Spy Wednesday
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Betrayal is heart wrenching. Have you experienced betrayal? How did it affect you then? How does it still affect you?
In His final hours, Jesus experienced two separate blows of betrayal.
In His final hours, Jesus experienced two separate blows of betrayal.
John 13:21-30
After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”
Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
John 13:36-38
Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”
Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
Reflect
How are the two situations similar? How are they different?
Knowing Jesus was fully man and He experienced real emotions, how do you think this affected Him?
Matthew 27:3 tells us that Judas was paid 30 pieces of silver for Jesus. 30 pieces of silver to totally sell Him out. He tried to give the money back, but it was too late, Jesus had already been delivered over to the authorities.
It is easy to gasp at Judas, in shock that someone would sell out Jesus.
And what about Peter? Was walking on water (see Matthew 14:22-32), and being rescued when he sunk, not enough to secure his love and devotion? Would he really deny the Christ that had just washed his feet?
Yes. We are in familiar company. The ways we deny or sell out Jesus may not look the same as Judas or Peter. However, any time we place more focus on ourselves or on our fears, we move from trusting in Christ to trusting in ourselves or the world…denying Him and selling Him out.
But there is very good news for us:
Knowing Jesus was fully man and He experienced real emotions, how do you think this affected Him?
Matthew 27:3 tells us that Judas was paid 30 pieces of silver for Jesus. 30 pieces of silver to totally sell Him out. He tried to give the money back, but it was too late, Jesus had already been delivered over to the authorities.
It is easy to gasp at Judas, in shock that someone would sell out Jesus.
And what about Peter? Was walking on water (see Matthew 14:22-32), and being rescued when he sunk, not enough to secure his love and devotion? Would he really deny the Christ that had just washed his feet?
Yes. We are in familiar company. The ways we deny or sell out Jesus may not look the same as Judas or Peter. However, any time we place more focus on ourselves or on our fears, we move from trusting in Christ to trusting in ourselves or the world…denying Him and selling Him out.
But there is very good news for us:
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
- Romans 8:38-39
You can’t mess this up. Nothing you could do would change His love. Nothing you could do could change the work that He has done in you. Nothing you could do will separate you from Him.
Respond
Level 1 (designed for children)
30 pieces of silver was all it took for Judas, one of Jesus’ 12 closest friends, to betray Him. So when you hold the pretend piece of silver, you can think of what Judas did. But also be reminded that Judas never went to Jesus to ask for forgiveness. What do you think Jesus would have done if Judas had confessed and asked for forgiveness? Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ Jesus or the forgiveness He offers us. Let the piece of silver remind you that Jesus will never stop loving you. He will never stop offering forgiveness, but we have to COME to Jesus in prayer and believe He is our Savior.
Level 2
Pray, using Romans 8:38-39, and thank God that nothing can separate you from His love for you.
level 3
Pray and ask God to reveal to you where you are trusting in something or someone more than Him. Confess this and celebrate the forgiveness God has given you. Memorize Romans 8:38-39 as a reminder of His promised love.
