Introduction
There are times that people feel betrayed by their close friends. This is not different from the experiences of Christ Jesus. This Newsletter discusses the betrayal of Jesus Christ by His close associate, as prophesied in the book of Psalms, and its fulfillment in the life of the Christ.
Betrayed by a Trusted Friend
David has prophesied in his Psalms and said,
“Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them”(Psa 41:9-10).
We know that the above scripture points to Jesus Christ because Jesus said it when he mentioned that ” I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me” (Joh 13:18).
Peter, in his address to his fellow Apostles, emphasized that for the scriptures which the Holy Ghost spoke about Judas, one of the Apostles of Christ, and the man who partook of the ministry of Christ, to be fulfilled, he betrayed Jesus Christ, so that they crucified Him (Acts 1:16-17).
It is very disappointing and painful to be betrayed by a trusted friend. As David again writes, that if he had been betrayed by an enemy or a person who hated him, then he could have borne it, and that if betrayed by a person who magnified himself against him, then he could have avoided him, but it was his equal, his guide, and his acquaintance who has betrayed him (Psa 55:12-13). Jeremiah would say that your friends have set you on, and have prevailed against you and that your feet are stuck in the mire and they are turned away from you (Jer 38:22).
All people ought to comprehend that the pain one suffers as a result of the betrayal of trust, is aggravated, especially when it comes from a loved one such as a spouse or a close friend or associate. If a person reposes or entrust his or her confidence in you, you must try to maintain that trust to the end, it does not matter what disagreements ensue between you in the later years. In order to be prepared against betrayal by a friend, Paul authoritatively advices that man should “let God be true and every man a liar” (Rom 4:3).
It is important that you trust friends and people in your life, but be careful in doing so. According to scriptures, when Jesus did many miracles in Jerusalem, at the time of the Passover, many people believed in Him because of the miracles that he did. But because Jesus knew all men, He did not commit Himself to them, and there was no need for any person to testify of a man (Joh 2:23-25).
Conclusion
Judas was one of the Apostles of Christ. His mission of being part of them was to betray Jesus Christ to be crucified. This was done so that the scriptures might be fulfilled and that the Ministry of Christ would be complete and perfected.
Prayer: May God help us to be trustworthy members of our society and strengthen us not to betray the trust we repose in one another. In the name of Christ Jesus our Lord. AMEN!