Day 24: Including the double-crosser

Did you know Judas was at the Last Supper? That Jesus washed his feet in a final act of friendship and love, before Judas left the disciples to betray Jesus?

I am amazed by the love of Jesus, over and over. There is no resentment, no expectation of us being better than we are. He takes us in, forgives us, and says, "Now sin no more."

We get to choose whether or not to obey. Whether to follow his example. Whether to choose our own paths - our own gain - our own plans - and destroy our futures. He lets us decide.

But before we go, there's often one last warning, a last act of service, a final whisper: "Are you sure?" before we choose light or darkness.

Do we, like Jesus, welcome and include the person who will betray us? We ourselves will fail, whether we're like Judas, who chooses death over life, too proud to say sorry, or like Peter, who denies knowing Jesus but returns in penitence and humility. The one hangs himself. The other becomes a leader among Jesus' followers. Peter continues to proclaim grace and life ... because he has been restored after disgracing himself and disappointing his best friend. In the end, he dies for his Friend, whereasJudas died for himself = different eternal consequences.

Each of us will occasionally tell untruths, break down under pressure, and do the wrong thing. Then we must turn back to scripture for the reminder that Jesus has experienced it all: betrayal, abandonment, and - and always - offered forgiveness. 

by Jacopo Bassano (1510-92)

Jesus included Judas and Peter at the Last Supper and the foot-washing (John 13). However, Jesus did not pray the priestly prayer over Judas (John 17), because he had gone out and refused Jesus' invitation to rethink his selfish plans. When I make mistakes, I want to be like Peter.

Going a step further, can you (and I) extend the same forgiveness to those who betray us? I'm thinking that's a pretty hard thing to do - and one of the most awesome qualities of God-among-us.

Read more:
*He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:3-6 NEV

*Jesus Christ, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness, and being found in human form. Philippians 2:6-7 NLTMoravian Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, we offer, in stunned humility, our gratitude and praise for your complete act of sacrifice. You gave yourself even for sinners like us. Truly, you are the Son of God. Amen.

Lent Day 40: Grateful

Early on Good Friday morning, I tune in to the YouVersion reader to hear Mark 14-15. Each year, believers read the Story, think about God's love, and say thank you for the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

This year it's particularly meaningful to me. I listen and imagine Jesus' Friday, which includes:

• a feast with friends
• warning those expecting promotion and political wins about hardships and sorrow ahead
• fervent prayer to endure and stay the course, if there is no other route forward
• rousing sleeping followers, who fade away instead of supporting you
• betrayal by an insider ... then watching trusted friends melt away
• healing someone who's coming to take you away
• looking a best friend in the eye after he swears up and down that he's never had anything to do with you
• hearing a mob scream for your blood
• a politically-rigged trial results in a death sentence
• humiliation by religious leadership, mockery with a purple robe and thorn crown; then being struck, beaten, beard yanked out, spit upon by foreign oppressors
• needing a stranger's help to carry your load
• 3 hours of excruciating physical pain on the cross, while your mother and supportive women watch and cry
• being shamed in public, knowing that shame will be applied to your family and friends
• calling out the Psalms to focus on God's plan instead of your human desires
• letting go of human desires and life itself, to do the work of God - the work that God could do only through you

I am in tears when the reading finishes. What amazing love! What a sense of mission!

What parts of Easter speak loudest to you? What in your Passion week readings brought you to a grateful pause?

Read more:
*Psalm 40:9-17; Esther 8:1-9:17; Romans 10:1-13

*When you said, "Seek My face," my heart said to you, "Your face, O Lord, I shall seek." Psalm 27:8 (NASB)

*Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,  that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in thename of God’s one and only Son. John 3:14-18 NIV

*Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!” John 19:5 (NKJV)

Moravian Prayer: We look at the cross, O Christ, and see your abandoned, broken, suffering face – looking upon us only with love. May we deeply feel your gaze, making us more acutely aware of the pain in our world and your love for all. Amen.