I think it is fair to say that if we live long enough, we would be betrayed at some point in time. The dictionary gives the meaning of the word "betray" as"to deliver or expose to an enemy by treachery or disloyalty:"
"to disappoint the hopes or expectations of; be disloyal to: to betray one's friends."
Shortly after arriving in Jerusalem to the shouts and acclaim of the crowds, Jesus was betrayed, just as the dictionary defines it, by one of his friends. Judas was no ordinary disciple. He was not like Thaddeus or Andrew or Bartholomew, disciples we never hear anything about.
"The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me" (Matthew 26: 23). One who had the trusted position of handling the funds for Jesus and His disciples. One who knew Jesus so well He knew where to find Him and could recognize Him even in the darkness of the garden of Gethsemane.
When Judas betrayed Jesus by kissing Him on His cheek, Jesus said,' "Friend, do what you came for." Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him' (Matthew 26: 50).
Have you ever experienced the sting of betrayal? By a friend, spouse, child, parent, co-worker? The closer the relationship, the more painful the sting. As we meditate on Jesus this Holy Week, we can take comfort in the fact that Jesus also suffered betrayal, therefore we can cry out to Him. Then, "The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the LORD binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted" (Isaiah 30 : 26).
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