Day 13

Be Still:  Dear Father, thank you that You are both all-knowing and all-loving.  Thank you that Jesus chose to allow Judas to betray Him to redeem us.  In Jesus’ name, through the power of the Holy Spirit, Amen

Be Strengthened:  John 13:22-30

²²His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. ²³One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. ²⁴Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."

²⁵Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?"

²⁶Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. ²⁷As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

"What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him, ²⁸but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. ²⁹Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. ³⁰As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

Be Stretched:  Has someone you loved ever betrayed you?  Imagine knowing ahead of time that it was going to happen.  How would you have responded?  Judas had been a part of Jesus’ closest circle for three years, and yet he had plotted to betray Him.  Jesus knew it was going to happen, yet He allowed Judas to leave.  Spend some time pondering the depth of Jesus’ love for you.  Then pray for the strength to begin the process of forgiving anyone who has betrayed you.