Loving in betrayal
Tonight we enjoyed a Dispatches from the Front video that was about the gospel going forth in Tunisia and Morocco. The stories of the saints that are boldly sharing the gospel, and some who have given their all for this cause, was compelling and humbling. The director of the missions organization, Tim Keese, interviewed a woman who had wrestled through a time when her family was tracked and displayed on a Muslim terrorist site. She tearfully spoke of how betrayed she felt and angry she was when they became aware of the news. You could tell that the wrestling she did with God over the issue probably matched that of Jacob and the Lord in Genesis 32. How could the Lord call her to still love and preach the gospel in an area that was looking to kill her and her family?
The same Lord who personally loved and walked alongside a disciple who betrayed Him.
John 13 tells us that Jesus loved His own to the end. To the uttermost, to completion. In demonstrating that love He girded Himself and washed their feet. The humility that this demonstrates is one that we in 21st century America can't fully grasp. We can be taught the significance, but culturally we won't fully get it. Nowhere do we see that He skipped over Judas or decided not to wash his feet. Then Jesus goes on to speak of the significance of what He's done and that one of His own would betray Him. Now this is where I marvel.
Because no one knew who would betray the Lord! In other words, Jesus hadn't treated Judas any differently, hadn't made it obvious that it was him. Jesus didn't behave in a way that would have made it obvious to the rest of the disciples that Judas was "the guy"! What?!?
This is beyond my comprehension, and if I'm honest, beyond anything I would willingly do for another person. If I knew that someone would betray me, game on! There's excuse to hate and treat poorly. There's an excuse to protect myself and those I love at all costs, right? Wouldn't I be justified?
No.
Love to the end. Jesus reached out to Judas even in the final hour. He chose to love one who would betray Him. And then He calls us to do the same. But we don't like that and feel justified when we choose not to. Especially if someone has sinned against me, does that not give me the right to shun them or to seek my own protection, or that of my family? By all means, many would have completely understood this missionary family coming home after being made aware of the call for their death. But Calvary love said "stay". Calvary love said "pray for these persecutors of yours". The Man who had endured betrayal to its ultimate end still loved His betrayer to the end. And taught us:
The servant is not greater than his master, nor is he who sent, greater than he who sent him. -Jn 13:16
The same Lord who personally loved and walked alongside a disciple who betrayed Him.
John 13 tells us that Jesus loved His own to the end. To the uttermost, to completion. In demonstrating that love He girded Himself and washed their feet. The humility that this demonstrates is one that we in 21st century America can't fully grasp. We can be taught the significance, but culturally we won't fully get it. Nowhere do we see that He skipped over Judas or decided not to wash his feet. Then Jesus goes on to speak of the significance of what He's done and that one of His own would betray Him. Now this is where I marvel.
Because no one knew who would betray the Lord! In other words, Jesus hadn't treated Judas any differently, hadn't made it obvious that it was him. Jesus didn't behave in a way that would have made it obvious to the rest of the disciples that Judas was "the guy"! What?!?
This is beyond my comprehension, and if I'm honest, beyond anything I would willingly do for another person. If I knew that someone would betray me, game on! There's excuse to hate and treat poorly. There's an excuse to protect myself and those I love at all costs, right? Wouldn't I be justified?
No.
Love to the end. Jesus reached out to Judas even in the final hour. He chose to love one who would betray Him. And then He calls us to do the same. But we don't like that and feel justified when we choose not to. Especially if someone has sinned against me, does that not give me the right to shun them or to seek my own protection, or that of my family? By all means, many would have completely understood this missionary family coming home after being made aware of the call for their death. But Calvary love said "stay". Calvary love said "pray for these persecutors of yours". The Man who had endured betrayal to its ultimate end still loved His betrayer to the end. And taught us:
The servant is not greater than his master, nor is he who sent, greater than he who sent him. -Jn 13:16