Mosaiek Church Lent 2025: Jesus' Questions in SufferingНамуна

The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.” So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi!” he exclaimed and gave him the kiss.

Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.”

Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.

-Matt 26:48-50 (NLT)

It is possible that Judas eventually became disillusioned with Jesus’ plan because of his expectations of the Lord’s way of establishing His Kingdom on earth. Judas, like many other Jews, may have expected a political leader who would free Israel from Roman oppression and restore the nation to its former glory. However, as Jesus continued to fulfil a spiritual, rather than political, calling, Judas may have become frustrated and disappointed. This disillusionment may have led him to betray Jesus, perhaps in an attempt to force Jesus to act more decisively in line with Judas’ understanding of the prophecies.

Isn’t it true that our expectations about “how” the Lord should do things are challenged in life? We try to understand why and what the Lord is doing and often come to a place of disillusionment when things don’t work out the way we want them to. The greatest illusion of life is that we can control everything, and the invitation is to let go of control and surrender it to God. Many of us just hold on and think, “I know best. I know what’s going to work for my life.”

And often the Lord invites us and takes us to places we don’t want to go. In John 20:23 he says to Peter, Peter, you’re going to be taken places you don’t want to go. You’re going to be betrayed, Peter, but it’s taking you to new places and you can live. If you can learn to wait and trust in the Lord, you’ll see that His plans are always bigger and better than anything we can make or plan for ourselves. We don’t always see it that way in our immediate circumstances. I trust Him out of expectation that God has a plan that God is working, and that He will surprise me in some way. Something good is going to come out of these events, be born out of this. I know this: goodness and favour will follow me all the days of my life. I can’t get away from it. If you can just wait. On the third day, there is a resurrection.

Reflection: In what circumstances do I cling to my own ideas of what is best? How can I surrender them to the Lord today in trust and faith?

Prayer: I ask for the grace to become aware of my shortcomings and receive Your forgiveness for them.