“And as they were eating, he said, ‘Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.’ And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, ‘Is it I, Lord?’” Matthew 26:21-22
How did Jesus treat Judas? All along Jesus knew Judas would betray Him – yet, He loved Him. He treated him as He did the other disciples. Had He not, would they have wondered which one He was speaking of when He announced that one of them would betray Him?
Think about it for a second. Is there a Judas in your life? A betrayer? Backstabber? Someone seeking to play a role in your downfall? If so, do your thoughts and treatment hint at your awareness of their insidious nature? Jesus’ didn’t. Like David toward Saul (and later, Absalom), Jesus chose to love and respect the one who was against Him.
This is a hard lesson, but it is what we are called to as followers of Christ. That which is impossible in our own strength is absolutely possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. I can’t love “Judas” the way that Jesus did without His help. So, I’ll look to Him for the strength and love that I need. If ever I have an enemy, I want to love him or her so well that they have no clue that I am even aware of their maltreatment. When we are able to do this, we find a peace that surpasses understanding.
Something I’ve found very helpful in situations like this is prayer. Not the Psalm 58:6 kind of prayer where you pray that God would break the teeth of your enemies in their mouths. But the kind of prayer where you are praying for the welfare of your enemies as if they were your dearest friends. Again, if Jesus had displayed any level of anger or hatred toward Judas, surely the other disciples would have picked up on it and known he was the one Jesus spoke of.
How about you? Do your friends and family members see and hear you treating your enemies like enemies, or like friends? Let’s endeavor to love our enemies, and do good to those who hate us (Luke 6:27).
