A quick look through the book of Psalms will reveal a theme that repeats itself again and again - the steadfast love of God.
When we look at Jesus we see the reflection of what God is like. In his life, in facing death, and in death itself, Jesus remained faithful in his love towards those he came to save.
As we journey through Holy Week, you will see the steadfast love of God again and again, fully revealed in the face of Jesus.
After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. One of his disciples — the one whom Jesus loved — was reclining next to him; Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival”; or, that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once."
John 13:21-32
“It was night,” John says, and when he says it, he not only means that it was dark outside, he means that a kind of spiritual darkness had descended on the world: one of Jesus’ own disciples had just gone out to betray him.
It’s a good reminder to us that even those of us who are closest to Jesus can do him wrong. We can ignore him, pretend that we don’t know him, act as if we’d never promised to follow him. When we do, a certain darkness descends on the world around us, and on our own lives.
It sometimes takes days for us to realize what’s gone wrong, but when we do it can hit us hard. Fortunately, all we have to do is say, “I’m sorry, Jesus,” and try again. He’s good at forgiving. I think he would have forgiven Judas if he had asked.
Jim Somerville
Lord Jesus, help me follow you faithfully all the days of my life. And when I don’t — when I ignore you, pretend that I don’t know you, and act as if I’d never promised to follow you — forgive me. Please? Amen.
O that you and I might be,
Like Jesus,
Faithful and true.
God grant us grace
That we might become,
Like Christ,
Steadfast in our love too.