Love, Judas
Judas. Oh yea, I know that story. He betrayed Jesus.
And with those words we dismiss one of the most hope-filled, challenging moments in history. Because Judas wasn't just the disciple who betrayed Jesus. He, like John, was the disciple whom Jesus loved.
Take that in for a moment... Jesus loved Judas. Despite knowing the pain he would put him through and the ignorance with which he would agree to hand him over, Jesus still loved Judas.
If you don't believe me, read the story of the Last Supper. Judas was there. Jesus humbled himself before Judas and washed the dirt off his feet, saying, "The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve." In all the time that he spent with his disciples, Jesus never struck back at Judas, never sought revenge for what he knew would happen, never tried to stop it. Before Judas even knew what he would do, Christ had knelt before him and served him, in humility.
When you feel as though you are unreachable, think of Judas, whom Christ served alongside the other eleven disciples. But also, take it as a challenge.
When you don't want to forgive, when you think you have every right to hold a grudge, when you are tempted to claim, "But Lord, you don't know what he did!" Then, think of Judas, whom Christ served alongside the other eleven disciples. If Jesus could take on the position of a humble servant before Judas, then we should be able to do the same for everyone around us.
As Jesus told the Pharisees following the story of the good Samaritan, "Go and do likewise."
Jesus washed Judas' feet. Believe that in your own life. And then, go... and do likewise.
And with those words we dismiss one of the most hope-filled, challenging moments in history. Because Judas wasn't just the disciple who betrayed Jesus. He, like John, was the disciple whom Jesus loved.
Take that in for a moment... Jesus loved Judas. Despite knowing the pain he would put him through and the ignorance with which he would agree to hand him over, Jesus still loved Judas.
If you don't believe me, read the story of the Last Supper. Judas was there. Jesus humbled himself before Judas and washed the dirt off his feet, saying, "The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve." In all the time that he spent with his disciples, Jesus never struck back at Judas, never sought revenge for what he knew would happen, never tried to stop it. Before Judas even knew what he would do, Christ had knelt before him and served him, in humility.
When you feel as though you are unreachable, think of Judas, whom Christ served alongside the other eleven disciples. But also, take it as a challenge.
When you don't want to forgive, when you think you have every right to hold a grudge, when you are tempted to claim, "But Lord, you don't know what he did!" Then, think of Judas, whom Christ served alongside the other eleven disciples. If Jesus could take on the position of a humble servant before Judas, then we should be able to do the same for everyone around us.
As Jesus told the Pharisees following the story of the good Samaritan, "Go and do likewise."
Jesus washed Judas' feet. Believe that in your own life. And then, go... and do likewise.
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