Betrayal and Denial

Sometimes in our familiarity we think we know it because we heard it.  And heard it.  We know the story of betrayal – that’s about Judas, the one who went down in history as the super villain.  And we know the story of denial, that’s about Peter and a rooster who needed to crow and he became known as a super hero.  The Rock.

And we think we understand betrayal. Most, if not all of us can relate. I’ve been betrayed – often and severely.

However, all four gospel stories make mine a myth.

In this holy season that calls us to examine ourselves we can learn from these two disciples. The ordinary who followed Jesus, saw Him do great things, allowed them to do great things. And yet, one betrayed Him and the other eleven failed Him.

How about us?  When it looks good to follow, we follow.  When it becomes obvious that faith will cost us, we sometimes bolt or look away. We’re fickle, in need of a loving, forgiving Savior.  Otherwise, we the people — couldn’t praise with palms one minute and shout crucifixion chants the next.

I doubt if these two thought their stories would include this part. After sharing a last supper that was preceded by a humble King of Glory washing twenty-four feet it looks like things fell apart. They fell together. The omniscient Jesus chose Judas knowing this – inviting an unmasked traitor to His table. Judas is the one who sold out Jesus, guided the soldiers to Gethsemane on his freshly washed feet with his sweet breath smelling like sacrament.

And you can’t unring a bell.

And then there’s Peter the dramatic one, who says there’s no way he’ll betray or deny, he’ll lay down his life for Jesus! Remember, he’s the one who thought he could walk on water until he began to sink.  The human-us that tells us we can and we will . . .

The difference between the two ~ their guilt was the same but the response was different.  One had regret that led him to hang from a tree and the other was repentant that led the Rock to the empty tomb of the risen Jesus and be the church.

It’s hard to look from a human perspective at agony on a cross and to keep watch till the end.  But how can we not? I’ve heard many say they can’t even watch a gory movie like The Passion or Greatest Story Ever Told, which is Hollywood polished.  I understand.

Divinity is larger than nails. Human-suffering of a healthy thirty-three year old whipped to holy bone and failing organs partially covered by ripped flesh is  looking through swollen eyes to see the ones who remain – we cannot understand.  And then the final breath when Heaven had to look away.

Friday is the sacred where we must camp for more than a glance to truly understand the devastating beauty of Easter Sunday, where Jesus kneels to wash our wounded space.

May we be faithful to the end, dear Lord.

And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed His last.  And the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.  And when the centurion stood facing Him he said “Truly this is the Son of God.  Mark 15:37