor and glory. I pray for my family that we might realize how blessed we are by you. That you are near and that you are hear. Come now, Lord, accept us as we are— forgive past sins and make us whole by your love. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen