 Betrayal and Belonging |
|||||||||||||||||
|
by Bill and Helen Lovelace |
 |
||||||||||||||||
Then one of the Twelve – the one called Judas Iscariot – went to
the chief priests and asked: “What are you willing to give me if I hand
him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From
then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good: his love endures forever. Let
Israel say: “His love endures forever”. Reading through the familiar story of the Passion of Christ found in Matthew 26 and 27 is a painful experience, as it is the story of betrayal; betrayal by those closest to Jesus and those who should have been close to Jesus. He is betrayed first by Judas, a disciple who took his 30 pieces of silver from a group who should have known better, the religious leaders entrusted to lead God’s people. Peter, the rock on which Jesus had promised to build his church, falls asleep during Jesus’ hour of need and then later denies he ever knew him. The rest of his disciples scatter. The crowd, the people of Israel, to whom Jesus faithfully ministered, went from laying palm branches at his feet to shouting for his blood. Betrayed by his close friends, the leaders of God’s people and God’s people themselves. Finally, alone on the cross, Jesus cried out that he thought even God had betrayed him. The homeless children with whom we work in Kiev, Ukraine, also know the terrible feeling of betrayal by the ones they love the most. Time after time we hear the same sad stories: “Mother has a new boyfriend and he wants me out of the house.” “Dad lost his job, began to drink and now beats me; I can’t live there anymore”. “Mom has sold the apartment for a case of vodka and now we’re on the street.” Betrayed by their parents, cast out by the ones who should love them no matter what, they feel terribly alone. Sometimes the children ask us, “Can God love me if my parents don’t? Maybe God has forsaken me.” While on the street begging for money, the phrase they hear the most, and that hurts the most, is: “Go home to your mother”. But the Passion is not the whole story. Resurrection does come, wiping away the betrayals, the taunts, violence and death. Though the whole world might forsake us, God never will. And not only can he heal us, mend our broken hearts and bodies, but he can take the awful things that have happened to us and use them for renewal! The betrayal and death of His Son was used to give the possibility of new life to all humanity. We tell the children with confidence that they are not alone, that God is always with them, he will not betray them. Resurrection is coming. Bill and Hellen Lovelace, GBGM Missionaries are currently serving in Kiev,
Ukraine.
Date posted: Mar 18, 2005 |
|||||||||||||||||
