We return to Matthew 26:47-56 for part four of Lessons in the Garden, and we will look closer at the pain of betrayal Jesus experienced in the Garden of Gethsemane by one of those closest to Him. Matthew writes,
“While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.’ And he came up to Jesus at once and said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, ‘Friend, do what you came to do.’ Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?’ At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, ‘Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.’ Then all the disciples left him and fled.”
Judas is famous for being the disciple who betrayed Jesus, and one can only imagine the deep sorrow Jesus experienced as Judas betrayed Him. Yet, in the moment of Judas’ betrayal, Jesus calls Judas “friend” (Matthew 26:50). In Greek, the word friend here is “hetairos,” which in this verse means, “friend, (my good friend).”
How could Jesus call His betrayer a friend? If you are like me, it can be difficult to wrap your mind around the idea of Jesus still considering a man who played a crucial role in Him going to the cross as a friend. Yet, His ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9). Therefore, God can address the sins done against Him while also speaking to who we are in Him.
Judas is not alone in sinning against the Lord, for we must ask ourselves: are there times in our lives where we too have betrayed our Lord? One definition of “betray” in the Merriam Webster Dictionary is “to be unfaithful to.” God is clear there should be no other gods/idols before Him (Exodus 20:3-5; Deuteronomy 5:7-8). How many times do we as Christ followers fall short on this command? For us, it could be social media, marriage, children, career, money, hobbies, and the list can keep going.
God sees the sinful decisions we make, which grieve Him, and He still loves us. Yes, Judas is known as the betrayer, but let us allow Judas’ betrayal to remind us of how underserving we all are of God’s love and relationship. Furthermore, let us allow Judas’ betrayal to remind us how we too are sinners in need of the Lord’s forgiveness.
All Bible verses are from Holy Bible: English Standard Version