Today’s Reading: Matthew26:47-56

So many thoughts running through my head, I don’t know where to begin or even where to go with it if I did. First of all, I wonder if Judas’ soul died the minute he kissed Jesus---I wonder if he felt everything leave his body at that moment. Then I think about Jesus and what he felt with the impact of that kiss, how hurt he must have been, for he knew more than anyone what the kiss really meant. You know I think about Judas’ sin and I think how big it is, but then don’t you think every sin hurts Jesus. As humans we classify sins, but I have yet to find anywhere in the Bible a chart with the levels of sin. When I think about what Judas did, it only motivates me not to sin even more, not to betray Jesus because I think the things of this world are more important. Now that I think about it, shouldn’t we be thinking about what we can be doing for Jesus instead of what he can do for us. Like I have said before salvation is enough, if that is all we ever received from Jesus than that would be more than enough.

Then I think about the disciples trying to protect Jesus from this mob and Jesus’ response. “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” (vs. 53) Think about it. Jesus could at any moment stopped everything, he could have just spoke the words and been rescued from this situation, but he didn’t. He continued on to fulfill his purpose, to make a way for us. When I think life is not treating me fairly, when I think I can’t take anymore, I have to not only remember what Jesus went through for me, but I have to think about what I need to go through to draw closer to him. Maybe it is those things that are difficult that make me depend on him more and each tear may be what draws me closer to him.

When times became difficult the disciples deserted Jesus and fled the scene. Really? Wasn’t it just a few hours earlier that they were all telling Jesus that they would never leave him, never deny him? So what happened? Once again Satan used fear to overwhelm these men and keep them from holding on to their Savior. I know I have said it before, but we cannot let go of Jesus especially when times become even more difficult. In fact, it is in those difficult times that we need to be clinging even more to Christ.

Jesus went through all this for us, he not only suffered and died on the cross, but he experienced all the things that we experience too. With the actions of the disciples, he experienced abandonment by friends and I am sure loneliness as well. There is nothing we encounter that he has not experienced, there is no question, no problem, that he doesn’t have the answer for. Salvation may be enough from him, but it is not all we receive when we accept him. As we live our life for him, he blesses us with more than we could ever imagine, he fills our life with more joy and peace than we think possible. With everyday that we live for him, we conform more to his likeness and we are a step closer to fulfilling the plan that he has for our life.