By: Kevin Tyus
One of the most hurtful experiences a person can go through is betrayal by a trusted friend! I’m talking about your “ride and die” partner, the person to whom you have bared your soul to, the person for whom you would lay down your life for without a moment’s hesitation.
Jesus experienced betrayal
Jesus hand-picked twelve men to be his disciples, these men were mentored, and developed by Jesus to usher in an era of mercy, grace, and freedom for the entire world. Jesus showed them things no one else had ever seen. He gave them the power of God to do miraculous works, they were privy to hidden wisdom and understanding that God had not, ever revealed. Although Jesus and the disciples shared these and other wonderful experiences there was still betrayal among them.
Betrayed (Betrayal)
Matthew 26:20
Strong’s Definition
To surrender, that yields up in trust, transmit: – betray, bring forth, cast, commit, deliver (up), give (over up), hazard, put in prison, recommend.
Thayer’s Definition
- to give into the hands (of another)
- to give over into (one’s) power or use
- to deliver up one to custody, to be judged, condemned, punished, scourged, tormented, put to death
- to deliver up treacherously
3. by betrayal to cause one to be taken
Betrayed by His Own
Judas! Most people only think about his back-stabbing betrayal delivering up Jesus to be killed, as we should because there is not a more low down, treacherous deed, recorded in human history than the betrayal of God into the hands of sinful mankind to death. Let’s look at Judas…
Judas
Matthew 26:20-25 NASBS
Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. [21] As they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” [22] Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” [23] And He answered, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. [24] The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” [25] And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself.”
Matthew 26:47-50
[47] While He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. [48] Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.” [49] Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. [50] And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him. So Judas was, is, and will be for all time the ultimate human betrayer!
Peter
What about Peter? He denied knowing Jesus and deserted Christ in his hour of need?
Matthew 26:30-35
[30] After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. [31] Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE scattered.’ [32] But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” [33] But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.” [34] Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” [35] Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.
Matthew 26:69-75
[69] Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” [70] But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” [71] When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” [72] And again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” [73] A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away.” [74] Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. [75] And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. Jesus needed someone to stand with him and Peter the most vocal of the disciples who said: “I’m your boy till the end” [paraphrased] denied even knowing Jesus not once, not twice, but three times cursing!
Jesus on Forgiveness
Jesus does not want us who have been truly born-again, holding grudges and unforgiveness in our hearts. Why? Because God forgave us our sins through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross paying our debt of sin in full, so He wishes us to be just like Him in forgiving others.
So what does the word forgiveness mean when used in the biblical sense? There are several shades of meaning depending on how it is used, but let’s look at a familiar passage of scripture:
Mark 11:25-26
[25] Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. [26] [But if you do not forgive neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.”]
The word forgiveness used in the above passage carries this general meaning:
Forgive (Forgiveness)
Mark 11:25-26
Strong’s Definition
Forgive, forsake, lay aside, leave, let (alone be go have), omit, put (send) away, remit, suffer, yield up.
Thayer’s Definition
Expire, let go, disregard, leave, not to discuss now, (a topic,) give up a debt, forgive, to remit, keep no longer, not to hinder, to give up a thing to a person, leave, go away from one, depart from one and leave him to himself so that all mutual claims are abandoned, go away leaving something behind, leave on dying, abandon. Putting it together we come up with; giving up our right to be hurt or offended, letting go of the wrong, or offense, done to us and wiping the slate clean as if the offense, issue or problem never happened!
It Doesn’t Mean
- To keep putting yourself in harm’s way
- Allowing yourself to be abused in any way
- Putting yourself in a position to be taken advantage of
- Being used for financial gain
- Staying in an unsafe environment
What does Forgiveness in Action Look Like?
I can think of two great New Testament examples the first from:
Luke 23:33-34
When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. [34] But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”
Jesus on the cross asks God the Father to forgive them! At the point of death, Jesus asks God to forgive those who were killing him to be forgiven, what an awesome example for us to follow!
The second New Testament example is from:
Acts 7:58-60
[58] When they had driven him (Stephen) out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. [59] They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” [60] Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep.
Stephen like Jesus, asks God to forgive them as he was being murdered by his killers. This is another great example for us to follow in forgiving people.
I talked about betrayal, we looked at forgiveness, now let’s deal with being reconciled.
Matthew 5:23-24 [23} Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, [24] leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
Reconciled
Strong’s Definition
To change thoroughly that is (mentally) to conciliate: – reconcile.
Thayer’s Definition
- to change
- to change the mind of anyone, to reconcile
- to be reconciled, to renew friendship with one
Judas, NO Forgiveness or Reconciliation!
When we read the New Testament notice that Jesus never prayed for Judas? He prayed for Peter, He prayed for others but there is no specific passage showing that intersession was made for Judas’ reconciliation to God! However, the gospel of John makes reference to the final state of Judas in a most chilling way:
John 17:12
12 While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.
Perdition
Strong’s & Thayer’s Definition’s
Ruin or loss (physical spiritual or eternal): – damnable (-nation), destruction, die, perdition X, perish, pernicious ways, waste. Destroying; utter destruction, of vessels, a perishing, ruin, destruction, of money, the destruction which consists of eternal misery in hell.
Matthew 27:3-5
[3] Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, [4] saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” [5] And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed, and he went away and hanged himself.
Was there Forgiveness for Judas? NO! Instead of going to Jesus and asking for forgiveness he hung himself, committing self-murder, violating the scripture “You shall not murder!” Exodus 20:13
Sometimes we cannot be reconciled to the people who have hurt us, they may have died or the situation may be too hostile for that ever to happen. In any case, it’s incumbent on us to forgive them of their trespasses, totally releasing them of the wrong and moving on with our lives. When we do this, WE are free from the bondage of past hurtful memories and can move on to enjoy our newfound freedom of life in Christ!
Peter Reconciled
But… there were forgiveness and reconciliation for Peter! Jesus met Peter at the point of his sin, in his case, it was denying that he knew Jesus three times. Let’s look at the passage:
John 21:15-17
[15] So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” [16] He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” [17] He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep. Jesus met Peter at the exact point of his sin and betrayal; Jesus had Peter re-confirm his love and devotion for Him for each of the denials. Peter didn’t take his own life; he did not deny Jesus out of greed or ambition but out of fear of possibly dying on a cross next to Jesus. What’s so interesting is that Church history tells us Peter did die on a cross years later but refused to be crucified like Jesus and requested to be hung upside down on the cross.
Forgiveness and Reconciliation for Us
Like Peter, many of us may have had a moment of weakness where we denied knowing and following Jesus as Lord.
It may have been in our personal life, work, finances, speech, relationships, or any number of things. The bottom line is you can be reconciled to Jesus by admitting that you sinned (name the sin(s); asking him to forgive you, cleanse you, and to come into your life and help you turn away from the sin and disobedience that breaks fellowship with Him and God the Father.
If you would like to accept Jesus as Lord of your life, then:
- Confess with your mouth that Jesus is your Lord and God
- Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins
- Believe in your heart that He died on the cross taking the punishment for your sins that you rightly deserve
- Acknowledge that He rose from the dead by His own power on the third day
- Recognize that He now sits at the right hand of God the Father, pleading for your forgiveness every time you repent asking for forgiveness
Follow what the Word of God Commands us to do and keep your relationship with God open and right without sin.
Galatians 5:16-25
[16] But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. [17] For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
[18] But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. [19] Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, [20] idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, [21] envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law. [24] Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. [25] If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Peace, Ty