Read John 18

Read John 18

Verses chosen for meditation: John 18: 2-3, 8-9, 10-11, 26-27, 39-40 ESV

2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.”

10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” 27 Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

39 But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40 They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

Reflect

Have you ever felt betrayed? What makes a betrayal?

How did Jesus respond to such betrayals? What made him respond the way he did?

What can we learn from Peter's denial of Jesus? What about him denying Jesus three times in a row?

Relate

Betrayal is the breaking or violation of a presumptive trust or confidence that produces moral and psychological conflict within a relationship.

It can trigger a myriad of complex emotions, leaving us completely overwhelmed and drained. Such betrayal trauma, as it is called, can affect our self - esteem, emotional well - being and relationships.

On that fateful day as we read earlier, Jesus was betrayed by no less than three people in quick succession. The first was someone he knew from within his own circle. They had shared information and done many things together. Therefore, he even knew where Jesus would go for a quiet night of prayer. The second was someone who had claimed utmost loyalty to him. He was even trying to prove it by protecting him from being arrested. All this was done while in the full glare of Jesus. Hours later, however, when the presence of Jesus was no longer felt, he would deny ever knowing him. The third was a group of people who had witnessed all the good Jesus had done and even benefitted from some of them, but chose a crook instead in his place.

If this were to happen to us, many of us would be livid, seething with anger, or crushed, reeling from shock, at the thought of being betrayed by someone we trust. It would feel as though the whole sky had fallen or the whole world is caving in. It hurts more, the closer the person is to us.

Jesus must have been deeply hurt by all the betrayals, but he didn't show it. Neither did he allow any of them to dampen his spirit. After being betrayed three times in a single day, he was still as clear as ever about the task before him. Despite what others had done to him, he continued to keep his end of things, even going as far as forgiving every single one of them.

The overriding reason could only be love. 1 Corinthians 13 embodies this truth to a tee. It is this love that conquered both sin and death on the Cross. It is also this love that compelled him to do what he did for us on the Cross since perfect love does not resort to undesirable measures in the face of betrayals. As difficult as it is, it perseveres and sees no reason to be offended or ashamed of.

On the perpetrator's side, at least Peter's denial was not a calculated move unlike that of Judas.  Neither was it a herd mentality like the crowd's, which is often seen in social media these days where everyone chimes in mindlessly.

Peter could not even have imagined that he would betray Jesus. He did not even realise that he had denied Jesus three times until the cock crowed.

Many of us are like Peter. We have no intention of denying or betraying Jesus. But we do it every now and then without even realising it. In front of a Christian crowd, we could be all for Jesus. But once away from it, we find ourselves buckling easily under pressure and temptation. The cause can usually be traced back to a simple lack of courage or conviction since standing up for Jesus, especially in a threatening and non - Christian environment takes a lot of courage. Staying true to Jesus during a tempestuous moment also requires not just grit alone but conviction.

Peter had apparently not fully learned from his 'walk on water' debacle. He exhibited the same initial bravado, only to cower in fear later when questioned by others about his association with the arrested Jesus. It could be said that he loses courage whenever he loses sight of Jesus or the fact that Jesus is still in control.

When caught in a situation like this, he would betray Jesus right off the bat almost unthinkingly, only to realise that he had done the unthinkable when he heard the cock crow.

Do we perhaps have an equivalent of the 'cock crow' moment or alarm? Or have all the excuses and denials we've given and committed seared our conscience?

"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." (Psalm 119: 11) To his credit, Peter remembered the words of Jesus when the cock crowed. Even though he had betrayed Jesus, he was nonetheless saved by the words of Jesus eventually when he remembered them.

Rest

Lord, thank you for dying on the Cross for us. Besides the agony, there were so many other reasons for you not to do it, but you soldiered on instead for our sake. It was because of the Father's will and your love for us. Let us, therefore, remember your words that we might be saved from sin's clutch. For bitterness, anger, unforgiveness and self - guilt often place us on the cusp of sin without us even realising it. Help us then to draw near to you and stay true to you always.

Naville Chia