This is a week of betrayal. It is one I don’t like to reflect on. I prefer to skip from Palm Sunday to Easter and ignore what happens in between, but then Easter isn’t Easter without the in between.
What is in between is betrayal. First the high priests and elders plot.
3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.5 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.” (Matthew 26:3-5 NIV).
From there Judas betrays him and then the crowds turn on him, as well.
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.”49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”[d] (Matthew 26:47-50 NIV).
Betrayal is deeply personal. Someone you trust, someone you care about shows you their darkness within. They show you that they will sell you out for their gain. Trust is shattered. Relationship is broken. It seems there is no way to repair what has been broken. Most relationships don’t come back from this kind of tear. But notice that Jesus calls him friend even though he knows what he intends to do.
They didn’t understand why Jesus didn’t save himself. They didn’t understand that unconditional love and forgiveness was about to overcome the world including for those that betrayed him.
This isn’t a week to skip over. It is a week to soak in, be transformed by and shared with those who have betrayed us. Can you do that? Share your experience here and breathe life and bring hope to others.