Wednesday of Holy Week
In what may seem an ironic twist, the protagonist reveals the betrayal that is about to be committed by the antagonist in a way betraying the betrayer. Jesus did not need to be omniscient to perceive that something was going on in Judas. Surely, there were outward signs revealing his inner turmoil. If a close friend is acting extremely out of character, you think that something must be going on in their life. Still, can you imagine a close friend betraying you? Perhaps, it has happened. Even worse, some of us can recall being the one who betrayed a close friend or loved one. And on some level, each of us by our sin, contributed to Jesus needing to accept the cross on our behalf.
Did our sin demand that Judas accept his cross to betray Jesus? More importantly, did the suffering Judas feel over the evil he had committed mean that he was beyond redemption? In the gospel for today, Jesus suggests that “woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” (Mt 26:24) Yet, is anyone beyond God’s redemption? Judas certainly must have felt that way; why else would he have taken his own life? Without diving into the complex mental health issues about taking one’s own life; let’s consider that Judas action suggests that he was unwilling to live with the consequences of his action. Judas was unwilling to accept the cross he had been given. How often do we desire to discard the crosses we have been given?
Judas was not the only one who betrayed Jesus that night. Peter’s vehement betrayal is recorded in the gospels for all to see yet his action does not bar him from forgiveness and redemption. Peter’s biter weeping was an outward sign of his profound sorrow. Peter accepted the cross where Judas chose not to do so. The contrast of these two men is a reminder to us that we to are faced with the choice as to whether we will accept the cross of Christ.
Examine the cross that God has challenged you to carry; do you see this cross as a gift? If not, how could you make peace with it so as to be able to unite your suffering with the one who suffered on our behalf? When we can accept the cross “As Is”, then we carry the cross in a way that glorifies the Lord both now and forever, Amen!
-Michael Montgomery