You Are Not the Only One

#loyalty #betrayal #Judas #hypocrisy (Unless otherwise stated all Scriptures in this short devotional are taken from the King James Version. The King James Version is a public domain version of the Bible.)

Judas betrayed Christ, but so did Peter.

 Luke 22:54-62“Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest’s house. And Peter followed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.” (See John 18:13-27 for John’s version of the same event).

What was the difference between the end result of the betrayals? Judas hung himself. Peter repented of his betrayal.

Matthew 26:75 “ And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.” 

So, am I saying that we should not forgive people who have betrayed us? No! When we are betrayed just remember that this is a spiritual concern that the other person has. We must not forget that betrayal does not have to be a two-way street.  Even though a person has betrayed us, we must still love and care about them. 

What was Jesus’ response to Peter’s betrayal?

 John 21: 15-17 “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.  He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” 

Christ forgave Peter! Sometimes we deny Him based on our behavior toward other people, the things we post on social media when our anger gets the best of us and we do sin by typing and or saying things to others that we should not have said. That is sad but it is true. Yes, betrayal cuts a person to the very core of their soul.  However, when the betrayer comes to you for prayer, for consolation, or just to chat, don’t remind them of their sin. Forgive and forget it.