And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began everone of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. Matthew21-25
And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said is it I? and he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish. St. Mark 19-20
I was struggling with a situation in my life and I had to seek God's direction on what I should do. I asked God, how do you handle someone trying to murder your name and who you are? How am I to treat that person or persons? I thank God for His spirit. He took me to His son. Jesus knew how to handle betrayal. How did He handle it?
First, Jesus being God Himself (all knowing) picked Judas to be one of His disciples. So He knew from the beginning who Judas was and what He was capable of. And even knowing this, He did not cast Judas away from Him. Judas was in His inner circle. He knew what the Master said, and He saw what the Master did. Judas was there hearing everything, taking notes on Jesus situation. Yet Jesus did not keep any good thing from him.
So now I asked the question, as only our human minds can think of, why didn't you get rid of him? You knew what he was going to do, so why not get him out of your business. Let me share with you what I believe God showed me.
He did not cast Judas out because the gracious God that we serve wants everyone to have a chance to come to know Him. He allowed the traitor to walk with Him and see Him to give Judas a chance to come to a place of salvation. Judas chose not to take it.
We also have to understand that Judas didn't take Jesus's life. Jesus willing gave it up. Jesus could have stop the process at anytime He wanted to. We have to also understand that Judas wasn't the only possible way that Jesus could have given up His life. So Judas didn't have to betray Jesus. He chose to allow the enemy to use him.
Secondly, even though Jesus did not cast Judas away, He did call him out. He let the truth of the situation be known. He boldly told everyone who the betrayer was. See Jesus had a mission to fulfill and that was what He did. Judas was amongst the followers. He looked like a disciple, he talked like a disciple, he wasn't really a follower of Christ. Oh even when the others were concerned if they were the ones that would betray Jesus and asked in a manner of sorrow, Judas asked as well, to keep up appearances. And Jesus called him on it.
So what is the lesson I learned? God wants me (and I can say us as well) to be Jesus in the situations where we are being betrayed. It is a difficult place to be, but we must continue to be that light, that path to God. God wants everyone to have an opportunity to receive His forgiveness, even the betrayer. So we have to be Jesus to them. They may walk amoung you, they may sit next to you, they may even be in your family. Yet God wants us to be Jesus to them. Because the grave they are digging, isn't really for you anyway. It is for themselves. For God has a purpose for your life and you must fufill it inspite of and because of what is going on. However hear this, Jesus did not cast Judas out, but He called him out.
Let the truth be the truth. Don't back down from the truth, stand in it and stand for it. Jesus let Judas know He knew all about what he was going to do. Even in that, Judas still didn't heed the warning. But Jesus had a mission and that is what He did, fulfill His mission. We have a mission from God and we must fufill that mission.
So what will I do? I will be loving with the Love of Christ. I will fulfull my mission for Him so that He can receive the Glory, for I am assured that no weapons formed against me shall prosper. But I will stand for the truth at all times and in all situation. I will do it with boldness and with the assurance of God that He is on my side.
So I encourage all today, that inspite of what's going on in your lives, stand boldly for the truth, but be ready to love those in your midst, that even seek to kill your name.
And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said is it I? and he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish. St. Mark 19-20
I was struggling with a situation in my life and I had to seek God's direction on what I should do. I asked God, how do you handle someone trying to murder your name and who you are? How am I to treat that person or persons? I thank God for His spirit. He took me to His son. Jesus knew how to handle betrayal. How did He handle it?
First, Jesus being God Himself (all knowing) picked Judas to be one of His disciples. So He knew from the beginning who Judas was and what He was capable of. And even knowing this, He did not cast Judas away from Him. Judas was in His inner circle. He knew what the Master said, and He saw what the Master did. Judas was there hearing everything, taking notes on Jesus situation. Yet Jesus did not keep any good thing from him.
So now I asked the question, as only our human minds can think of, why didn't you get rid of him? You knew what he was going to do, so why not get him out of your business. Let me share with you what I believe God showed me.
He did not cast Judas out because the gracious God that we serve wants everyone to have a chance to come to know Him. He allowed the traitor to walk with Him and see Him to give Judas a chance to come to a place of salvation. Judas chose not to take it.
We also have to understand that Judas didn't take Jesus's life. Jesus willing gave it up. Jesus could have stop the process at anytime He wanted to. We have to also understand that Judas wasn't the only possible way that Jesus could have given up His life. So Judas didn't have to betray Jesus. He chose to allow the enemy to use him.
Secondly, even though Jesus did not cast Judas away, He did call him out. He let the truth of the situation be known. He boldly told everyone who the betrayer was. See Jesus had a mission to fulfill and that was what He did. Judas was amongst the followers. He looked like a disciple, he talked like a disciple, he wasn't really a follower of Christ. Oh even when the others were concerned if they were the ones that would betray Jesus and asked in a manner of sorrow, Judas asked as well, to keep up appearances. And Jesus called him on it.
So what is the lesson I learned? God wants me (and I can say us as well) to be Jesus in the situations where we are being betrayed. It is a difficult place to be, but we must continue to be that light, that path to God. God wants everyone to have an opportunity to receive His forgiveness, even the betrayer. So we have to be Jesus to them. They may walk amoung you, they may sit next to you, they may even be in your family. Yet God wants us to be Jesus to them. Because the grave they are digging, isn't really for you anyway. It is for themselves. For God has a purpose for your life and you must fufill it inspite of and because of what is going on. However hear this, Jesus did not cast Judas out, but He called him out.
Let the truth be the truth. Don't back down from the truth, stand in it and stand for it. Jesus let Judas know He knew all about what he was going to do. Even in that, Judas still didn't heed the warning. But Jesus had a mission and that is what He did, fulfill His mission. We have a mission from God and we must fufill that mission.
So what will I do? I will be loving with the Love of Christ. I will fulfull my mission for Him so that He can receive the Glory, for I am assured that no weapons formed against me shall prosper. But I will stand for the truth at all times and in all situation. I will do it with boldness and with the assurance of God that He is on my side.
So I encourage all today, that inspite of what's going on in your lives, stand boldly for the truth, but be ready to love those in your midst, that even seek to kill your name.
Praying for all that read this, that God would receive all glory from your lives.
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