PPic: Oberon Golf Course - Links Pro Am 2006

PGA Chaplain Bible Studies

Study 6 – February 18th to 24th 2008.
Reading – John Chapter Ch13: verses18-30.

Betrayal?

“Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.” His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.” Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, Son of Simon.”  John Chapter 13: verses 21 to 26. (New International Version)

Being betrayed by a friend, family member or colleague is a very difficult experience. These are the people we should be able to trust. If you can’t trust them, whom then can you trust? A child growing up sexually abused by one’s parents have been betrayed in a worst possible manner.

There is no excuse for betrayal. We all have weaknesses and let people down from time to time. Betrayal is far worse and has developed further than letting someone down. Betrayal has the active meaning of giving one over, to deliver, rather than an unintentional mistake. Betrayal has to do with planning and execution that abandons another person’s needs or friendship for personal gain.

Judas betrayed Jesus. Jesus had gathered his disciples together in Jerusalem for a last meal. Jesus knew the time had come for him to be crucified. He demonstrates his knowledge of what is about to happen. He speaks openly before them of his betrayal by one among them. He identifies who this is by dipping his bread and giving it to the one who will betray him. Judas Iscariot is about to betray Jesus to the Jewish authorities.

The Jewish authorities are after Jesus because of jealousy and being unable to arrest Jesus in daylight due to his popularity and lack of evidence for his arrest. So they have arranged with Judas for a time in the evening when Jesus can be identified and arrested. Judas as we will discover, will regret this betrayal later.
What led Judas to change his mind about Jesus that he would betray him? Was it money, as he was well paid? Was he thinking that somehow handing Jesus over to his enemies would allow Jesus to exert his power? We do not know the answer to what led Jesus to this. The New Testament does not reflect on this at all. We do know however that everything that happened this evening, even Judas betrayal of Jesus, was part of the plan of God that Judas will be held account of.

It is also a reminder to us that people you think you can trust are the one’s who can betray us. We need to be aware of this.

God does offer us this promise to all those who acknowledge Jesus; that he will never let us down, give us over to another or betray us. He died for us. We can trust God.

Prayer.
Lord, help us with all those we relate to, that we will never betray another person for personal gain or improper conduct. Amen.

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