Dear John 18 - Betrayal
Sometimes a family photo shoot is a challenge.
I hate betrayal and have been on both ends of it. Neither feels good.
Merriam Webster defines it as:
":giving information about (a person, group, country, etc.) to an enemy.
:to hurt (someone who trusts you, such as a friend or relative) by not giving help or by doing something morally wrong."
Chapter 18 is filled with betrayals.
#1 Betrayer-Judas
So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" They answered Him, "Jesus the Nazarene.' He said to them, "I am He." And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them.
#2 Betrayer-Peter (Our silence and denial can be an act of betrayal.)
Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said t him, "You are not alone one of His disciples, are you?" He denied it, and said, "I am not." One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with Him?" Peter then denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.
#3 Betrayer-The Jewish People
And when he (Pilate) had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to then, "I find no guilt in Him. But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release or you the King of the Jews?" So they cried out again, saying, "Not this Man, but Barabbas."
Lord, you knew, from the moment of creation, the temptations we would face and the times our sinful natures would surface and we would hurt one another. If we continually feed on Your Word and go back and meditate on:
Love on another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
John13:34
and
Abide in my love.
John 15:9
we increase our arsenal of weapons to fight temptation and sin in our lives. Oh, how our hearts long to be found faithful to You, your ways and your Word. As Your children, we want to be viewed as those who bring light to a dark world. With sincere motives we ask You to keep us from any acts of betrayal.
In Jesus' Name, Amen
