Betrayal of Judas
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Love of Jesus
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Betrayal of Peter

1. Jesus Fulfilled Scripture

1. Jesus Fulfilled Scripture
2. Jesus Encouraged Faith

1. Jesus Fulfilled Scripture
2. Jesus Encouraged Faith
3. Jesus Redefined Obedience

Jesus is Lord; he is in control. Believe in him, his works, and his kingdom. Love everybody like he has loved us.

Judas (Son of Simon) Iscariot

• Outsider, not from Galilee
• In charge of the money, and stole some for himself
• Sold Jesus for some silver
• Hung himself in grief afterwards
• Betrayal was intentional

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Peter (formerly Simon)

• Possibly the oldest disciple
• The foundation of the church
• Denied Jesus 3 times upon his crucifixion
• Jesus restored him 3 times after the resurrection
• Betrayal was unintentional

How should we respond when we betray the Lord?

Jesus seeks to honor, love, and extend mercy to those who betray him. We can receive honor, love, and mercy through repentance. But if we never repent, he will eventually release us to experience the weight of our sin.

How should we respond when we experience common betrayal?

Husband & Wife
Parent & Child
Siblings
Friends
Co-workers
Neighbors
Boss & Employee

Our bodies kick into fight, flight, or freeze when experiencing the stress of perceived threats, including relational betrayal. We may fight with our spoken words, typed words, objects, or bodies. We may physically or digitally avoid the other person and seek temporary or permanent distance. We may freeze in emotional and mental numbness, unable to engage or understand ourselves. We may not respond perfectly, but our job is apologize when we fight, return when we run, and press in when we freeze. Refusal to do so is unloving.

The common response to betrayal is to punish or seek revenge.
However, to do so puts us in the judgment seat instead of Jesus.

“The problem with revenge is that it never evens the score. It ties both the injured and the injurer to an escalator of pain. Both are stuck on the escalator as long as parity is demanded, and the escalator never stops.”

- Lewis B. Smedes

How should we respond when we experience extreme betrayal?

Marital Adultery
Physical Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Abandonment

In the case of extreme betrayal, reconciliation is still God’s desire. However, it takes two willing hearts to reconcile. Sometimes, due to hardness of heart, reconciliation may never be achieved. In some circumstances, reconciliation is not possible and is unsafe to seek out. Where reconciliation isn’t possible, forgiveness always is.

“It takes one person to forgive, it takes two people to be reunited.”

- Lewis B. Smedes

"To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you."

- Lewis B. Smedes

1.Repent from our sins, both intentional and unintentional, and receive the love of Jesus.

2.Seek to reconcile with those we have betrayed through humility and repentance.

3.Seek to forgive, honor, and reconcile (where possible) with those who have betrayed us.