https://www.bible.com/events/49211840
Church of the Nazarene – Harrisonburg
Healing Fractured Relationships, Part 2: Betrayal
Jesus knows what it’s like to be betrayed.
Welcome to our journey into a series we are calling “Healing Fractured Relationships”. Together we are seeking the Lord’s wisdom and guidance for our relationships: all relationships. Why? Because all relationships matter.
Whoever those people are that matter most to you, that’s who we are talking about today and in the weeks to come. And most specifically, we are talking about relationships in our lives that are hurting.
Each week, as we talk about relationships, we will talk about specific tools that can help us. God’s Word has truth for us, tools for us, regarding our relationships, especially those that are hurting.
Today, we focus on the topic of betrayal, and the damage it creates in our relationships.
Today we are talking about betrayal. So long as we engage in relationships here on earth, it’s likely we will encounter betrayal. But what is it?
Betrayal in its most simple definition is a broken or abused trust. All of us have experienced betrayal at some point in our lives.
But our response to betrayal is always a choice we make.
Today, we want to journey together to see Jesus’ response to betrayal, even when it came from one of his closest friends.
Luke 22:54-62
Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
If we didn’t now what we know, it would have been fair to ask at that moment: Is that the end of Peter?
It’s almost unimaginable: betraying Jesus as he was sentenced to his death.
But as we jump ahead to the conclusion of the story (John 21), we see how Jesus responds. After his death and then resurrection, how would Jesus respond to his betrayer?
John 21:10-17
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
When we experience betrayal, there are often two things we seek:
1. JUSTICE
-When someone we trust hurts us, we want justice. This is often why our instinct is to hurt someone back, because that appears to be just.
-We cannot seek restoration, because we want justice, we expect justice, and we won’t be content until it happens.
2. REVENGE
-Revenge takes justice a step further: justice is you getting what I think you deserve, but revenge is me playing an active role in that.
-If thoughts of justice and revenge flood your mind when you think about these fractured relationships in your life, you’re not alone. That is how the world around us lives and responds. But as we’ve been learning, we aren’t called to live and respond how the world around us does.
John 13:34-35
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
The truth is, we are all just like Peter.
The Bible says that we all have fallen short of God’s glory, and the truth is, at one point in our lives, we all betrayed the heart of God.
The Father understands betrayal far more than we could ever imagine.
And how did God respond?
Does the rest of the story of God outline his intentional plan to seek out revenge on those who betrayed Him?
Quite the opposite. From the moment of that first betrayal, God’s plan of redemption began.
Verses for further study/reflection:
Matthew 27:3-4
Matthew 6:14-15
Mark 11:25
Mark 13:12
Luke 23:33-23
John 13:34-35
Ephesians 4:32
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