Wednesday 5 Apr 2023

April 5: John 13:21-30

Key Verse: John 13:21
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.’

Devotion:
We could say that we can imagine what Jesus was going through when He was telling the disciples about what was to happen, but I really do not think we can imagine what He was going through. How long had Jesus know this? How long had He continued to teach and nurture Judas knowing He was going to do this? And what made Jesus continue to include Judas in everything!

When Judas was finally uncovered as the one who was going to betray Jesus, it was not done in a manner in which we would expect things to happen… In the Western World people make films and tell stories about how evil people are found out and killed or put in prison and yet Jesus continued to show love to Judas at all stages!

Jesus continued to show love and mercy to all people He met, no matter what they were doing and no matter how badly things were going. He tried to make sure everyone was given access to true justice and also the Gospel so they would be able to make informed choices guided by the truth and not passions and hate!

We like to think we allow the truth and justice to reign, but so much of the time we give in to the temptations of greed, desire and hatred instead of allowing people full access to the truth and real justice. Christ knew what He was facing was not going to be the truth or real justice, but He also knew this was going to be the only way in which He would be able to pay for the sins of the world and allow people to be forgiven no matter what they had done in the past.

Points to Ponder:
Do you allow truth and justice to come to the front?

Will you give someone a chance today and see if they make the right choice?