The Way No One Wants To Be Like Jesus

John 13:2 - During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him,…
 
John 13:21-22 - When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me."   NASU
 

• The Dastardly Deed Of Betrayal 

I am pretty sure when I say no one wants to be betrayed that this statement is both accurate and truthful.
 
Jesus was betrayed by Judas. Judas was a part of the group known as the 12 disciples. We could say he was a part of the inner circle.
 
He betrays the friendship he had with Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. He was a thief. He was greedy. He was the type of person who permitted the devil to have access to his heart.
 
You would not want to associate with him. He would be exactly the type of person you would warn your children to stay away from him. 

• The Pain Caused By Betrayal 

We may want to be like Jesus when it comes to loving and forgiving others, but I have never heard anyone pray. "God let me be like Jesus and let me be betrayed by one of my closest friends."
 
The pain that comes from betrayal is unique and it is so devastating it even hurt Jesus. Look at what the text says, "When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit,…"
 
The word troubled means agitated. Jesus' spirit was agitated after he informed the disciples that Judas was going to betray Him.
 
What He said to His disciples was this:
John 13:18-19 - I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.'
 
He prophesied His betrayal.
 
He wanted them to know He knew it was going to happen to Him when He says, the one who was eating with Me was going to lift up his heel against Me.
 
"Lifting up your heel" is a reference to a horse that lifts up its heels against the one who feeds and takes care of it. 

• If You Are Betrayed 

Don't blame yourself.
 
Betrayal tells you a lot about the person who did the betraying.
 
In Judas' case, he was not worthy of the spiritual gifts he possessed.
 
Look what Luke 9:1-2 says, And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing.
 
Judas was one of the twelve as I stated earlier. Look at the power he possessed. He could cast out demons and heal people, but no he would rather give access of his heart to the devil and betray Jesus.
 
What does this say about Jesus?
 
Jesus, the one betrayed, offered one special ingredient to the relationship and that was TRUST. Jesus "trusted" His disciples offering them friendship and love and Judas cast all of that aside because he was greedy and not worthy of the spiritual blessings and benefits offered to him.
 
If you don't ever want to be betrayed then you are going to have to go through life never trusting anyone.
 
That doesn't sound like the way I want to live. I would rather trust people and if they betray me so be it. At least I trusted them. As my mom taught me "it is never wrong to do right."
 
Let's be like Jesus and trust people.
 
Think About This:
 
Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none. - William Shakespeare

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word