Betrayal, Of Christ
It was a difficult thing, and a considered decision, for Christ to announce, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.” We all know what that means, and we all know the condition of our own hearts – the secret resentments, the petty jealousies, the surge of anger or of fear. And none of us wants to merit being fired, being excommunicated, being shunned. So a vague announcement of termination, of being made redundant, of being disqualified, released, let go – this makes us a bit nuts and we begin to compare ourselves to our fellows, and measure ourselves, and try to determine with greater definition – where do I stand? “Is it I, Lord?” Why this stirring of the pot? Why not let the betrayal unfold in due time without a word, without calling attention to it at the eleventh hour? Why create angst, fear, or dread? Why not whisper simply, just to Judas, into his dull ear, instead? So what was the consideration, the strategy, the key part of the eternal plan – this announcement? The revelation of hearts? The exposure of weakness, fear, and doubts in the face of the discussion of the pecking order to come in the Kingdom of the Son? Yes, likely, these – just so. Betrayal takes many forms, varies in intensity and impact, but it all begins in the heart. To check the outward is to attempt the damming of a torrent in Spring.
It was a difficult thing, and a considered decision, for Christ to announce, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.” We all know what that means, and we all know the condition of our own hearts – the secret resentments, the petty jealousies, the surge of anger or of fear. And none of us wants to merit being fired, being excommunicated, being shunned. So a vague announcement of termination, of being made redundant, of being disqualified, released, let go – this makes us a bit nuts and we begin to compare ourselves to our fellows, and measure ourselves, and try to determine with greater definition – where do I stand? “Is it I, Lord?” Why this stirring of the pot? Why not let the betrayal unfold in due time without a word, without calling attention to it at the eleventh hour? Why create angst, fear, or dread? Why not whisper simply, just to Judas, into his dull ear, instead? So what was the consideration, the strategy, the key part of the eternal plan – this announcement? The revelation of hearts? The exposure of weakness, fear, and doubts in the face of the discussion of the pecking order to come in the Kingdom of the Son? Yes, likely, these – just so. Betrayal takes many forms, varies in intensity and impact, but it all begins in the heart. To check the outward is to attempt the damming of a torrent in Spring.
No comments:
Post a Comment