Betrayal
“There
are only a few stories to tell in the end, and betrayal and failure
of love is one of those good stories to tell.” Sean Lennon
They
had been hand selected; chosen one by one to be the disciples and
companions of Jesus. They had been with him night and day for three
years, and probably had known him all their lives. They were, like
him, Galilean. And in the end, they all betrayed him.
Today
is Palm Sunday—once again we'll celebrate the triumphant entry of
Jesus into Jerusalem, riding a donkey. We will reenact the final
joyful event of his life knowing that from now until next Sunday,
there is only sadness and betrayal. First there is Judas, who sells
his own soul for silver; and then there is Peter, who allows fear to
rule him, and who could blame him. Just as they were chosen one at a
time, they fall away one at a time, until at Golgotha, the only ones
left are the women and the one disciple “whom Jesus loved.”
According
to Barbara Brown Taylor (Home by Another Way), the women could stand
at the foot of the cross because of their very insignificance. They
were not considered worthy to testify in court, so they weren't
likely to be questioned. Besides, men did not speak to women because
they were “unclean.” Even so, they couldn't have been there had
it not been for that one male disciple who had the guts to be their
escort. We don't know his name, only that Jesus handed his mother
over to this beloved disciple, and afterward, she lived in his house.
Is
betrayal ever necessary? In this case, had the disciples stayed by
Jesus' side, they, too, would likely have been cut down for the same
reasons Jesus was—blasphemy and sedition. Blasphemy, because he was
called Messiah, the Son of God; and sedition, because he would not
deny being King of the Jews. As difficult as betrayal was, Jesus must
have felt relieved that his message would live on, regardless of what
happened to him. It's a paradox, don't you think, that the disciples'
utter failure of love provided the backdrop for this story of
redemption and resurrection that has lasted for more than two
thousand years.
In
the Spirit,
Jane
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