Jesus was betrayed - Matthew 26:49

Jesus knows betrayal.

One of the 12 closest to him walked up, kissed him and gave him over the very men who would have him crucified.

Judas.

I want to say, what possessed him? But we know the answer to that - Satan himself. (John 13:27)

This goes back to ‘we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph. 6:10.)

But back to the point, Jesus felt the bitter sting (which is too weak a word) of betrayal. Not only did it cost a dear friend, but it led to his death. The ultimate betrayal.

Jesus’ betrayal opened the door to our salvation from his death. His death keeps us from death. 

Poetic Justice?

Hardley, Jesus did not deserve death. He did not deserve to be betrayed by a close companion. 

He knows what it’s like. He knows the deep wound of betrayal and can relate to you. But you have to let him.

He knows abandonment. In the midst of that betrayal by a kiss, his other disciples scattered and abandoned him to be alone as he faced his accusers.

He heard Peter deny knowing him. He cried out on the cross, My God, why have you forsaken me?

He was human. The God man. He hurt. He felt. His cry came from a wounded, betrayed, abandoned, pained and nailed to a cross soul. He knew what it was like to be hurt and literally left for dead.

He knows betrayal and its bitter end. Unto death. He died with betrayal and abandonment as his last thoughts.

Why?

Why would he do that for  people who would continually betray him and others for years to come. Why would he die for those who abandoned him?

Think of the men who nailed him to the cross - why would he die for them? Or those who hated him or rolled dice for his clothing. What about the very men who studied scripture looking for the savior - the Sadducees and Pharisees? The ones who plotted to have him killed? He died for them.

But I believe the real pain came from his closest friends - the 12. The ones he poured into - teaching them, loving them, doing life with them in spite of all their flaws. They betrayed him.

And then he died willingly, painfully and in the most humiliating way - for them.

We can argue that he was God, he knew. But he came to earth in flesh that consists of a human mind, human heart and human emotions. He hurt, he was troubled to the point of sweating drops of blood.

Our savior knows so much about the hurts we walk through - more than we'll ever know.

What do we do with this knowledge? We go to him. We take our weary, tattered, broken souls to him. We ask him to help. He will. He knows. Go to him. Cling to him. Watch what he’ll do.