Jesus “¦ Loved His Betrayer
Jesus spent some hours with His disciples around a Passover meal before He was arrested. Matthew tells us about the time Jesus revealed to His disciples that He would be betrayed. Every disciple, even Judas Iscariot, said “Surely, not I Lord?”
What is one of the lessons I learned from this Scripture passage?
Jesus never took on the role of ‘victim’. He never made a list of grievances against those who betrayed Him.
As a believer in Christ Jesus, He does not remember the numerous times I have sinned against God. When I confessed Him as my Savior and turned from those sins, asking Him to forgive me ““ I am forgiven.
And once I have asked Him into my life, I am a child of God. Never to be taken out of His family. This is why you and I need Jesus!
After Jesus had told His disciples of His coming betrayal
(NASB) John 13:21-26 “When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “˜Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.”™”
22 “The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking.
23 There was reclining on Jesus”™ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
24 So Simon Peter gestured to him, and said to him, “˜Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.”™
25 He, leaning back thus on Jesus”™ bosom, said to Him, “˜Lord, who is it?”™
26 Jesus then answered, “˜That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.”™ So when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.”
Jesus was ministering to each of His disciples at this time. Jesus did not shield His betrayer and He answered John”™s question with honesty. Jesus loved Judas enough to confront him and challenge him to tell the truth, Judas didn”™t.
John knew Jesus loved him”¦and each follower of Christ is to be convinced of this fact”¦Jesus loves you!
Remember this about God”™s character:
(NASB) Psalm 103:8 “The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.”
You can have the confidence that you are loved when you receive Christ as your Savior and Lord. Remember that familiar song:
“Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so”¦”
Those words are still true for you today”¦