40 DAYS in the GOSPEL Sample

BETRAYAL

I (Shawn) was elated many years ago when someone I admired wanted to get together. "Come over. We can do lunch and catch up." I was a bit shy when I was younger, so the thought of someone important wanting to “catch up” gave me both anxiety and excitement. But I went and after maybe 15 minutes of chatter, he began telling me about this amazing new product he was selling and how much it would change my life. I didn’t want to let him down, so I bought the overpriced item and left with the bad taste of his ulterior motives in my mouth.

This is the essence of betrayal. I don’t mean a friend’s sales pitch disguised as a friendly chat. I mean, ulterior motives—when the motive on the top is friendship, but the deeper motive is greed, power, control, revenge, or some other deadly vice—when a “friend” is on your team, but underneath is their real hope: I’m with you as long as it benefits me.

In Mark’s gospel, we’ve had only small hints of Judas’ ulterior motives. A snarky response here or there, but very little in the way of blatant evidence. I’m convinced that Judas wasn’t even aware of his blindside. But here in our text, it seems clear. Was it this woman’s extravagance that put him over the edge? It seems Mark wants us to think so. He writes Jesus’ words, “Leave her alone...what she has done will be told in memory of her...”. Mark’s next phrase: “Then Judas Iscariot...went to betray him” (v. 10).

Judas. On the team. A friend. One of the twelve. A sharer of the gospel. Part of the fellowship...but an ulterior motive. Was it greed? Was it the desire for power that turned into disillusionment? Whatever it was, it was underneath and ugly. Yet, Jesus loved Judas even “to the end” (John 13.1).

But not just Judas. Peter, James, and John, His best friends, “they all left him” (v.50). Jesus experienced the worst of betrayal and rejection. Ulterior motives all rose to the surface as the fires of the priest’s jealousy burst into flame. Hearts were exposed. And God let it happen.

It’s been said that the gospel is first bad news before it's good news. The bad news is that I have a blind side. You do too. The names have changed, and it’s a different century, but sin’s claws still dig into the hearts of us all. Yes, we will experience betrayal. But we are also betrayers. The cross is a reminder of this.

The beauty of the cross and the gospel of Jesus Christ is that God has experienced the worst of it. Why? Because He loves us to the end. And to prove that when we are betrayed, abandoned, or rejected, we can never look at God and say, “You don’t get it.” Oh yes, He does. And because of His cross, all the betrayers will still find a welcome mat at God’s front door. “I forgive you. Come on in.”

PRAY ABOUT IT: Have you been betrayed? Rejected? You have company in Jesus Christ. Talk to Him about it. You may also realize that your own bitterness or disillusionment is growing. Talk to God about any deeper motives that are exposed.