Day 34 - Betrayal

Day 34 – Betrayal

JOHN 18:4-6

Jesus, knowing all that was going to hap­pen to Him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.

“I am He,” Jesus said. (And Judas the trai­tor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground (John 18:4-6).

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas, the dis­ciple who had betrayed Jesus, confronted Him. He was accompanied by a large group of armed temple guards. When Jesus responded to them, they all were knocked to the ground by a super­natural force. Certainly Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, as He had forewarned the disciples earlier in the evening at the Passover Seder in the upper room.

Reflection

1. Have you ever been betrayed by someone you cared for?
2. Do you think Jesus could have prevented His capture?
3. What power was Jesus drawing upon when the armed guards were sent backward?
4. Did Jesus go willingly to the cross?

JUDGES 16:18-21

When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. Having put him to sleep on her lap, she called a man to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him. Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”

He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.

Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding in the prison (Judges 16:18-21).

The story of Samson and Delilah culminates in Delilah’s discovery of the source of Sam­son’s strength—his hair. Upon having his head shaved, Samson lost his strength, but he did not realize that the presence of the Lord had departed from him. Thus, he was taken captive.

Reflection

1. Did Samson go willingly to his capture?
2. What can we learn from Samson’s revealing of the source of his power to a person whom he could not trust?
3. Why would God allow someone he loves to be betrayed?