For many observing Christians, Holy Week marks a time of deep faith and hope. Starting from Palm Sunday all the way to Easter Sunday, the bible readings carry a theme of suffering, but greater hope at the end. It is this hope that we cling on because that’s the faith.
Among the human pains highlighted include betrayal…such a painful experience especially when one considers that the person that has betrayed them was someone they thought and trusted to always have their back. Betrayal can cause one even to lose their faith in God. However, the word of God says clearly that one cannot be tempted beyond their strength.
Let me share a story. A good buddy was involved in a research group which with time sort of took sides. There were fractions within the research group, and she found herself all alone. Her view was that taking sides in a research environment was immature. It was not a surprise then that she found herself on one side of the island and everyone else on the other side. However, that did not deter her from her studies or research. With time, one of the other researchers slowly won her trust and they would share widely about their studies and life.
Unbeknown to her, he was a double agent. He had actually befriended her with the hope of finding out her plans and aspirations which he would then share secretly with the other group members. As she was nearing the end of her research, the split in the group got worse, but she was not so concerned, she had a friend on the other side.
One day, the group had an outing which she opted not to partake in. Long and behold, when her confidant showed up to ask why, she sensed his dishonesty. Somehow, it all become clear how he had just befriended her in order to get info and then betrayed her. It was devasting. Her world crumbling down. She did not know who to turn too at that moment. She was done.
That was until she attended a church service, the reading of the day was the betrayal of Jesus by Judas for 30 pieces of silver. The homily struck a code with her. The priest asked the congregation, how many of you have been betrayed? She felt the ‘yes’ echo in her heart…but the priest asked another question.
“What had Jesus done to deserve to be betrayed? If Jesus who was sinless, was betrayed…then look at your own pain and ask yourself the same question? You do not suppose to be greater than Jesus? Do You? Jesus forgave those who betrayed him…do likewise and heal”… the priest went on.
This message cut deep into her heart…she felt a weight taken off her and she breathed with relieve. She contemplated she was not greater than her Lord and Saviour…She just had to let her ego go and let go. Wow! she thought…what a lesson she had learned. Her trust though broken, she had found strength and healing in the word of God.