WEDNESDAY April 13, 2022

Betrayed

Then He [Jesus] came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”
Mark 14:41-42

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus agonized in prayer: And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground (Luke 22:44). Through the power of prayer, Jesus submitted His will to the will of His Father. Meanwhile, His Disciples had fallen asleep. For the third time, Jesus woke them. Could they not watch with Him? The hour had come when the Son of Man was to be betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Judas was chosen to be one of Jesus’ Twelve Disciples, and as such, He closely watched the Lord for 3½years. He saw the miracles of Christ, heard His teachings, and experienced the wisdom of His holy character. Jesus already knew Judas would betray Him. Judas’ betrayal was foretold in Psalm 41:9: Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

What about Judas Iscariot’s character? Why did he willingly betray Jesus to the Jewish religious leaders who plotted against Him? It is beyond our understanding. Yet a glimpse of Judas’ character is seen when Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive, fragrant oil:

But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it (John 12:4-6).

Judas was a thief. Greed for money motivated his betrayal: ...Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-15).

“Our blessed Lord had to endure at its worst the deceit and faithlessness of a favored disciple; let us not marvel when we are called to tread the road which is marked by his pierced feet.”
~C.H. Spurgeon~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!