Grade 10 student
Passage: Matthew 26:47 to 56
“Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” Matthew 26:53
Have you ever been betrayed by someone you trusted?
Maybe they told others a secret you didn’t want them to share. Maybe they pretended to be your friend but they weren’t. Maybe they promised to be there for you but in your time of need they remained absent. No matter the circumstance, betrayal hurts.
Christ, the Son of God, faced the ultimate betrayal. In Matthew 26:47-56, one of Jesus’ closest friends betrays him by kissing him on the cheek in an act of greeting to gain 30 silver coins. Through this act, Jesus is tried and sentenced to death on the cross.
If you were Jesus, how would you have reacted to this betrayal?
In verse 53, we read that Jesus could have called an army of angels to come and rescue Him, but he doesn’t. Jesus lets them take him without lifting a hand in defense. He knows God has a greater purpose and that Judas’ betrayal will reveal Jesus’ love for sinners.
Simply put, Jesus doesn’t let the betrayal of Judas hinder the plan God sets forth for him. Instead, he permits it to fulfill the prophetic Scriptures, ultimately accomplishing our salvation through his death.
Prayer
Father God, help me when I face betrayal and hurt. You are always present in my time of need. Your purposes are always for my good and your glory.
Lord, I choose to trust you, even in hard times, because you are good and will never abandon me. Thank you for choosing to suffer betrayal, to be arrested, and to sacrifice your life so I may live.
Amen