Being betrayed is a very painful experience. Most people experience being betrayed during their lives. The opposite of being betrayed is when someone stands by you in a time of need. We refer to that as being loyal. Being someone who is loyal and who will stand by others is a life worth living. We especially want to be loyal to our families. We are also called to be loyal not only to our families, but to our friends and business associates. I have found some businesspeople attempt to redefine how business is done to exclude loyalty. When someone suffers at their hands, the answer is, “it is just business.” When you are being betrayed it is more than business. It is very personal.
Speaking from personal experience, it really hurts when someone you have trusted and been loyal to betrays you. It provides little relief when someone rationalizes betrayal by explaining it or making excuses. Jesus experienced betrayal by someone He chose as one of his disciples. He knew Judas Iscariot was going to betray Him yet he chose Him anyway. How is that possible? How does the Son of God make a “mistake” like that. It was not a mistake, it was meant to be. Jesus intentionally felt the suffering of betrayal and chose being crucified because of his obedience to God. It is so hard for any of us to imagine choosing being betrayed or being obedient when the consequences are so severe.
Recently, I experienced being betrayed by someone I trusted for many years. He clearly failed me and my family in a time of need. I find myself fighting my desire to get even. As if being personally betrayed wasn’t hard enough to accept, he also betrayed another dear friend. This friend was put in harm’s way possibly by me because I trusted the other man so he too trusted him. Some times when we trust someone, others trust him too. Have you ever found yourself in that position?
There are many lessons to be learned here. I will touch on a few today. Choose your friends and those you trust carefully and wisely. Others may follow your lead. It is hard when you see someone you love hurt by someone else and wondering if they followed your example. You may not have convinced others to trust the person you trusted, but then again when they see you trust him, others may follow. You can unwittingly become part of the person’s deception by your willingness to trust him or her.
The hardest lesson might be finding the strength and will to forgive someone who betrays you. Jesus sets an amazing example of forgiving others by forgiving those who crucify Him. He says, “Forgive them Father for they know not what they do.” These men are torturing Him and brutally murdering Him. Yes, MURDER. It is murder when you kill someone who is innocent. Yet, Jesus spoke on their behalf asking His father to forgive them. This is an example of unconditional love for all men and women to aspire to.
He chose his betrayer even though He knew He would betray Him. He knowingly allowed His betrayer to set his trap. At the Last Supper, Jesus told his followers that he would be betrayed and that they too would walk away from Him when this happened. Peter, who was known as “His Rock” denied knowing Him 3 times. Jesus even told Him beforehand that he would do it. These same men who ran when Jesus was crucified later upon seeing Jesus return from the grave gave their own lives so that you and I would know Jesus and his story.
We must share Jesus with others if others are to know His story. It isn’t to draw attention to ourselves. It isn’t to say we have something others don’t have. It is to give people a chance to know what was done for them. Jesus gave His life for all of us.
I know there are many more lessons than we can share, but I have one more for today. Imagine asking your son to die for crimes that He did not commit. Imagine allowing your son to die for crimes that He did not commit. For me, imagining that is so hard. It happened. It happened so that the things we all do wrong would be forgiven. The sins of the world were forgiven by this amazing act of grace and sacrifice. Will you choose to betray or to be loyal? Will you choose to hold a grudge or to forgive? The choice is yours to make.
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