Friend Judas

 August 9, 2022

In his book, “Naked and Not Ashamed,” TD Jakes makes an arresting statement: “We must widen our definition of friendship to include the betrayer if his betrayal ushered us into the next step of God’s plan for our lives. He quotes from Matthew’s gospel:

“Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?”” —Matthew 26:48-54 

Jakes notes that “Every child of God not only has, but also desperately needs, a “Judas” to carry out certain aspects of divine providence in his life? In the passage quoted above, Judas was more of a friend than Peter! Although Peter was certainly more amiable and admirable, Judas was the one God selected to usher in the next step of the process. Peter’s love was almost a deterrent to the purpose of God.”

He continues: “Judas was no mistake. He was handpicked and selected. His role was crucial to the death and resurrection of Christ. No one helped Christ reach His goal like Judas…We all want to be surrounded by a friend like John, whose loving head lay firmly on Jesus’ breast. We may long for the protective instincts of a friend like Peter, who stood ready to attack every negative force that would come against Jesus. In his misdirected love, Peter even withstood Jesus to His face over His determination to die for mankind. But the truth of the matter is, Jesus could have accomplished His goal without Peter, James, or John; but without Judas He would never have reached the hope of his calling.”

We’ve all had a Judas in our lives, betraying us with a kiss, wounding us to the very core of our being. Most of us shrink from such people, or else we strike back. In the pain of the moment, it’s hard to see God’s hand using betrayal to open the door to our life’s purpose, but it’s there. 

Jakes says it much better than I: “The bleeding trail of broken hearts and wounded relationships ultimately leads us to the richness of God’s purpose in us…The sweet kiss of betrayal can never abort the precious promises of God in our life! The challenge is to sit at the table with Judas on one side, and John on the other, and to treat one no differently from the other, even though we are distinctly aware of each one’s identity and agenda. If you have been betrayed or wounded by someone you brought too close, please forgive them. They really were a blessing.”

One can only see this if we believe in the sovereignty of God, that he works “all things for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). The biggest betrayal in my life still makes me wince when I think of it, but looking back, I know God used that experience to shape me in ways I had long resisted. It wasn’t easy, but it was, and remains good, in fact, one of the better experiences in my life—what Ann Voskamp calls a “hard eucharisto,” a hard blessing that drove me to my knees before a loving Heavenly Father.