BETRAYED!

BETRAYED!
Psalm 41.9
“Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me."

Each time as we partake of Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper, we hear the words of its institution, “On the night in which Jesus was betrayed, he took bread….” (from 1 Cor 11.23). Betrayal marked the climax of Jesus’ ministry, leading to his arrest, trials and sentence to death. We his disciples are called to follow him. Will we not also experience betrayal as he did?

Betrayal is described by Shakespeare as “the unkindest cut of all” when Brutus joined in the assassination of Julius Caesar. The emperor’s last words “Et tu, Brute?” or “You too, Brutus?” have been immortalised in literature as the gasp of someone betrayed by a close friend. Betrayal shocks because it comes from the most unexpected quarters, delivers the deepest hurt, and inflicts the greatest pain. It could be the worst of sins.

King David is well acquainted with the pain of betrayal. In his psalms, he cries in agony to God: “My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague; and my kinsmen stand afar off.” (Ps 38.11) Even a “close friend in whom I trusted” (Ps 41.9) turned against him, a reference to Ahithophel his longtime advisor (2 Sam 15.31). Jesus quoted this scripture referencing Judas: “I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’” (John‬ ‭13‬:‭18‬)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Have we been betrayed? Has someone smiled at us in the face and stabbed us from our back? If so, let us take comfort that we share in Christ’s suffering (Phil 3.10). We feel a tinge of what our Lord Jesus felt. As for King David, he looks to God: “But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever.” (41.12) As long as we remain clear on our integrity, we have nothing to fear. Friends, even family, may betray us but the Lord will remain true to the end.

Remember: “the night in which Jesus was betrayed….”