Devotion by: Michelle Hawkins and Gale Bobzien John 13:21-33, 36-38
After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, ‘Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.’ The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, ‘Lord, who is it?’ Jesus answered, ‘It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.’ So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, ‘Do quickly what you are going to do.’ Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, ‘Buy what we need for the festival’; or, that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.”
Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, where are you going?’ Jesus answered, ‘Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterwards.’ Peter said to him, ‘Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.’ Jesus answered, ‘Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.
Have you ever known anyone who seems to know you better than you know yourself? If you do, it’s usually someone very close to you. Jesus was close to His disciples. He knew them better than they knew themselves. At the last supper, Jesus knew that the one to whom he gave the piece of bread when He had dipped it would betray Him. The NIV Study Bible notes, “If the giving of the bread to Judas was a mark of honor, it also seems to have been a final appeal – which Judas did not accept.” Judas betrayed Jesus.
Although Peter stated that he would lay down his life for Jesus, Jesus predicted that Peter would deny Him not once, not twice, but three times. He knew Peter better than Peter knew himself.
Judas may not have felt any guilt for what he had done to Jesus. His guilty feelings may have been centered on himself. Peter, on the other hand, felt extreme remorse for letting Jesus down. The Gospel according to Mark says, “Peter broke down and wept.” Peter went on to become the rock upon which the church was built.
Coming back to the theme of “Place your trust in the Lord; He never betrays the Father’s children,” one more phrase could be added: “particularly those who sincerely repent for their sins,” as Peter did. Jesus knows our hearts; He knows what our actions will be, and He accepts that we will fail at times. But if we are remorseful and ask Him for forgiveness, it will always be granted.
Perhaps if we feel betrayed at times, it is because we put too much trust in another person, rather than putting our trust and confidence in God. We have a loving and forgiving Lord. We should strive to follow Jesus’ example with an open heart and serve God and His people. God is gracious and merciful. Put your faith in Him. He will not betray you.
PRAYER: Gracious God, in this season of Lent, help us to serve you with an open heart and will. Grant us the strength to follow the example of Jesus and the grace to see the many blessings we have in our lives. Amen.
Although Peter stated that he would lay down his life for Jesus, Jesus predicted that Peter would deny Him not once, not twice, but three times. He knew Peter better than Peter knew himself.
Judas may not have felt any guilt for what he had done to Jesus. His guilty feelings may have been centered on himself. Peter, on the other hand, felt extreme remorse for letting Jesus down. The Gospel according to Mark says, “Peter broke down and wept.” Peter went on to become the rock upon which the church was built.
Coming back to the theme of “Place your trust in the Lord; He never betrays the Father’s children,” one more phrase could be added: “particularly those who sincerely repent for their sins,” as Peter did. Jesus knows our hearts; He knows what our actions will be, and He accepts that we will fail at times. But if we are remorseful and ask Him for forgiveness, it will always be granted.
Perhaps if we feel betrayed at times, it is because we put too much trust in another person, rather than putting our trust and confidence in God. We have a loving and forgiving Lord. We should strive to follow Jesus’ example with an open heart and serve God and His people. God is gracious and merciful. Put your faith in Him. He will not betray you.
PRAYER: Gracious God, in this season of Lent, help us to serve you with an open heart and will. Grant us the strength to follow the example of Jesus and the grace to see the many blessings we have in our lives. Amen.
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