June 13, 2025 Morning Devotional

Morning Devotion: Read Luke - Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

Luke 22:47  And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. 48  But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? 49  When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? 50  And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. 51  And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. 52  Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? 53  When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

Most of the time when betrayal comes it comes with a kiss or kindness and praise and flattery. Just before the tempest strikes and the waters of kindness and concern for the best are laid out smoothly. What appears to be helpfulness, even caring are really deception until the strike.

Psalms 55:21  The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

Proverbs 27:6  Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

In Zechariah, when our Lord Jesus returns the second time He will be asked about His wounds received at calvary. His answer is astounding.

Zechariah 13:6  And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

It was the friend that betrayed Him. I am reminded of David when he relates the same type of thing concerning Ahithophel.

Psalm 55:12  For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 13  But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. 14  We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

Ahithophel was David’s friend, they worshipped together; Ahithophel betrayed David in a moment when he needed him.

However, we read in the scriptures that God turned his counsel into foolishness.

2Samuel 15:31  And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

As with Ahithophel and with Judas, God turned their counsel against them. Upon realizing their sin, both men died by suicide; both men hung themselves.

2Samuel 17:23  And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.

Matthew 27:3  Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4  Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5  And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

As believers, we should never be in the business of deception, keep your heart and mind clear and free that you might be pleasing to God.

Philippians 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Jesus said in Matthew 5:37  “But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”

The choice is still yours,

Pastor Cook