Broken by betrayal
“Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me.” They were deeply grieved and began to ask Him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?”…Mark 14 verse 18
Have you ever heard the saying that “the saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies. It comes from your friends and those you love”
Perhaps this is something that you know all about, that you have experienced the pain and sting of betrayal not from an enemy but from someone you love, someone you trusted. Perhaps it was a spouse that swore to love you forever but broke that promise, a boss or partner that promised to take a bullet for you, only to be the one that pulled the trigger, or a trusted friend that betrayed you and let you down. It is an indescribable pain that often comes with feelings of despair, grief, anger, sadness and depression. Not to mention the many unanswered questions. Why did they do this to me? What did I do wrong? Why don’t they love me anymore? How could they do this? It can be a very confusing and frustrating time.
The prophet Jeremiah knew a thing about it when he said that “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jer 17 v 9) I don’t know about you but I certainly don’t understand it. I don’t understand why anyone would want to hurt someone that they love. But we all do it. Yes it can be unintentional, however none of us are immune from it.
What do you do when everything that you believed about someone turned out not to be true. When you have given them a piece of your heart and now your heart feels loss. The wonderful truth about my relationship with Jesus is I have discovered that he suffered in every way so that my Lord could understand the pain I feel. In our journey to the cross today we join Jesus and his disciples at the table that we read yesterday that Peter and John prepared. While they were eating Jesus said “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me.” They were deeply grieved and began to ask Him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?”…
Of course he was referring to Judas who would later hand him over to the Roman soldiers, however he was not the only one to betray Jesus. As we read in Sunday’s blog, those that once shouted ‘”Hosanna” soon turned their cries to “Crucify him”. He was abandoned by his followers and denied by one of his closest friends and as if this were not enough, he was subjected to illegal treatment by the Sanhedrin. What about you, have you ever denied knowing him, turned your back on him?
If anyone understands your pain and brokenness through betrayal it is Jesus. So how did he respond? Well for a start he knew Judas would betray him, he also knew Peter would deny him 3 times as the scriptures record this. However does this make it any easier? I don’t think it does, he still experienced the pain, rejection and abandonment, the mistrust and betrayal. However instead of seeking revenge he chose to forgive. Even to the end as he hung on the cross he said “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing” Luke 23v34. When we choose to forgive those that have hurt and betrayed us we are opening our hearts to freedom and denying vengeance. This does not mean that what they did was not wrong. We may be more careful in trusting that person in the future, but we are not going to live burdened by the weight of unforgiveness for the rest of our lives as this will only lead to bitterness.
I don’t know the extent of your pain or the betrayal that you have faced. My own experiences of betrayal are not going to help you in your situation, however God’ s love will. Jesus suffered in every way so that you may not suffer alone. He knows exactly what it feels like to be hurt in this way so hand your heartache over to him. Not only does he understand but he promises that he will never reject you or abandon you. You can trust in his unfailing love for you.
Until tomorrow
Debbie
