While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I will kiss is the man; seize him." And he came up to Jesus at once and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you came to do." Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.

Have you ever had someone you love and trust betray you? Have you ever thought a secret was safe with someone only to hear that it was shared with others?

I remember a time that I felt betrayed. I had just started my relationship with Jesus, and like every “born-again” Christian, I was on fire. I stepped in to leading a Bible study because the person leading it was moving, and I could not imagine my life without it. I found out later that one of the ladies who attended the study, my friend, was mocking me about my faith behind my back. Oh man, that hurt. I thought all of those conversations about Jesus were shared feelings, shared thoughts, shared excitement and passion. Our kids were the same age, our husbands were friends, we had many mutual friends, and I felt paranoid the whole time I was around them. I couldn’t be myself and truly explore my faith and grow in it — I was worried about what others were saying about me.

While this is a “small” betrayal compared to that of infidelity in a relationship, private information being shared, and outright attacks from friends, it still hurt. It affected my relationship with Jesus and my friends. It put me in a defensive mode whenever I would talk about my faith.

As we move on in our series on emotions, we have to remember something: every emotion that we have ever felt or will ever feel was felt by Jesus at some point during His life on earth — including betrayal.

Jesus was betrayed in the most intimate and publicly humiliating way possible — He was kissed by His betrayer (a trusted friend) while His enemies stood ready to pounce. While this betrayal wasn’t a secret to Jesus (see John 13:21-30), He was still grieved by it. Verse 21 says, “after saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit…”

Betrayal is one of the hardest things to endure. I think because it generally comes from someone we love and trust and with whom we have been vulnerable, exposing our inmost thoughts and then having those vulnerable moments put out for others to see and dissect. It can cause trust issues, paranoia, and even change the trajectory of our own journeys. We can lash out and try to get even. We can draw back and isolate from the very ones who could love us well. And worst of all, we can draw back and isolate from our Savior — the only One who can completely and perfectly comfort and guide us.  

But Jesus didn’t do that. Instead, knowing He was going to be betrayed and even who would betray Him, He still loved and served that individual. First, Jesus washed His feet — one of the lowliest tasks that was typically only performed by servants (see John 13:1-20). Knowing all that was going to happen, Jesus still served.

Secondly, Jesus dined with Him. It was His very last meal with His trusted friends and loved ones, and He didn’t kick out the one He knew would betray Him. I have to be real here: if I knew what Jesus knew, and this was going to be my last time with my peeps, I wouldn’t sit in the company of someone I knew was going to serve me up to my enemies. At the very least, I would passively aggressively give them some “important” task that prevented them from attending my last meal. At the worst, well...let’s just leave that thought where it is…

And finally, in the most intimate way a friend could greet you in their culture, Jesus allowed Judas to kiss Him - the kiss that would betray Him and send Him to the cross, the kiss that would start the grueling events to follow. He came familiarly close, in the most personal way, and betrayed Him.

So, what can we take from this? First, Jesus KNOWS what it feels like to be betrayed — don’t fool yourself that He has no idea what you are going through. Second, Jesus still served. I know we want to pick and choose who we serve. We want to serve those who serve us — that’s easy and brings us joy. But Luke 6:32-33 and 35 say, “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same...But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.” And finally, Jesus loved. He could have saved Himself. He could have exacted revenge on Judas. He could have let Peter kill Judas, but Jesus loved. He loved us all so much, including Judas, that He endured it all for us — even the betrayal.

Who can you CHOOSE to serve and love today even though they betrayed you? What does that look like?

Jesus, Jesus, You know so intimately all the sorrows, griefs, betrayals, and emotions that we could ever endure. Knowing that gives me confidence to come to You with all of those things. To not act in my human nature and try to “get even,” but to act in the Spirit and pray for those who hurt me. Jesus, show me the way. Show me how to love even when I don’t want to. Thank You that You loved us even when we didn’t deserve it. In Your precious and holy name ~ AMEN.