betrayal (Mt 26:14-19)

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Psalm 14; Matthew 26:14-19


Pilate has the distinction of being the only human being, besides Jesus, named in the Creed. Judas has the distinction of being, well, a Judas - whose name itself has come to mean betrayer.

Paul quotes our psalm today, Psalm 14, in Romans 3, to argue that no one seeks God, none who does good. David seems to make a distinction in the psalm between the "fool" or "all the evildoers" and "my people" or "the generation of the righteous." Paul uses the psalm to argue that all people, Jews and Gentiles alike, are sinners and need to be justified by Jesus Christ. In this reading of Psalm 14, Jesus is the poor and righteous one, even the salvation to come out of Zion.

The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds,
there is none who does good.
The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man,
to see if there are any who understand (or, "act wisely"),
who seek after God.
They have all turned aside;
together they have become corrupt;
there is none who does good, not even one.
Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers
who eat up my people as they eat bread
and do not call upon the LORD?
There they are in great terror,
for God is with the generation of the righteous.
You would shame the plans of the poor,
but the LORD is his refuge.
Oh, that salvation would come out of Zion!
When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people,
let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.
(Psalm 14)

Betrayal has been in the news quite a bit, coming out of the governor's office in New York. In addition to the righteous crusader being exposed as a client in a prostitution ring, the newly installed governor has also announced that he had several affairs after finding out that his wife had had an affair. Brooke saw an old acquaintance yesterday, who has gone to the same church for thirty years. In the conversation this dear sister shared how she doesn't get involved in anything at the church anymore (like studies, fellowships, etc.) because that way you won't get hurt...

How did Jesus deal with betrayal? In the words of the psalm, he made the LORD his refuge (v. 6), and called upon the LORD (vs. 4), and remained "righteous," even in "the generation of the righteous" (v. 5). He proceeded to make plans to keep the Passover with his disciples. First, he kept on with his "spiritual disciplines" if you will, to keep the Passover with its remembrances and prayers; and second, he intended to observe the Passover with his people - his community, his followers, his friends, those who were yoked with him. In the midst of betrayal he didn't remove himself from all other relationships, but maintained and intentionally remained connected.

I remember hearing Bruce Larsen years ago saying that we've been taught to love God and trust people, and that that it not quite accurate and actually undermines us. What the Bible teaches, he said, was to trust God and love people. That's what I see Jesus doing in the face of betrayal. Again, it is the way of the cross. It is the way that the divine life manifests itself in human life. It is the way of life and to life. It is the way of Jesus.

[1. I do believe this is absolutely essential and the first steps to take. It does not address other important questions like setting healthy boundaries, or legal action. It does say, however, that such things should not even be considered without trusting in God to heal and deliver while continuing to pray, worship, and read the Word, and staying connected to "the generation of the righteous."]

[2. We're not going to discuss it here, and probably won't get to it in the next few days, but I would encourage you to think about Passover and how it ties in with Jesus mission, and how intent Jesus is on keeping it and connecting his death with the Feast. It's not accidental that this is the Feast at which he is delivered up to be crucified...]

Prayer for Wednesday of Holy Week
Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.