TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE

Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

Luke 22:1–6

DEVOTIONAL

by Stephanie Reloj

Have you ever been betrayed by someone you trusted? How did it feel to have your confidence shattered by the very person you thought would stand by you? Betrayal cuts deep, leaving wounds that are hard to heal. It’s a universal experience, one that Jesus Himself faced in the most painful way possible.

Satan entered Judas, one of Jesus’ own disciples, prompting him to betray his Master to the chief priests. The religious leaders, who had long sought to kill Jesus, found in Judas the perfect accomplice to their sinister plot.

The chief priests and Pharisees had been looking for an opportunity to arrest Jesus without causing an uproar among the crowds who followed Him. They feared the people because they thrived on public approval (John 12:43). Their solution came in the form of Judas’s betrayal. By arresting Jesus at night, away from the watchful eyes of the multitude, they could ensure that the public would remain unaware until it was too late.

This passage is a sobering reminder of the lengths to which evil will go to achieve its ends. Judas’s betrayal was not only a personal failure but also a crucial element in the Pharisees’ plans to eliminate Jesus. The forces of darkness orchestrated a scheme that appeared to align perfectly with the desires of those who opposed Jesus.

However, even in this act of treachery, God’s sovereign plan was unfolding. Jesus knew of Judas’s impending betrayal, yet He continued on the path laid out for Him. The betrayal, arrest, and eventual crucifixion were all part of God’s divine plan for the redemption of humanity.

 

PRAYER