BETRAYING, DENYING & ME
In today’s New Testament reading, Jesus is found in the Upper Room with His disciples. After the meal, He shares with the group that one of them would soon betray Him. Judas had already accepted a ‘bribe’ of 30 pieces of silver to betray Jesus into the hands of the religious authorities. Yet, upon hearing Jesus state what would soon eventuate, Judas asks, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Of course it was Judas who was planning to hand Jesus over and yet he attempted to feign innocence.
But it was not only Judas who acted shocked that Jesus would accuse one of their number of plotting to betray Him. Each of them exclaimed using the same question Judas asked, “Surely not I, Lord?” (Mt. 26:22). While not betraying Jesus in the same manner as Judas, Peter denied Jesus while cursing and swearing, the apostles fell asleep while praying with Jesus in the Garden, they would scatter and hide behind locked doors afraid for their lives. Now, if you cannot see yourself in the behavior and the words of the apostles, you, like Judas are deceiving yourself.
How often have I uttered those words of deception, “Surely not I?!” Unworthy of Jesus. “Surely not I?!” Jesus said if I love father, mother, son or daughter more than Him I am unworthy of Him. Hypocrisy. “Surely not I?!” But Jesus said to get the speck out of my own eye before attempting to get the log out of my brother’s. Adultery. “Surely not I?!” Yet Jesus said if I have lusted I have committed adultery. Murder. “Surely not I?!” But our Lord said if I have hate in my heart I would be condemned as a murdered. Humility and a right self-perception are necessary traits of every follower of Jesus.
But it was not only Judas who acted shocked that Jesus would accuse one of their number of plotting to betray Him. Each of them exclaimed using the same question Judas asked, “Surely not I, Lord?” (Mt. 26:22). While not betraying Jesus in the same manner as Judas, Peter denied Jesus while cursing and swearing, the apostles fell asleep while praying with Jesus in the Garden, they would scatter and hide behind locked doors afraid for their lives. Now, if you cannot see yourself in the behavior and the words of the apostles, you, like Judas are deceiving yourself.
How often have I uttered those words of deception, “Surely not I?!” Unworthy of Jesus. “Surely not I?!” Jesus said if I love father, mother, son or daughter more than Him I am unworthy of Him. Hypocrisy. “Surely not I?!” But Jesus said to get the speck out of my own eye before attempting to get the log out of my brother’s. Adultery. “Surely not I?!” Yet Jesus said if I have lusted I have committed adultery. Murder. “Surely not I?!” But our Lord said if I have hate in my heart I would be condemned as a murdered. Humility and a right self-perception are necessary traits of every follower of Jesus.
by Curt Krohn, Senior Pastor
Posted in Read Through the Bible
Recent
Archive
2023
January
WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER?RESOLVING CONFLICT AND DEALING WITH EVILWHAT KIND OF FRUIT DO YOU HAVE?GOD IS PROUD OF HIS SONPEACE IS A FUNCTION OF FOCUSTHE HEALING POWER OF JESUSGOD CALLS YOU BY NAMESMOKE AND MIRRORSBE A LIGHTWISE WORDSEXODUSCHOOSING THE RIGHT PATHGOD SEES AND HEARSWHO IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM?WARNING AGAINST FOLLY
February
March
HE HAS A PLAN FOR YOUTHE PLACE OF COMFORT AND SAFETYIT'S THE LITTLE THINGSBE ALERTMY GOD IS NOT TOO SMALLWHEN TO SPEAK AND WHEN NOT TO SPEAKGOD IS GRACIOUS TO USKEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUTSTAND STRONG FOR YOUR FAITHOUR HOPEDO I DO WHAT THE LORD ASKS OF ME?DON'T BE A SCHEMERA TREASURE HUNTLISTEN AND FOLLOWWORDS OF COMFORT OR WARNINGTHE POSSESSOR OCCUPIES AND FILLS THE POSSESSEDUNDIVIDED LOYALTY TO GODONE CONCESSION STAND
2022
January
February
A LEGACY OF FAITHHOW DO YOU APPROACH JESUS? GRUMBLING & COMPLAININGTHE STANDARD OF HOLINESSTHAT DOESN'T SOUND FUN!WHO IS A SINNER?JOY FROM READING THE BIBLEBETRAYING, DENYING & MEGOD'S BLESSINGSDO WE DENY KNOWING JESUS SOMETIMES?PASS THE LOCUSTS AND HONEY ...GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESSTHE UNHOLY IS MADE HOLYWHO IS A GOD LIKE HIM?!?HEALTH INSPECTOR'S PERSPECTIVETHE MASTER OF TIMINGWHO IS THE GREATEST?
March
RECEIVE THE KINGDOM OF GOD LIKE A CHILD OR DO NOT ENTER!HOW DO YOU APPROACH JESUS?STANDARD OF HOLINESSPARABLE OF THE TENANTSTHE COMPLAINTS OF CHILDRENJUSTICE AND JESUSGOOD NEWSREADING AND PRAYING THE IMPRECATORY PSALMSHIS GRACE IS ENOUGH (Num. 24-25)WAITING ON THE LORDOUR LEGACYGOD PROVIDESPSALM 65ABSURD, INCOMPREHENSIBLE EVILA LAW BREAKER MEETS HIS SAVIORLOOKING BACK GIVES HOPE FOR WHAT'S AHEADONE LINERS
No Comments