Last week’s message was a Lenten message from my newly discovered Max Lucado book titled On Calvary’s Hill. As promised last week, I will do two more messages from this book leading up to Easter. Today’s chosen message is titled The Betrayer. As usual, Max begins with scripture:
Matthew 26:48-49 – Judas had planned to give them a signal, saying, “The man I kiss is Jesus. Arrest Him.” At once Judas went to Jesus and said, “Greetings Teacher!” and kissed Him.
Max then offers When betrayal comes, what do you do? Get out? Get angry? Get even? You have to deal with it some way. Let’s see how Jesus dealt with it.
Begin by noticing how Jesus saw Judas. “Jesus answered, ’Friend, do what you came to do’” (Matthew 26:50 NCV). Of all the names I would have chosen for Judas, it would not have been “friend”.
What Judas did to Jesus was grossly unfair. There is no indication that Jesus ever mistreated Judas. When, during the Last Supper, Jesus told the disciples that His betrayer sat at the table, they didn’t turn to one another and whisper, “It’s Judas, Jesus told us he would do this.” He had known it, but He treated the betrayer as if he were faithful.
It’s even more unfair when you consider that the religious leaders didn’t seek him; Judas sought them. “What will you pay me for giving Jesus to you?” he asked (Matthew 26:15 NCV). The betrayal would have been more palatable had Judas been propositioned by the leaders, but he wasn’t. He propositioned them. And Judas’s method … why did it have to be a kiss? And why did he have to call Him “Teacher”? That’s a title of respect.
The incongruity of his words, deeds, and actions – I wouldn’t have called Judas “friend”. But that is exactly what Jesus called him. Why? Jesus could see something we can’t. He knew Judas had been seduced by a powerful foe. He was aware of the wiles of Satan’s whispers. He knew how hard it was for Judas to do what was right.
He didn’t justify or minimize what Judas did. Nor did He release Judas from his choice. But He did look eye to eye with his betrayer and try to understand.
As long as you hate your enemy, a jail door is closed and a prisoner is taken. But when you try to understand and release your foe from your hatred, then the prisoner is released, and that prisoner is you.
Max then closes with the following prayer: O Lord, if you can forgive Judas for his unthinkable betrayal, I know it’s possible for me to extend the same to those who have betrayed and hurt me. Free my heart from the bitterness and hatred that keeps me locked up as a prisoner. Help me to love as You love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Please note the last two paragraphs where I have underlined Max’s text. This is a thought that I have shared multiple times in my TGIF messages around our ability and opportunity to love the unlovable. I have also had conversations with a number of you on this topic. Here we see the ultimate example of Jesus loving a truly despicable person, Judas, who by kissing Him provided the ultimate indignity to Jesus. Yet Jesus knew exactly what He was doing, there was no illusion in Jesus’ perspective here, only His showing love for an unlovable person.
That kiss would lead to what Jesus knew would be coming, His crucifixion and also His Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Jesus understood God’s plan all along. Can we learn to trust God, as Jesus did, when we face the unlovable persons in our life?