"Jesus said, 'My friend, do what you came for.' Then they stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him." (Matthew 26:50) Imagine the Last Supper. Jesus is surrounded by the men He spent three years pouring His life into.
He washed their feet. He fed them. He loved them. One of them, Judas, stands up. He leaves. He comes back with soldiers. And he greets Jesus not with a punch, but with a Kiss . He used the ultimate sign of friendship as a weapon to destroy Him.
If you follow Jesus long enough, you will be kissed by a Judas. It usually isn't an atheist who hurts you deeply. It is a brother. It is a fellow church member. It is a leader you trusted. They will gossip about you.
They will betray your secrets. And it will happen right at the table of friendship. Many people quit following Jesus not because of the devil, but because of the church. But look at Jesus. He knew Judas would betray Him, but He washed Judas's feet anyway.
He called Judas "Friend" even in the moment of betrayal. He didn't let the hurt make Him bitter; He let it push Him toward His purpose.
Digging Deeper
This is what it means to Share in Christ's Sufferings . Paul said, "I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings" (Philippians 3:10). We all want the power.
We don't want the pain. But you cannot fully understand the heart of Jesus until you have been stabbed in the back by a friend and still chosen to pray, "Father, forgive them." Your betrayal is an invitation to know Jesus more deeply.
Reflect on this: Who hurt you in the church? Are you holding onto a grudge? If you stay bitter, the person who hurt you wins twice. They hurt you in the past, and they are controlling your joy right now.
Forgiveness is the only way to cut the chain. 👣 Take a Step Action: The Hardest Prayer. Write down the name of the person who betrayed you. Pray for God to bless them. Not just "fix" them, but bless them.
Keep praying it every day until you actually mean it. This is how you wash the feet of your enemy.
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