The Kiss of Betrayal

Title: The Kiss of Betrayal

Scripture: “If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers” – Psalm 55:12-14

Everyone has had to deal with betrayal. Either you have been betrayed, or you have betrayed someone else. Probably, you have been in both situations. Maybe you were told something by a friend who asked you to keep it in confidence, and soon, it was over the news. Maybe you had an idea about how things could be done better at work, but the friend that you told it to used your idea to get the promotion that you deserved. Or you told a family member something you were really ashamed off, but they used it as a weapon to put you down.

< blockquote>Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me. – Psalm 41:9

Betrayal comes at the most crucial times of our lives, at the hands of those who are the closest to us. Betrayal is not limited to those who have not experienced God’s presence. The bible says “The heart is desperately wicked. Who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9). Judas was a highly trusted member of the group. He ate bread with Jesus. He had been there to pass out food to the 5000 people that Jesus fed with a few fish and some bread. He had seen Lazarus raised back to life. He had seen Jesus heal the blind and the lame and the deaf. He had been a part of all that. And on the night of his betrayal, Jesus had washed his feet. He had shared the Passover meal with Jesus. Yet Judas still betrayed

Betrayal doesn’t just happen. For Judas, the cause was money. For Peter, the cause for betrayal was survival. When we choose to commit sin, it is an act of betrayal to God. Remember God has helped when we were in trouble, He has supplied our needs, He has fought for us when we were helpless and then we turn around and disobey his words for a moment of pleasure.

< blockquote> “For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.” – Luke 9:26< blockquote>
[pullquote] A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. – Proverbs 18:24[/pullquote]Betrayal does not need to be the end of the relationship. Betrayal could be forgiven. Judas killed himself but Peter repented and God used Him as the catalyst for the beginning of the church. Every time that Judas’ name is mentioned it is dealing with the events surrounding the betrayal of Jesus betrayal. We know nothing good about this man. But the other disciples, who ran away from Jesus when He needed them most, their betrayal is never mentioned again beyond the record of the actual event. Why? Because they received forgiveness and restoration. The past, as dark as it was, was wiped away, your too can be wiped. You can start on a clean slate.

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