Judas' betrayal of Jesus is a key thread throughout today's reading. I've heard theories as to why Judas was willing to betray Jesus. Some suggest he was greedy; even John's Gospel tells us that he stole from the treasury he managed. Others suggest he was a zealot, that he just believed so strongly in the need for a political hero, that he became disillusioned with Jesus. Luke and John tell us that Satan entered Judas, so there was clearly some spiritual deception, as well. Each of these may have played a part, but I'm not sure any of them tell the whole story. Judas is a man who confuses me.
However, as confusing as it may be to me, the other disciples didn't seem to think betrayal was so impossible. When Jesus announced that one of them would betray him, they each were greatly distressed and asked, "I'm not the one... Am I?" As the reading progresses, we see even these faithful disciples fail to stand by Jesus, overcome by sleep as he implores them to pray with him. (Unfortunately that's not an experience completely unfamiliar to me.) He tells them they will all desert him that night, and we will soon read that his prediction came true.
And as they chose sleep over prayer, while Judas led the mob to Gethsemane, Jesus' determination to sacrifice himself for sinners became resolute. What a Savior! As the mob approached who would arrest and abuse him, he said, “Father, your will be done.” When his friends fell asleep with no real understanding of what he was going through, he committed to this plan of salvation. “Look, the time has come. I, the Son of Man, am betrayed into the hands of sinners.” And as we scatter, deny him, or try imperfectly to follow, his mission is unshaken. He has come to reconcile us to God, to pay our ransom with his life, to move beyond our betrayal to miraculous restoration.
2 Timothy 2:11-13:
This is a trustworthy saying:
If we die with him,
we will also live with him.
If we endure hardship,
we will reign with him.
If we deny him,
he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny who he is.
1 comment:
I liked your thoughts on Judas. I have also wondered why the disciples say "is it me?" At first glance it does appear odd that a disciple, who has witnessed every miracle from feeding 5000 to walking on water would be ready to offer up the possibility that they could be a betrayer. But maybe we are not understanding that these words of theirs may indicate that they finally understood the power of Jesus and knew that he knew things beyond the ordinary including predictions of the future. I can see them wondering in an instant in their heads-"could it be me in some fluke?" Of course they have no idea what the scope of the betrayal will be and how important it will become. It is actually a normal question coming from such a devoted group.
It also points to the enormous fear these men must have lived under. The ruthless Roman rule was nothing to play with. There were no journalists to investigate the injustice of tribal times and no media to follow them around.
How might things have been if this happened in a time with TV, internet and CNN? Maybe nothing would change. Betrayals happen everyday. That is why we need Christ. He is our only hope. He is the only one you can evidently truly trust.
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