“And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.  And he that betrayed Him had given them a token saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take Him and lead Him away safely. And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to Him, and saith, Master, Master, and kissed Him.”    (Mark 14:4-45)

“Then entered Satan into Judas Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.  And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him unto them.  And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.  And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray Him unto them in the absence of the multitude.”    (Luke 22:3-6)

“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 unto you?  And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.”   (Matthew 26:14-16)

“And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with Me shall betray Me.  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.  The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of Him:  but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed? Good were it for that man if he had never been born.”  (Mark 14:18-21)

“Yea, mine own familiar friend in whom I trusted, which did eat of My bread, hath lifted up his heel against Me.”      (Psalms 41:9)

“Betrayed!

No one ever faced the world’s sin and sacrilege, sorrow and suffering, scoff and snicker, as Jesus did.  Yet, throughout it all, He was unchanged and undaunted, hopeful and heroic.

Jesus was prepared to deal with the unfair and hateful treatment of a wishy-washy, degenerate, traitorous people. He knew all about them, their weaknesses, passions and prejudices.  He understood the cowardice of His friends and the hate of His foes.  He knew the weakness of Peter and the treason of Judas.  Notwithstanding He continued with His plans.  Every step took Him closer to a cross on which a bloodthirsty mob would nail Him.  Yet He did not refuse His destiny in a terribly evil world.

But how did all this affect His spirit and outlook?  His feelings remained the same.  He continued to pray and to be thankful.  The same night in which He was betrayed, He prayed and gave thanks.  In the shadow of the cross He found there was much for which to be thankful.  In that trying hour, with death so close, He also spoke to the disciples about the future of the church, and gave instructions about a memorial to Him.  Serenity and hope – both frustration and desperation – ruled His heart.  This feeling was based upon knowledge of all the facts.

In contrast, our partial knowledge and incomplete faith make us doubt and despair.  Good people often become disillusioned in their fellowmen and become down-hearted.  This presents a danger to their spirit and a threat to their future.  Thus, for a victorious life, let us look to the Master.  He is saying, “Take up your cross and follow Me.”       ~ Leroy Brownlow

“Nothing hurts more than being disappointed by the single person you thought would never hurt you.”      ~ Unknown

Eileen Light