Judas wasn’t the only betrayer in the group. Nor was Peter the only denier. Truth is, every disciple is predestined to become not only a denier, and a betrayer, but ultimately, a crucifier as well. Committing these particular acts, like it or not, is inevitable for anyone who truly follows Christ. The real issue, therefore, isn’t whether you’ll eventually do such things as these, but who will be on the receiving end of them.
It’s either you or Jesus…
DESTINED TO DENY
Denial is a dirty word in the Christian dialect, and it’s all Peter’s fault. On the night of Christ’s arrest, when Jesus needed him most, Peter denied knowing Him three times over. And this wasn’t Peter’s first bout with denial either. Just a few short hours earlier, Jesus told Peter that he was destined to deny. And in true form, Peter flat-out denied it! Thanks to him, denial has been associated with sin ever since.
It’s critical to remember, however, that not all denial is a sin. In our case, it’s required. One of the prerequisites of following Jesus is having a propensity for denial. In fact, if a person isn’t willing to deny, they won’t even be allowed to follow Christ at all. In Luke 9:23 Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves”. Whether it’s a dirty word or not, “denial” is a “must”.
Somebody in your Christian life is being denied.
It’s either you or Jesus…
BOUND TO BETRAY
When Judas Iscariot was chosen by Jesus, his fate was already decided. “Jesus knew from the beginning who it was that would betray Him” (John 6:64). His future was as fixed as the Word of God Itself. Judas was bound to betray.
But then again, so were the other eleven.
Betrayal is in the cards for all of Christ’s disciples. The word “betray” means to ‘hand over’ or ‘abandon’, and it carries with it a sense of close, personal involvement. Anyone can do it, and everyone will. We’re bound to it.
All who follow Christ are called to the abandonment, or ‘betrayal’ of self. Jesus encourages all of His disciples to “Give up your life for me, (then) you will find it” (Matthew 10:39). Some, however, will reject that kind of self-betrayal. To them, a second option is given: Abandon Christ instead. Just like Judas.
Somebody in your Christian life will get betrayed.
It’s either you or Jesus…
CALLED TO CRUCIFY
The Nicene Creed reminds us that Jesus was “crucified under Pontius Pilate”. But truth be told, crucifixion is an activity in which everybody takes part. From the High Priest to the Apostles, and the ancient Jew to the modern gentile, everyone is a crucifier. This, of course, includes me and you. We may not have held the mallet, or delivered the blows, but I assure you, it was our sins that got Him killed.
Rising from the dead, however, Jesus now calls us to become active participants in yet another crucifixion: Our own.
Jesus commands us to “pick up our cross” (Mark 8:34), and to “crucify our flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24). We’re commanded to “Put to death (crucify) whatever is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5).
Once more this leaves us with a choice: We can either crucify ourselves, or we can “crucify Christ all over again, putting Him to open shame”. There’s no way around it. We’ve been called to crucify.
Somebody in your Christian life is being put to death.
It’s either you or Jesus…
MAN ON A MISSION
By choosing Judas, Jesus was making the conscious decision to offer Himself up for betrayal. By choosing Peter, Jesus presented Himself to be denied. And by choosing God’s will, Jesus willingly offered Himself up for crucifixion.
Your Savior already knows what it’s like to be the victim of denial, betrayal, and crucifixion. Do you?
Your desire to be like Jesus is a single decision away from being fulfilled. Yield yourself to the only experiences that will truly unite you to Christ. You have been given the power & authority to deny, betray, and crucify.
Use that power wisely.