Betrayal and Darkness 

Luke 22:47-53 “While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them.  He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”  And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?”  And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.  But Jesus said, “No more of this!”  And he touched his ear and healed him.  Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me.  But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.””

In what was already a “night of agony”, Jesus now must endure His betrayal by one of His chosen apostles, Judas Iscariot.  Luke 6:12-16, tell us that “Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night.  At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose 12 of them to be apostles.  This passage does not tell us how many disciples Jesus called together, but it does tell us that Judas Iscariot was one of the 12 disciples Jesus chose to be apostles.  And now one of those hand picked apostles came with a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards.  Judas would identify Jesus with a kiss!  Thinking about our Lord being betrayed by one of the 12 is difficult to imagine, but that Judas would do it with a kiss…  

Have you ever felt, or actually been, betrayed by someone very close to you?   I have not, thankfully, but I know that many of us have experienced bitter disappointments or hurts…if not outright betrayal.  Jesus knew full well what was going on, even though the disciples with him did not.  He knew this time, and place, was chosen…so He could be arrested and taken away out of the view of the large crowds that were surrounding Him during these last days in Jerusalem.  Jesus had spoken, taught and healed in the open, yet His betrayal was in the dark to carry out a secret plot, by the leading priests and Pharisees, to arrest Him.  Yet, he reacted with such calm and composure, while those around him were filled with anxiety.

Jesus met this betrayer and the “mob” who had come to arrest Him, with a calmness that is completely unnatural to me, and I’m guessing maybe all of us.  In Matthew’s account of this scene in chapter 26:53-54 Jesus tells his companions “Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?  But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”  Jesus knew this time was coming, and He continued to walk the path that was laid before Him.  Yet, He showed mercy to the group, and actually healed the servant of the high priest that was among those that came for him in the dark.  He was really very much in control of the unfolding events, regardless of the plans of those who came for Him.

Jesus understood, and accepted, that this was going to be the “hour” and the time of the power of darkness!  Because of His great love for us, and His obedience to His Father’s will, he endured the betrayal of Judas and the desertion of His other disciples, as they all fled the garden when Jesus was arrested (Mark 14:50).  He stood alone, and really assumed “control” of the situation.  He addresses Judas with a question, and challenged the group that came to arrest him.  He stopped the disciples from taking actions of violence, and healed the man who had his ear severed by Peter, according to John 18:10.  He allowed all that happened in the garden that night, in order to continue His journey to the cross to ensure our salvation.  

Think about the betrayer being one of the twelve.  Can you imagine how someone could have spent three years with this close group of men, and with Jesus, and then be the one to betray Jesus?  How could this have happened?  Why one of the twelve?  Would I have done anything like that?  Would any of us?  

I pray that you join me in reflecting on this evening of betrayal nearly 2,000 years ago, and consider whether we are involved in types of “lesser” betrayals of our Lord and Savior…in these days.  There is certainly “darkness” in this world and in our culture today.  May we be increasingly thankful that Jesus protected His disciples that night, and that He, through His sacrifice, has protected us for all time from the “power of darkness”.  May we be continually aware of the “darkness” that exists in this world, and may we earnestly seek to do the will of our Lord, and not betray our responsibility to be dealing with others in ways that are pleasing to Him.

Heavenly Father, strengthen our faith and keep us on the path You have chosen for our life.  May we be faithful to You, and always thankful for the sacrifice of Your son, Jesus.  Amen

Tom Hoien