Love Like Jesus: 7 Day Easter DevotionalSample

Because God loves justice, He must hate wickedness. But how does this square with the love of Jesus? The writer of Proverbs lists seven things that God hates, and Judas Iscariot embodies at least four of them (see Proverbs 6:16–19).

We don’t know many details about Judas, but as part of the Twelve, he had made a commitment to follow Jesus; he had received power and authority to preach and perform miracles; he had walked with Jesus, watched His miracles, and listened to His teachings. To onlookers, Judas was one of the chosen. 

Even though Jesus knew from the beginning that Judas would betray Him, He still invited Judas to be with Him and be part of His ministry. Jesus gave him the same opportunities as the others to choose life and obedience. Jesus protected Judas and kept him safe from harm, up to the moment Judas rejected and betrayed Him.

On the last night, in the most intimate setting around the Passover meal, Jesus loved Judas to the very end. Washing the feet of His betrayer was beyond human love. It could only be divine. But it came at great cost.  

Jesus was not unaffected by Judas’s intentions: “Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, ‘Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me’” (John 13:21). He declared beforehand the tragedy that would follow to reassure His disciples that He was still in control. But He was troubled.

Dipping the paschal bread, Jesus offered it to Judas, who was likely seated next to Him in a place of honor.  Feeding another person bread was both an intimate act of friendship and an open display of honor. As Jesus was holding out the piece of bread, certainly Judas felt His penetrating gaze offering him one last chance to turn from his wicked plans and cling to Jesus for forgiveness and life. He had just heard Jesus’ words. He still had a choice to repent. 

Yet he took hold of the bread, and in that moment, Satan entered into him. How Jesus’ heart must have broken at Judas’s choice!

Even when Judas walked up to Jesus to betray Him with the most intimate expression of love—a kiss—Jesus called him His friend. It’s a heart-wrenching scene. “Judas,” Jesus prods, “are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48). Hear Jesus’ sorrow in His words. Hear His love shattered by rejection.

Would Jesus have forgiven Judas even at this point? Without a doubt. Look no further than Saul’s conversion to see that no sin is too hideous for Jesus to pardon for those who come to Him. Jesus’ perfect love extends to the unlovable, but will never force acceptance. Love that does not allow rejection is no love at all—it is dictatorial adulation. And that is not our Jesus. Though He deserves the worship of all and commands the praise of angels, He invites us to respond in love of our own free will.

Challenge Have you ever loved someone who did not love you back? How did that affect your love for them? Have you ever been rejected or betrayed by someone you thought loved you? How has this affected your view of Jesus’ love for you?