Pastor Ken
During the celebration of the Holy Communion, the congregants would often read a passage recounting how Jesus established the sacrament on the night of his betrayal. Judas, one of his twelve apostles, betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. He led the authorities to the Garden of Gethsemane and identified Jesus, ultimately leading to his crucifixion.
The pain of betrayal by a friend cuts deeper than any physical attack from an enemy. Psalm 55.12-14 captures this deep sense of betrayal, expressing the anguish of being wounded by someone trusted and close: “For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng.” The psalmist said that if the person who hurt him was an enemy, he would have expected and prepared for it. However, those were comrades with whom he had gone through life and death, close friends with whom he shared deep bonds and beliefs. It was a blindsiding blow, far worse than an expected attack from a known enemy.
Psalms 41.9 also expresses this feeling. “Even my close friend whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.” The Psalmist was sick in bed, but his trusted friend unexpectedly took advantage of his vulnerability and hurt him.
Psalm 38.11 says, “My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my nearest kin stands far off.” This is another form of betrayal. When someone is in trouble, their loved ones avoid them for fear of becoming implicated.
In the movie “Braveheart”, the protagonist Wallace led his Scottish clan in a rebellion against the English army for independence. After achieving victory in several battles, he believed they could unite with other Scottish clans to secure a crucial win. Tragically, Wallace was betrayed by the King of Scotland and the nobles, resulting in devastating losses. In a poignant scene, Wallace confronted the enemy leader, only to discover, upon lifting his helmet visor, that the individual was his own trusted king. The shock, disbelief, disappointment, and rage conveyed in this scene encapsulate the profound emotions of being betrayed.
In times of peace, being betrayed and made a scapegoat in significant cases can lead to financial and reputational loss and serious legal consequences. In less severe situations, perhaps at a business meeting, where some trusted friends/colleagues remained silent and didn’t take a stand as you faced questions from superiors. The sense of fighting alone can erode one’s faith in humanity.
People who stay loyal and never betray others make trustworthy friends who stick with you through thick and thin. When Jesus was on the cross, enduring excruciating pain, he cried out, ” My God, why have you forsaken me?” Did God betray him? Never! The eternal fellowship between the Trinity was temporarily broken by all the sin that was laid upon Him. Under extreme pain, Jesus showed His human emotions. God would never abandon His beloved son. In His final moments, Jesus declared, “Father, into your hands I commit my soul!” He fully believed that the faithful Father God would never betray Him or abandon Him. Three days later, God the Father raised Him from the dead.
Believers throughout history have found the same God to be faithful and trustworthy. Despite times of betrayal, we can seek refuge in Him and find acceptance, understanding, healing, and love.
