From today’s reading...
Having said this, Jesus was deeply disturbed and declared, ‘In all truth I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.’” John 13:21
As we read the actions of Judas, it’s easy and normal to read it in the third person, i.e.,
- “Some other dude did that.”
- “Some evil person did that.”
- “I would never do that to Jesus.”
- “I’m so thrilled and pleased with my pious, self-righteous, holier-than-thou self because I know FOR A FACT that I’m born again…I’m saved…I’m better, stronger, more faithful, more faith-filled than that weak, evil, dirty, stealing, greedy Judas was. Whew. Can I get an amen?!”
It’s funny and sad how good we are at lying to ourselves, isn’t it?
Fine.
Let’s say you are better than Judas.
Are you also better than Peter, because just 17 verses later, we read how Jesus sets Peter back on his heels as He foretells how Peter will deny Him three times before the sun rises the next day?
The fact is, the sins you and I commit every hour of every day—still—are why Jesus came, suffered, died, and rose.
Maybe you wouldn’t sell Jesus out for thirty pieces of silver.
Then again, chances are quite high that you wouldn’t have even been chosen to be one of the twelve, which means you probably would’ve been in the crowd this past Sunday yelling,
Free Barabbas. Crucify Jesus. We have no king but Caesar!”
So check yourself before you wreck yourself, which is the only way to...
Stay the course.
Keep the faith.
Endure.
Market like you mean it. Now go sell something.
