Betrayed Betrayer

Have you ever been betrayed? It is, many times, by someone you had absolute faith in for it to be even considered a betrayal right? [“If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshippers.” Psalm 55:12-14] Ok…let’s go a bit deeper into this thought… Who has had faith in you, that you keep excusing your betrayal of. So we are all on the same page over what this means, lets go to what the Oxford Dictionary says (then we may see what Cambridge says just in case its different.

Oxford defines the word ‘betray’ in four ways:

1. to give information about somebody/something to an enemy

2. to hurt somebody who trusts you, especially by lying to or about them or telling their secrets to other people

3. betray something – to ignore your principles or beliefs in order to achieve something or gain an advantage for yourself

4. to tell somebody or make them aware of a piece of information, a feeling, etc., usually without meaning to e.g. to give away/reveal an emotion without meaning to.

Cambridge says:

1.to be not loyal to your country or to someone who believes you are loyal, often by doing something harmful (a)treacherously reveal (information) (b)be gravely disloyal to

2. to show your feelings or thoughts without intending to

We all understand what betrayal feels like, because only a lucky few can testify that they have never been betrayed. Ever. We know ‘the spirit’ that goes beyond the definitions of the word in English, to maybe capture them in mother-tongue and often only in divine Tongues. Its a befuddling experience to say the least. It often captures all six definitions above plus others, right?

Today I was meditating on Mark 14. And just thinking about the awesome time Jesus Christ was having before his own ultimate betrayal, and the consequence of this for Him, and all His friends. His closest friends. The breaking of promises, the denials…and then the naked of escape of a man previously dressed in linen (a stupefying account to say the least – am even afraid…slightly of finding out…why write this even…heralds of social media kinda…)

I kept thinking that we are often set up for resulting dismembering effect – at various levels – of betrayal preceded by a seeming honeymoon season, where people are loving you, explicitly, publicly (which is why I tend to tense up when people start saying how much you mean to them publically – I understand why Jesus Christ often told people not to share what He had done to radically change their lives while He walked the earth.) Then BANG from the periphery you are assaulted by strangers who suddenly know your ‘deep-duskies’ – or mire your light with fabricated lies.

And you pay for it. ALL THE WAY. Before they find the facts…too late.

Many people love a good scandal – and they will be loud in their comments and actions towards the one being betrayed, before they have a chance of understanding what is really happening. Especially if this person is not of ‘their WhatsApp Group’ as it were. Or a recent ‘Expellee’ of the same.

If you have gone through betrayal, you understand this. But think, now, about the one you have betrayed? What about the one you are thinking of betraying because the prize would assuage some of your immediate appetites? What about the one you WILL betray presently? Are these as worthy of the empathy and compassion and JUSTICE you desire for yourself?

What about God – The Trust He has placed on you, and your tendency (and mine Heartbreakingly) to excuse your betrayal of Him. He will forgive you right? He is God, right? He understands, right?

Hun, He takes it seriously. Just like you.

Shalom.

“The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.’”

Jesus Christ in Mark 14:21

“Doom to you, Destroyer,

not yet destroyed;

And doom to you, Betrayer,

not yet betrayed.

When you finish destroying,

your turn will come—destroyed!

When you quit betraying,

your turn will come—betrayed!”

Isaiah 33:1