David Bahn – Reflections

John 13:21-24

After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” ²² The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. ²³ One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table close to Jesus, ²⁴so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking.

There’s betrayal of an incidental and perhaps even unintentional type; the “loose lips sink ships” kind of betrayal. Maybe you’ve said something that hurt your best friend – not intending to do so at all. But intent and impact are two different things. Once I forwarded an email replete with the chain of previous correspondence. While nothing was intended to hurt or offend, my friend was hurt and offended by something I had said.

Sometimes, however, our words or actions are designed to hurt, offend, or betray. Frustration, greed, self-righteousness get the better of us. We lash out, claim our rights, or lower the boom of judgment.

When Jesus tells his disciples that one of them would betray him, they must have imagined an unintentional slip-up. Surely none of them would betray him in the fullest sense of the word. Yet we know that Judas would deliver Jesus into the hands of the Romans. Peter would deny he even knew Jesus. The rest of the disciples would flee at Jesus’ hour of shame.

The worst part of any betrayal is not the act by itself; it is the act coupled with un-repentance. If the disciples had not come back, or Peter had not wept in bitter repentance their acts would be little different from Judas’. Perhaps that’s why Peter wept so bitterly.

A sincere heart will always seek forgiveness, not for the intent of the act, but for the reality of its impact. Perhaps you need to seek forgiveness from someone today whom you have hurt unintentionally. Intentional or not, any act that hands a friend over to his enemies is no small thing. It is betrayal. We do well to seek forgiveness and reconciliation.

The ironic thing is that as Jesus was delivered to his executors by the hand of a betrayer, he would die for betrayers. Even today he calls us to repent of our sins and believe the good news of his ultimate victory over this and every kind of sin.

John 13:25-30

²⁵ So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” ²⁶Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. ²⁷Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” ²⁸Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. ²⁹Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. ³⁰So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.