THE SET UP
Having people who don’t like you or don’t really know you give you a hard time is bad. But when someone you thought was your friend, someone you thought you could trust stabs you in the back, that is so much worse. We don’t expect good things from our enemies and we don’t expect evil from our friends. Even though Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him and that it was part of the plan, it had to hurt. He had spend three years discipling and befriending Judas, and now Judas was selling him out for thirty pieces of silver. What was Judas’ motive? Luke says Satan entered into Judas, so was he demon possessed? Was he just greedy for the silver? I have heard some people posit that he believed in Jesus and that he only betrayed Him to force Jesus’ hand and make Him rise up as the Messiah. Whatever the motive, Judas was wracked with guilt and took his own life in regret.
PASSAGE TO READ
Luke 22:1-6 (Page 633 in our house bibles)
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
What do you think motivated Judas to betray Jesus?
If you were Jesus what thoughts or feelings would you have had when Judas betrayed you?
Have you ever been betrayed by a close friend or family member? If so, how did you feel?
PRAYER IDEA
If there is someone close to you who has hurt you, ask God to help you to forgive and to work to restore that relationship.