When You’re Feeling Betrayed – John 13

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34-35 (ESV)

My heart sank. I couldn’t believe he would say that about me. This friend that I had known my whole life. That I cared about had just totally trashed me to someone else. Betrayed. Heartbroken. Confused. Upset. Angry.

We never see betrayal coming. It is always from someone that we trust (or it wouldn’t be betrayal). Someone we care about. It almost always yields hurt and anger. We don’t want to forgive them. If I’m honest, I don’t even want to talk to them ever again.

His Betrayal was No Surprise

But Jesus knew it was coming. He still chose to trust and care for the person He knew would betray Him. And not just a snotty middle school betrayal of talking behind Jesus’ back. This betrayal was a life or death betrayal.

Have you ever thought about how Jesus felt when He was betrayed? Or how he knew that Judas was going to betray Him and then still spent time with his betrayer?

In the answers to these two questions, we get to see a beautiful example of loving one another.

“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God,” John 13:3 (ESV)

Authority Fuels Service

Jesus uses His authority not as reason to be served, but to fuel His service of others. When I feel like I have a right to authority or power, when I feel like I deserve something, that is when I get a too big for my britches (as my grandmother used to say). Jesus, more than anyone else in history, had the right to be served. Yet the One to Whom ALL authority in heaven and on earth has been given knelt before His own disciples and began to serve them.

Wash their Feet

“(Jesus)rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” John 13:4-5

Jesus knelt to wash the feet of His disciples. This includes Judas. He kneels before His betrayer and tenderly washes the feet that will walk to the religious leaders and accept payment in exchange for Jesus’ life. The feet that will walk up to Jesus and kiss Him on the cheek to identify Him for His enemies. The feet that will deliver Him to His excruciating death on the cross. When you’re feeling betrayed, it hurts. In the middle of that hurt, I don’t want to serve the person mistreating me.

A Betrayer Revealed

After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side, so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” John 13:21-27 (ESV)

Here it is. Jesus exposes His betrayer and tells Judas to go ahead and get it over with.

A Place of Honor

When we studied this chapter in our life group, someone in our group made a really interesting observation. Custom dictated that you would serve the person to your left. Judas was probably seated directly to the left of Jesus. John was at His right and Judas at His left. A place of honor right next to the guest of honor.

Can you imagine serving the person who is betraying you? Even more, can you fathom giving them a place of honor right next to you?

I can’t. When you’re feeling betrayed, it is really hard to treat your betrayer with civility, much less honor.

Jesus is not in the dark with a betrayal around the corner that He doesn’t see coming. He knows what is ahead. And yet he chooses these ways to show His love for those around Him, even the one who will betray Him.

Love Your Enemies

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,” Luke 6:27 (ESV)

In Luke, Jesus tells those who follow Him to love their enemies. Here in this chapter of John, we see Him living that principle out with His betrayer. He cares for Judas, serves him, and gives him a place of honor among the disciples.

Jesus says that people who follow Him will be known by their love for one another.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34-35 (ESV)

Action Step:

How do we follow Jesus’ example?
Serve those closest to us. Those that have the power to betray us or ignore us.

Do good for those who treat us poorly. Those who betray us.

In the middle of pain, we can make a choice. We can choose to be actively devoted to Christ through our love for others. We don’t have to be a victim of circumstances or other people. We can choose to honor Christ when we love, serve, and honor other people.

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you that You don’t just give us instructions to follow. You sent Your Son to be a living example for us to see how to work out your instructions on this earth. We see how to follow You by following His Life. Help us to move through our pain to love others as Jesus did. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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