HOW JESUS LOVED, Part 15
WORD OF THE DAY: "BETRAYED"
Scripture reference: Matthew 26:23,50:
"And he answered and said, He that dippeth
Here is a word that I find great difficulty writing about without feeling hypocritical.
I heard a radio broadcast on a Christian Network last year. A young lady was telling her
She was brutally attacked and was threatened with a gun. The man was going to kill her
He ended up stopping the attack because of her words, and could not look at her. He was
I heard her testimony with awe! To hear of a love like that under those conditions blew me
Jesus had committed himself to Judas, as he identified him as his betrayer during Jesus'
I have never been betrayed to die on the cross for all of man-kind. Sure, I have survived
John 21:22,23
"Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come,
Then went this saying abroad among the brethren,
Just prior to Judas' betrayal of Jesus in the garden, Jesus called him friend (Matthew 26:50).
Jesus did not take revenge into his own hands. He did not allow Peter to do so either.( He
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
If God wills for our betrayers to be saved, what is that to us? Let's follow Jesus Christ, the
-Carol Kenreigh
his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me."
Can I write about loving my betrayer? How many times have I felt betrayed by someone,
harbored the bitterness about it and refused to forgive the perpetrator? I lost count!
With this topic I wrestle!
testimony about God's deliverance and power. I have forgotten many of the details, but
many people were saved as a result of her testimony.
because she kept praying to God out loud while he attacked her. She even told him as a
Christian, she loved him, because God loved him! Every time he said," I will blow you
into a million bits," she said, "Then all million pieces will still love you."
crying.The same thing happened at court too. He ended up confessing his guilt so he would
not have to look at her anymore, and hear of God's unconditional love! He paid dearly for
his crimes. God was her vindicator.She was the only woman to survive this man's series of assaults.
away! I had never seen with my eyes, nor heard with my ears that kind of love in a human
being before, outside of Jesus!
last supper. In that culture, when people ate salted food together, they were saying that
they commit themselves to the other. That commitment meant that whatever one had, the other
was welcome to. It meant when one needed fighting for, the other would die for him, if needed.
Judas broke the commitment. Jesus fulfilled it.
numerous assaults against me, both physical and verbal, but none of those ever came close
to what Jesus endured! The temptation is to lash out bitterly to take revenge against those
who betray us. However, Jesus did not live like this.
what is that to thee? follow thou me.
that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not
unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry
till I come, what is that to thee?"
The word "friend" in this instance is not a term of endearment or affection; it stands more for
an acquaintance or fellow. So Jesus was not endeared to Judas at this time. But he did will for
Judas to tarry for him until Pentecost so he too, could receive the promise of salvation and the
gift of holy spirit with the rest of the disciples. Judas could have repented. He did not. Instead,
he suffered the horrific consequences of his betrayal.
commanded Peter to put away his sword.)
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should
not perish, but have everlasting life."
head of the church and walk in love as He did. Please help me do so, God!
Carol:
GOOD QUESTION!
In the Old Testament in the Book of Esther, the children of Israel had a
There are more war time battles recorded in the Old Testament.
As a nation, we should defend our freedom and our countrymen from destruction.
Any more insights to this subject, by other readers, will be appreciated. - Carol
In trying to get caught up on some past issues that I had not read,
I came across the "Love Your Enemies" teaching. Obviously, in light of
current events, I am (as I am sure many others are) struggling with
this. Is there not some precedent in the Word for battling enemies hell
bent on our destruction?
pv
God Bless America
decree declared against them, for their destruction. Through Mordecai
and Esther's walk in wisdom, and God's mighty provision, the king over
turned the decree. It was commanded the Jews could take up and defend
themselves, which they did. They were victors! Their main enemy, Haman,
was punished severely for his evil (he and his family were hanged).
Thus, the children of Israel were saved and the genealogy of Christ was preserved.
We do not have to allow our nation's enemies kill us, without a fight, as a country.
As individuals, however, we are commanded to love our enemies. No it is not an easy
thing to do. I agree we all have a struggle with this concept. But that is what
differentiates "agape" or God's love, from "phileo" or brotherly love. God's love
is unconditional. Brotherly love is not.
c.Carol Kenreigh, 2001. All rights reserved.