Many examples of Betrayal's

Matthew 26:47-56

Betrayal cannot happen from someone outside of the camp!  We have many examples of unfaithfulness, and one that stands out in history is Roman emperor Julius Caesar came to a very sticky end when his own nephew, Marcus Junius Brutus, took part in the murder plot against him.  Most of us recall Caesar’s last words; “Et tu, Brutus.”  Aldrich Ames readily sold US government secrets to Russia during the 1980s. Ames’ work at the CIA gave him access to military intelligence and the names of every US agent in operation against Russia – intelligence he willingly surrendered; as a result, ten people were killed by the Russians an Ames was paid 4.6 million and is spending the rest of his life in prison.  You may also recall the Rosenberg’s were a married couple with communist sympathies that sold atomic secrets to the Soviets during the height of the Cold War.  Julius Rosenberg helped exchange covert information and also recruited other spies for the Soviet Union.  He, alongside his wife Ethel (whose level of involvement, if any at all, is still contentious), was arrested in 1950. After a controversial trial, both were executed for conspiring to sell atomic secrets to Russia on June 19, 1953.  All examples were taken from PBH network, titled the six biggest betrayals in history.

We have names for those who betray a friend, such names as a Brutus, Benedict Arnold, Judas Iscariot, and all are synonymous with treachery and betrayal.  As we examine Judas Iscariot, the guy Jesus allowed to handle the money for the twelve, we discover that his interest in Jesus may have been the goal of many from the beginning of time to the present; “What is in it for me?”  Judas is the example of a man who would sell his soul to the devil and though he was one of the twelve disciples, he must not have listened to the words of Jesus.  Do you recall Jesus asking; “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?  Or what shall a man give in return for his life?”  (Matthew 16:26)  Do not make the mistake of Judas, and it is easy to be around Christ and not hear what is being said.

Do you recall the plan that Judas had come up with, the plan was to walk up and kiss Jesus on the cheek and all these guys with him would seize Jesus?  But Jesus was not a Caesar, he was not surprised, in fact these were his words, “Friend, do what you came to do.”  And do you recall Peter’s words, all these other guys may run away but not me, and guess what he took out his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.   This is Jesus reply to Peter’s action, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”  These are words to his disciples but what come next are the words of Jesus to the worldly crowd.

At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.  (Matthew 26:55-56)  The question must be asked; what are your reasons for following Jesus, and are you leaving Jesus when the worldly crowds come into your Gethsemane?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice