A Holy Week Wednesday Meditation

Betrayal to Blessing
Recently I sat with a man who was grieving a loss. Not the loss of a loved one, but the betrayal of a business partner. Someone he trusted had chosen personal gain over loyalty, and he was left with a mixture of heartbreak, disbelief, and anger.
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Maybe you’ve been there too, nursing the wounds from a friend who walked away, a spouse who broke vows, a mentor who let you down, an acquaintance who slandered you, or an authority who manipulated you. Betrayal cuts deep, especially when it comes from someone close.
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As we talked, I tried to re-frame betrayal through redemptive lenses. This does not minimize the grief, but helps disciple see a glimpse of gospel glory. This week, more than any other week, we see how 

The gospel transforms personal betrayal into practical blessing by     offering a deeper identification with Jesus and a more profound experience of the Father's love.

The Wednesday of Holy Week remembers the day Judas struck a deal with the chief priests. Judas’ betrayal of Jesus for 30 pieces of silver is a grim reminder that betrayal is  part of the human story. But it is also a turning point helping us see how God is working everything for His glory.

Redemptive Re-Framing
Jesus didn’t resist betrayal. Jesus embraced betrayal. Jesus let love lead Him through betrayal to burial, not because He was powerless but because Jesus had a greater purpose. Jesus endured the suffering and shame of betrayal so believers can be welcomed into the Father’s love. 

In our personal betrayal, we identify with Jesus on a more intimate level. Jesus was betrayed, too. Through our personal betrayal, we identify the Father’s love because we see the purpose for which Jesus was betrayed. 

Jesus was betrayed so we could be accepted.
Jesus was traded for profit so we could gain His righteousness.
Jesus was abandoned so we could be embraced.
Jesus was left unprotected so we could find security in the Father's steadfast love.

Jesus forgave those who betrayed Him, taking their sin against Him to the grave. What did He do after that? Jesus resurrected it, paving a path for those who know His resurrection power to forgive as we have been forgiven and to walk in love as He has loved us, giving Himself for us.

As I discussed the redemptive re-framing of betrayal with the man, he looked up and fixed his eyes with mine. Glassy eyed from emotion, he pivoted from pain to praise. It turns out, celebrating a deeper identification with Jesus and a more profound experience of our Father’s love helps us discover blessing, even  through betrayal, because it transforms our personal loss into gospel gain.

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