You were happily at play in elementary school when the teacher suddenly pulls you aside and accuses you of stealing something from someone’s book bag. You were nowhere near the bag. Turns out one of your best friends told the teacher that you were responsible.
Or, someone tells the police you had inappropriate contact with a young person. Turns out that person was someone you thought was a friend. And now you’re on trial for your life.
We hold the virtue of loyalty to one’s friends as a core belief. How would you react? Hurt? Vengeful?
Jesus hosted a dinner for his closest friends. These 13 men had spent the better part of three years together. Learning, sharing, caring for each other. This dinner was a deeply religious, sacred dinner. Not just a party. Then Jesus announces that one in the room would betray him–falsely accuse him of a crime to the authorities who would have the power to kill him. He seemed rather matter-of-fact about it. It shocked most. They never saw it coming.
Jesus said to Judas, “Do what you must do.” One way or another, Jesus was destined to die. Judas became the convenient path. But, things didn’t go as Judas imagined. We can figure that out because the story says he hanged himself. They did go the way Jesus imagined. He knew he would die and then be raised from death.
So, there’s betrayal. And there’s triumph. I’m not sure what the story says to us about dealing with betrayal ourselves. Other than being true to our mission in life, holding on to our integrity, and living with the consequences whatever they may be.
Tags: Christianity, lifestyle
Faith Venture 
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