Betrayal

On a night when many things could have happened, Jesus’ response to the events of the night of his betrayal are the key to the mastery of life in many areas. In those final days, relationships and trusts that had been formed over many years fell apart. Before the night was over, all of the apostles would betray Him in their own way and flee. All of us have been betrayed some point in our life. It happens on the job, it happens in friendships, it happens in families, and sadly, even in church. We have all felt the hurt of trust turned to treachery. Betrayal is a horrible thing to deal with and a difficult thing to master. It is difficult to not become bitterer by betrayal. Jesus gives us an example of how to deal with betrayal. In the midst of that horrible night, Jesus did something so significant, that it actually changed the course of humanity. Paul gives us a principle of life and communicates over the many years the key to living with betrayal. The Lord's supper is more than a symbolic meal, but the answer of how to deal with the sting of betrayal. Jesus knew what would happen, but even as the traitor sat has his table, He broke bread and He gives a principle of how to live with betrayal. In the midst of this betrayal, Jesus never lost his composure. In a moment of treachery Jesus did not let the knowledge of the betrayal to elevate to anger against the one He knew would betray Him. He refused to get lost in that night. Many people are still fighting the same battles over and over because they are lost somewhere in a night that they cannot get past. Too many people are locked in their past. Lost in something that happened to them many years ago. Jesus refused to be lost in the reality of the very night He was betrayed. Jesus did not allow it to slow Him from His purpose. He refused to let what someone did to Him, to stop Him from what He was going to do. Paul tells us that on the night he was betrayed, He took bread. He took bread not a head. He took bread not a sword. Be careful what you talk hold of during times of betrayal, because what we take hold of will take hold of us. He took bread, and He gave thanks. By His actions, Jesus denied the twin sister of betrayal; bitterness. If we are to survive the night of betrayal, we will have to embrace the spirit of Thanksgiving. Even if we have lost it all, we still have God's hand in our life. If nothing else, we can be thankful for the hand of God in our life. The bible tells us that after He broke bread, Jesus sang hymns. Even in the face of His betrayal, Jesus offered praise in song. He prepared for agony with praise. The Lord's supper is not a story of betrayal, but a celebration of overcoming. On a night when a lot of things could have happened, Jesus' actions show us how to deal with betrayal.