Betrayed By A Kiss
Or
Abandoned By Friends
Sunday April 30, 2023
Scripture To Consider:
“And while Jesus was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.’”
“Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, ‘Greetings Rabbi!’ and kissed Him. But Jesus said to him, ‘Friend, why have you come?’ Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.”
“And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. But Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scripture be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?’”
“In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, ‘Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.’ Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.” Matthew 26.47-56
Something To Consider:
All four gospels report on the betrayal and arrest of Jesus that took place in the Garden of Gethsemane. All of the gospel writers except for John record Judas’ betrayal of Jesus by a kiss. But John records an amazing incident that the other gospels do not.
As the detachment of troops, officers, chief priests, and Pharisees came upon Jesus under the darkness of night, Jesus asked them a question, saying, “Whom are you seeking?” They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” The moment Jesus answered, “I am He,” the troops and those with them who came to arrest Him drew back and fell to the ground.
Even at His arrest Jesus was in complete control of the situation. Therefore, at the word of Jesus, “I am He,” These unbelieving enemies of Jesus could not stand upon their feet, but collapsed to the ground!
There is no enemy of God that will stand in opposition of Jesus when He returns as He has promised. He will devour those who oppose Him and His Word, with the word of His mouth. And when He comes His enduring to the end true believers will be saved, according to Jesus.
Will we be found standing or unable to stand before Jesus? The writer of Psalm 1 proclaimed in verse 5, “The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.” And so, on that day in the garden, the unrighteous all fell to the ground!
Something Else To Consider:
John also recorded the words of Jesus in our Scripture to consider as He declared, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way.” Jesus, at a most tumultuous time in His own life was thinking of the lives and well-being of those He was responsible for.
May we learn the many lessons of a lifetime concerning love, loyalty, and commitment for the well-being of others who are depending on us, because everyone is a leader to someone! Therefore, Paul wrote in Romans 15.1; “We then who are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”
In other words, we are called to sacrifice if called upon to do so! Romans 12.1 instructs us to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service. How are we doing? Are we accomplishing that which the Word of God calls our reasonable service?
Something More To Consider:
The gospel of John also reveals to us that it was impetuous Peter who probably awaking from sleep drew out his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest. But it was Luke the physician who reported the healing touch of Jesus upon the servant’s right ear.
And so, the quick-tempered damage done by Peter was healed by the Great Physician even as He was being betrayed, arrested, and abandoned by those closest to Him. Being betrayed or abandoned by someone is never an easy burden to bear. Therefore, Jesus bore every burden of betrayal and abandonment upon the cross at Calvary so that we would no longer have to carry that heavy burdensome weight upon our hearts.
According to Jesus, end times will be times of much betrayal and abandonment by friends and family members. In Matthew 24, Jesus affirmed of end times, by stating; “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My names sake.” Yes, many will be on the receiving end of betrayal and abandonment in the end!
In verse 10 of Matthew 24, Jesus predicted; “And then many [not some but many] will be offended [probably because of the false pre-tribulation rapture hoax falsely being preached], will betray one another, and will hate one another.” Just as Jesus was betrayed by Judas, so will many one-time believers betray many!
A Few Final Words:
Prior to the coming of the Holy Spirit, and according to our Scripture to consider, “Then all the disciples forsook Him [Jesus] and fled.” Jesus was abandoned by His closest spiritual family-like friends at the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot. A great end time wave of betrayal is soon to take place. Are we prepared for what lies on the other side of that betrayal? We need to be ready!
And without the indwelling presence and power of God’s Holy Spirit, we too will be found guilty of betrayal and the abandonment of loved ones as in our Scripture to consider today. Now is the time for total commitment to Christ and to His Word and the prayerful requesting of God’s Spirit to overcome us and to empower us in order to be found both willing and able to stand up for Jesus and with Jesus in the end!
Being betrayed by a friend or close acquaintance is a paralyzing and sometimes a spiritual seizing event, that without God’s help and our forgiving others and being forgiven, may take us years to fully overcome. Let us therefore not be ensnared by the sin of unforgiveness!
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, touch us and heal us from any hurt or damage done to us because of betrayal or abandonment in our lives. Help us to be found faithful to You, faithful to Your Word, and faithful to Jesus as we approach the end of this age. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 