THINK TOGETHER.
Have you ever felt betrayed by someone?
READ TOGETHER.
Mark 14:43-46. 43And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” 45And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 46And they laid hands on him and seized him.
This is one of the saddest stories about Jesus and his disciples that is told in the gospels.
Judas was one of the Twelve Disciples. Like the other eleven, Judas left everything and followed Jesus. Judas listened to Jesus preach. He saw Jesus heal the blind and the lame. He saw Jesus bring people back to life again after they had died. Judas was on the boat when Jesus calmed the stormy sea. He ate bread that Jesus had multiplied, and drank water that had been turned into wine.
So how could Judas betray Jesus like this?
One of the answers that the Bible tells us is that Judas was greedy. Judas was the treasurer for the Twelve Disciples, but he was not very honest and used to steal the coins from the money bag. Later, Judas will betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. That’s a lot of money, especially back then.
Judas made a choice that was very bad. He not only chose to reject Jesus, but actually got Jesus arrested and eventually crucified. Have you ever made a bad choice? Maybe not as bad as Judas’ choice, but each time we sin we are choosing to reject Jesus aren’t we?
The good news is that God will always forgive us if we simply receive his grace and mercy. Do you know what grace and mercy are? Grace is getting something good, even though we don’t deserve it. Mercy is not getting something bad, even though we do deserve it.
Judas didn’t ask God for grace or mercy. If Judas had repented and cried out to God for mercy, he would have been forgiven. Sadly, Judas was full of guilt and shame until the end of his life.
Jesus was betrayed by Judas, but Jesus will never betray us. Even when we reject his grace and mercy, he never rejects us. Jesus will never let us down, or turn us over to our enemy, the devil. He will always love us and protect us, even to the very end. Believing this more and more is what helps us to always be loyal to Jesus and never betray him.
Because of Jesus we will never be betrayed.
With Jesus we be loyal to Jesus just like he is to us.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
God used Judas’ betrayal for good – the cross! Have everyone draw a picture of something bad that has happened to you recently. How can God, in his grace and mercy, use this thing for good?
PRAY TOGETHER
Father, I know you won’t ever betray me because Jesus was betrayed for me. I don’t want to let Jesus down, but I know I will. Help me to receive your grace and mercy every time I do. Amen.
TLICfamily 