Betrayal! The very word cuts to the heart! That's because most of us have felt the sting, and struggled through the aftermath, of being betrayed by someone close to us...and it hurts! Oftentimes these 'betrayers' are referred to as 'a Judas."
According to the dictionary a 'Judas' is described as "someone who betrays under the guise of friendship; a double-crosser, double-dealer, traitor, or two-timer; a person who says one thing and does another."
Over the course of a lifetime, most everyone will have to deal with at least one Judas in their life.
David had one...
"Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lift up his heel against me" (Psalm 41:9).
"For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company" (Psalm 55:12-14).
Jesus had one (in fact, He had the one that made the name famous!)...
"Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him [Jesus] unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him" (Matthew 26:14-16).
"And while he [Jesus] yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. And Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?" (Luke 22:47-48).
And we have them...friends, acquaintances, maybe even family members...who greet us with a kiss, but secretly work behind our backs to tear us down and destroy us.
How do we deal with them?
In my 'Woman Thou Art Loosed' Bible, Pastor T. D. Jakes says that we need those Judas's in our lives! Need them??? Is he kidding???
In one of his 'Gospel Pearls' T. D. Jakes says, "Every child of God desperately needs a "Judas" to carry out certain aspects of divine providence in her life. Sometimes your friends can cause you the most pain, but through their betrayal, God's will can be executed."
He further expounds on the subject in the following article...
YOUR FRIEND JUDAS
(Luke 22:47)
Judas was no mistake. He was handpicked and set aside. His role was crucial to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. No one helped Jesus reach his goal like Judas. Considering the part he played, though, you'd probably rather have a friend like John, whose character and personality traits won Jesus' heart. Or you might prefer a Peter, bold and brassy and ready to fight anyone and everyone who threatened his beloved Master. Peter even challenged Jesus Himself, rebuking Him for His determination to die for mankind. The truth of the matter is, Jesus could have accomplished His purpose without either Peter or John; but without Judas, He would never have reached the hope of His calling.
God can bless you through the worst of relationships. Learn to accept even the painful or negative ones. The time, effort, and tears invested will not be wasted, because God knows how to turn adversity into opportunity. In short, the bleeding trail of broken hearts and wounded relationships will lead you to the richness of God's purpose.
Periodically, you may hear a knock at the door. It is the knock of your old friend Judas, whose cold kiss and calloused heart will usher you into the will of God. To be sure, these betrayals will call forth bloody tears and nail you to a cruel cross. Nevertheless, the kiss of betrayal can never abort the precious promises of God. The challenge is to sit at the table with Judas on one side and John on the other and being distinctly aware of each one's identity and agenda, treat one no differently from the other!
If you have been betrayed or wounded by someone you brought too close, please forgive him or her. That person was really a blessing -- a friend in disguise. Persecution strengthens you. Trials and trauma build perseverance. You will only be better when you cease to be bitter.
So leave my Judas alone. I need him in my life. He is my mysterious friend, the one who helps without even knowing it. His assaults send me to my knees and cause me to lean on Jesus -- my ultimate Friend.
Wow! That's something to think about...isn't it? Have you ever thought of the Judas in your life as a blessing? Well...she is! Perhaps it's time to take a new look at your old friend, Judas, and just see what kind of opportunity Jesus is bringing to you through her!
According to the dictionary a 'Judas' is described as "someone who betrays under the guise of friendship; a double-crosser, double-dealer, traitor, or two-timer; a person who says one thing and does another."
Over the course of a lifetime, most everyone will have to deal with at least one Judas in their life.
David had one...
"Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lift up his heel against me" (Psalm 41:9).
"For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company" (Psalm 55:12-14).
Jesus had one (in fact, He had the one that made the name famous!)...
"Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him [Jesus] unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him" (Matthew 26:14-16).
"And while he [Jesus] yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. And Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?" (Luke 22:47-48).
And we have them...friends, acquaintances, maybe even family members...who greet us with a kiss, but secretly work behind our backs to tear us down and destroy us.
How do we deal with them?
In my 'Woman Thou Art Loosed' Bible, Pastor T. D. Jakes says that we need those Judas's in our lives! Need them??? Is he kidding???
In one of his 'Gospel Pearls' T. D. Jakes says, "Every child of God desperately needs a "Judas" to carry out certain aspects of divine providence in her life. Sometimes your friends can cause you the most pain, but through their betrayal, God's will can be executed."
He further expounds on the subject in the following article...
YOUR FRIEND JUDAS
(Luke 22:47)
Judas was no mistake. He was handpicked and set aside. His role was crucial to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. No one helped Jesus reach his goal like Judas. Considering the part he played, though, you'd probably rather have a friend like John, whose character and personality traits won Jesus' heart. Or you might prefer a Peter, bold and brassy and ready to fight anyone and everyone who threatened his beloved Master. Peter even challenged Jesus Himself, rebuking Him for His determination to die for mankind. The truth of the matter is, Jesus could have accomplished His purpose without either Peter or John; but without Judas, He would never have reached the hope of His calling.
God can bless you through the worst of relationships. Learn to accept even the painful or negative ones. The time, effort, and tears invested will not be wasted, because God knows how to turn adversity into opportunity. In short, the bleeding trail of broken hearts and wounded relationships will lead you to the richness of God's purpose.
Periodically, you may hear a knock at the door. It is the knock of your old friend Judas, whose cold kiss and calloused heart will usher you into the will of God. To be sure, these betrayals will call forth bloody tears and nail you to a cruel cross. Nevertheless, the kiss of betrayal can never abort the precious promises of God. The challenge is to sit at the table with Judas on one side and John on the other and being distinctly aware of each one's identity and agenda, treat one no differently from the other!
If you have been betrayed or wounded by someone you brought too close, please forgive him or her. That person was really a blessing -- a friend in disguise. Persecution strengthens you. Trials and trauma build perseverance. You will only be better when you cease to be bitter.
So leave my Judas alone. I need him in my life. He is my mysterious friend, the one who helps without even knowing it. His assaults send me to my knees and cause me to lean on Jesus -- my ultimate Friend.
Wow! That's something to think about...isn't it? Have you ever thought of the Judas in your life as a blessing? Well...she is! Perhaps it's time to take a new look at your old friend, Judas, and just see what kind of opportunity Jesus is bringing to you through her!
Wow! Powerful stuff! Definitely worth pondering on some more.
ReplyDeleteI love the challenge, that is definitely hard to treat a Judas as respectfully as a friend.
Something I need to work on, that's for sure.