“I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture:
‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’ “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” -John 13:18,19,21 NRSV
Jesus had just washed the feet of Judas. The feet of the one who would turn against him. The enemy who he loved. Amazing. He could have waited until his betrayer left the room and then washed his friends' feet. I wonder what it was like for Jesus? I wonder if being troubled in spirit meant that he wept over Judas? This is such a gut wrenching moment.
But it is an encouraging moment for anyone who has ever been betrayed. It is a freeing to know that even the One who never sinned had an enemy. To understand that even divine love is sometimes not enough to prevent betrayal. This frees us from guilt over broken relationships and lost friendships. Sometimes we can do everything right and still lose a friend.
Heal our hearts today Lord. Help us as we grieve over lost friendships and broken relationships.
... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on the Gospel of John.
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