Betrayal

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

BETRAYAL

Luke 6:12-16

12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: 14 Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

NIV

From here we have to notice as Jesus had been walking around, and when he told Simon to follow him and he would make him a fisher of men, which was not the time Simon became an apostle. It is apparent there were many who Jesus called to follow him, and there were many who became his disciples, but only twelve were designated as apostles. Is there anything we can apply to our lives from this historic account of Jesus choosing the twelve? For one thing we know, as Jesus knew the hearts of all men, he knew the heart of Judas Iscariot before he chose him. We have already seen Jesus saying things to the Pharisees because he knew what they were thinking, so it was with Judas. Although it is somewhat different, in the sense Judas became a traitor. This might indicate at the time of his choosing his heart was not bent on betraying Jesus, yet Jesus had to also know that he would and still, because that was the plan, chose him. Yet within the heart of all men exists the ability to betray Jesus. Maybe that is the lesson we should learn. We have the ability within us to betray Jesus, even though he has called us to himself, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Judas had to believe in Jesus. He was one of them, in fact chosen to be designated an apostle out of all the other disciples. Was it just because he would betray Jesus? When we answered the call of the Holy Spirit to follow Jesus surely we did not do so with the intent of ever betraying him, yet once deciding to follow Jesus, when we act out of our own self-serving motives have we already betrayed our Lord? That Greek word, traitor, carries the meaning of giving over to another’s (the enemies) hand, a surrender. So it is when we surrender our will to the temptations of either our own evil desires, or of the devil. When we give over those truths we hold so dear, to the desires of self, are we not betraying our own self, and therefore Jesus? So let us not think too poorly of Judas, as he shows us that which can exist within our own heart. Let us pray we have the strength to overcome any moments of betrayal.