Matthew 26:48-49
Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
In the next verse, Jesus addresses Judas as “friend.” Jesus knew the betrayal was coming, and he allowed it to happen. He knew Judas had betrayed him, yet he still called him “friend.” What kind of forgiveness is this? This is immediate, full forgiveness, that I can only try to imagine. Holding a grudge takes little effort, and remaining angry over an injustice can have a power of its own. But forgiveness for a betrayal of this magnitude? I do not know if I have it in me.
Father God, I ask today for strength and wisdom. May I see that forgiveness is called for, before I even ramp up my anger. May I have the strength to resist the path of anger and to follow you. May I have the strength to offer forgiveness. Amen
Becky, transforming
LENTEN READING for week 2
Wednesday, March I 12th, 2025
Matthew 26:48-49
Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him.
Judas was a lover of money, a liar and a thief. He was a traitor, and he did not believe in Jesus and that cost him eternally. Money played a role in his betrayal of Jesus. He was a man lacking great character because he stole money that should have been given to the poor. The pre-arranged signal was that the person Judas kissed was to be arrested and taken away, In this…
Matthew 26:48-49
Jesus’ tacit forgiveness of Judas foreshadows His plea to the Father to forgive His murderers, “for they know not what they do.” It sure seems Judas knew exactly what he was doing, yet, as Lucado points out, Jesus still addressed him as “friend.” Kenny was in an interesting serio-comic play called The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. In it, Judas is put on trial in what seems to be a purgatory-like environment with various witnesses called both for and against his forgiveness and admittance into heaven. At last, Jesus Himself appears and expresses His continuing love for Judas and pleads with him to forgive himself. Tragically, in the end Judas rejects Jesus yet again and remains condemned. Jesus’…