Betrayal by a friend
Betrayal by a friend: When those closest to you let you down in the most dreadful way
The pain of betrayal is a knife stuck in deeper than any other form of injustice one person can inflict on another. Just recently, I experienced how some people you thought you could trust, those often close to you, will look you in the eyes and stab you in the back. Let us allow the Word to speak and teach us about the worst betrayal ever, and what we can learn from it.
The book of Psalms is filled with prophecy. Some of it has already been fulfilled, while other parts are still to be fulfilled. Often, a prophetic word or warning about a future event will be entwined in narrative that seems unrelated. Look for example, at Psalm 22 and Psalm 69. These two psalms seem to be about David, but when we look closer, many aspects relate to the future long after David’s time, specifically to Jesus’ crucifixion. Psalm 41 is no different. While for the most part it seems to be David writing about himself and his enemies (verse 5 to 8), verse 9 is very different:
9Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. – Psalm 41:9
My own familiar friend? A friend who was close to me, whose ways I knew, and who I spent time with, one I was at peace with, would betray me? That he would lift his foot and kick me? How incredibly sad. Worse even, when we later realise that David’s words spoken here were quoted by Jesus as prophecy about Himself, that had to be fulfilled in His time, we know that the Holy Spirit spoke through the writer:
18I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. – John 13:18
The event is described by all four of the Gospel writers, in Matthew 26:21; Mark 14:18; Luke 22:21; and John 13:21. We need to understand how Jesus, His disciples, and those who were part of their group, operated. We read in the gospels that when He called them, they left everything they were doing and followed Him: Matthew 4:20-22; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:11; and John 1:34-51. They left the comfort of their lives – their jobs, their homes, their families, in fact all of what was familiar to them, to follow a stranger.
For safety, they would have moved around in groups. This implies that they also lived very close to one another, in one another’s skin, so to speak. Imagine if you lived in groups in those days. Many personal rituals such as washing, eating, sleeping, and so on would have taken place in the proximity of others, given the lack of private facilities. This closeness is beautifully illustrated in John 13 where we are told one of the disciples was leaning on Jesus’ bosom during the last supper. It shows the trust these people had for one another, and Jesus for them, allowing the borders of intimate personal space to be crossed. Yet, right inside this personal space, the devil was waiting to destroy the relationship of trust.
To ensure the knife was stabbed deep, the betrayal ended with one of the most intimate of human actions any person can bestow on another – a kiss. (Matthew 26:49; Mark 14:45; and Luke 22:47. John does not record that Judas kissed Him.) Such is the agony of the betrayal.
How do we experience betrayal today, and how much worse will it be in future? Again, let us allow the Word to speak and be the final authority:
10And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. – Matthew 24:10
Forget the world of unbelievers. What Jesus tells the disciples about, are things that will happen within the circle of believers. Just as He was betrayed by someone in His inner circle, so will many people in future, and even now, be offended by the faith people have in Jesus, and will betray them. Do you think this cannot happen to you given your circle of believing friends? You may be surprised. Mark describes Jesus’ words in more detail:
12Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. – Mark 13:12
Will one brother betray another? Yes, to the point that one of them is killed. Think about who your brother is, whether your paternal/maternal brother, or your brother in Christ. Is it possible that those you spend time with praying, fellowshipping, reading the Bible, and sharing your life can do this? It has already been prophesied, and it will happen. The question is whether you will betray someone close to you, or they will betray you. When the pressure is on, the true value of a brother will be revealed:
17A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. – Proverbs 17:17
In our time, men spend very little meaningful time together. Yet this is not how God planned it for us. Instead, what He has in mind for us is this:
1Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; 3As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. – Psalm 133:1-3
Where believers exist in Christ-like unity, things are good and pleasant. It is like oil on the head (anointed) that flows down and covers the body. It is like a fresh morning dew that forms over mountains. It is here where God commands a blessing and life. Is this true of your friendship? Maybe your circle of friends exists only to see how much they can get from one another, boast about their achievements, and how much they can gain from you with very little input from their side. If you are in a circle of friends like this, get out. We wrote about this before (The Time of the Divide is Here - Choosing the Wrong Side of the Divide), but here it is again:
1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. – Psalm 1:1-2
Conclusion
Be careful who you spend time with and choose your friends wisely. We will leave you with this:
24A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. – Proverbs 18:24
Our next lesson deals with people betraying the faith. [ Read it today... ]