Betrayal and Abandonment
Jesus’ journey to the Cross involved betrayal and abandonment! The perpetrator of this betrayal was none other than one chosen by Jesus. The betrayer, one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So, they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over (Matthew 26:14-16).
A closer look at the betrayal revealed that it was purposeful; it was necessary to the ultimate plan of God. The Scriptures revealed that [Jesus] was delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God and taken by evil men” (Acts 12:24). God was aware of Judas’ fraudulent future, and God would use it for God’s own purpose. The choice was Judas,’ but the utilization was God’s. God’s actions in this betrayal were like His movement in the life of Joseph. In Genesis 50:20-21, what was meant for evil against [Joseph], God intended it to be for good. Despite an evil intent, betrayal, and abandonment, God used it to bring about good and to display His own glory.
No doubt, however, in Jesus’ humanity, this betrayal was painful, because it involved one who counted among them. He was “one of the Twelve”! He was in regular fellowship with Jesus and the other disciples, forging relationships and with intimate knowledge of them. Interestingly, it was conducted for thirty pieces of silver. This betrayer was perfectly positioned to forge his plot of perfidy. The Psalmist in Psalm 55:12-14 expressed similar sympathies: “If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide. But it is you, a man like me, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshippers. In fact, Jesus reveals His impending betrayal while He and the Twelve were reclined and sitting at supper: “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” An even more clear sign would be “the one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.” How heartrending and poignant this act of treachery must have been.
Sadly, Judas Iscariot’s act of betrayal would bring a direct scriptural fulfillment. It would also yield future judgment for Judas. “The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
Yet, what Judas and his co-conspirators meant for evil, God meant it for good! God would use this act of treasonous betrayal to place His Son, Jesus Christ, into treacherous hands. His Son will soon be crucified and killed. But then, God will raise Him from the dead, “having loosed the pains of death” (Acts 2:23).
To God be the glory!
