The Kiss of Betrayal

…I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’ John 13:18 

Betrayal… it’s one thing to extend forgiveness to someone who cuts you off on the freeway – it’s another thing to forgive a friend or loved one who has spitefully wounded you.

Jesus knew all too well the sting of betrayal when His disciple Judas turned against Him. Some argue, because it was foreknown the pain was not the same as we experience.

I don’t claim to know Jesus’ feelings that day. However, I’ve often wondered, in Jesus being fully man, if the betrayal felt impossible to forgive. Yet, being fully God, He understood the impact of un-forgiveness and forgave in spite of His pain.

To some degree I think we’ve all experienced the knot that comes in the pit of your stomach, at the relization you’ve been betrayed. Or understand that sudden rush of adrenaline from anger, and the weakness in your knees from the weight of the sorrow.

I know I’ve had to ask myself, how do I get past the pain? How do I keep from putting up walls? How do I continue to allow myself to pour out knowing it could happen again?

The only answer I could come up with was… to forgive. 

Judas, wasn’t the only friend of Jesus’ that ate his food and betrayed Him.

In John 6:48 Jesus said “I am the bread of life.” 

Those of us who feast upon the Word of God, and inhabit the Spirit of the Lord, but turn against Him in sin do exactly what Judas did – we betray Him.

And yet, He forgives…

I’ve wondered if my betrayal of Jesus hurts worse than the betrayal of Judas? 

He died upon a cross thousands of years before I could betray Him, but He died that day to forgive me. So, who am I to keep un-forgiveness in my heart if He never did?

How about you? Have you been betrayed? Do you feel bound up inside? Those are the chains of un-forgiveness! Set yourself free and forgive!