John 13:21
When he had said this, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, "Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me."
There are actually two betrayals mentioned in today's Gospel. Judas giving up Jesus to the chief priests, and Peter's forewarning that he will deny Jesus 3 times before the night is over. (John 13:38) I probably won't be popular for saying this but I always thought Judas got a bad rap for betraying Jesus. After All, if no one betrays Jesus there is no crucifixion and thus no salvation. Don't we all betray Jesus at some point or another? If we need to look for company in our betrayal of Jesus we need only look to Peter, who denied knowing Jesus three times on the very night he vowed to lay down his life for Him. (John 13:37)
I think the real issue with Judas is not his betrayal of Jesus but his inability to accept forgiveness. Most of us remember that Judas took his own life out of remorse for what he did. We tend to forget that he returned the money and repented for what he had done. But he could not accept the forgiveness that Jesus' death makes available to us all. (Matthew 27:3-5)
Two stories of betrayal but only one story of redemption. Jesus allows us the free will to betray him. And we do, over and over again. But he also gives us the grace to repent and be forgiven. Sometimes we succombe the lie that we are unforgivable. The truth is that our God is bigger than our own condemnation. He is waiting to forgive us and welcome us home. As we journey through Holy Week and remember the betrayal and death of Jesus for our sins, let's also remember that God's grace is bigger than anything we have done against him. Repent and accept the love the Father has poured out through his Son Jesus Christ.
