The Worst Kind of Pain

I think the worst kind of pain is the betrayal of a friend. When someone you love and care about turns on you, it hurts.

The emotional pain of betrayal was just the beginning for Jesus as the time of His crucifixion drew near. Then came the physical pain. Let’s not miss the point that the disciples weren’t just His followers; they were His buddies. They were His friends.

Especially Judas Iscariot, believe it or not. Why would I say that Judas was the friend of Jesus? Because Jesus himself said it. In the Garden of Gethsemane when Judas led the temple guard to arrest Him, Jesus actually said to Judas, “Friend, why have you come?” (Matthew 26:50 NKJV).

Friend? Didn’t Jesus know what Judas was about to do?

Of course He did. He’d already predicted it in the Upper Room. But it still broke His heart because Judas was his friend.

How easily Jesus could have said, “You know what? I’m done with all of you. I mean, My own disciples have betrayed Me. Everyone hates me. I’m just done.”

But He didn’t say that. Instead, He went through with it.

So what kept him going? We find the answer in Hebrews 12: “Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (verse 2 NKJV).

Joy? There was joy because He was looking past the pain and anguish to what He would accomplish. He was thinking of you and me when He carried that cross through the city. He was thinking of you and me when He bore the sin of the world.

We need to look to Jesus because He has always been looking out for us. And we need to live for Jesus because He died for us.