Warriors Arise: April 14, 2022
Luke 22:41-48 (NKJV) And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” 43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. 46 Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”
I can't imagine the internal, emotional pain Jesus is going through. The disappointment that His disciples, His closest disciples, fell asleep a second time. They have no idea what is going on, but he asked them twice to pray with Him and twice they fell asleep; so then He tells them to rise and pray. That makes me chuckle. He didn't want them to fall asleep again, so He tells them to stand and pray. He knows the battle is about to begin. He knows they need to be ready to resist temptation. They need to be in tune with God, so they can embrace God's plan. They need to know how they are to navigate through what is about to happen. Without being in tune with God, they are a ship without a rudder being tossed to and fro by events they cannot control. Jesus wants to make sure they don't capsize in the waves of uncertainty that are about to hit like a tsunami.
There are times I know I need to pray; so I have positioned myself in a very uncomfortable place so I will stay awake, alert and present in my mind to what God is wanting to tell me and what He wants me to pray. All of us have been in a situation where we didn't know what to pray but we knew we needed to pray. This is why we need to be in tune with God and pray according to the Spirit.
The disciples were about to be a part of something they were going to have to accept but it would take everything within them to hold themselves together.
Luke 22:47-48 (NKJV) And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Jesus knew this was coming but the disciples had not clue. They did not understand what Jesus had exposed at the Passover Supper.
Matthew 26:19-25 (NKJV) So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover. 20 When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve. 21 Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” 22 And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?” 23 He answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me. 24 The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?” He said to him, “You have said it.”
We do not know if they didn't hear Jesus and Judas or if they couldn't comprehend that one of them would betray Jesus. The question we wish we didn't ask, "Rabbi, is it I?" Most of us would not ask the question. Judas had already made a deal with the priests. He knew he was the one Jesus was talking about. Maybe, he thought so little of Jesus, he didn't think Jesus would truly know it was him. Why else would he ask? But now, he knows that Jesus knows. Can he still play this out and get his money? It doesn't seem like the other disciples are aware of what was being said. They have no idea why Judas is there with this crowd, these temple soldiers.
Judas greets Jesus with a kiss. The betrayal has happened at the deepest core. Remember Jesus saying He no longer calls them servants but He calls them friends. Judas was a friend of Jesus'. He comes and uses the sign of friendship to identify Jesus.
When you are betrayed you do not want it to be on friendly terms. You want them to be mean about it and just come out as the deceiver they are, the backstabber they are, the two-faced, good for nothing they are. You don't want them to buddy up to you and abuse the proximity of the relationship. But not Judas. Why? Maybe it is because he wants to deceive the disciples. He wants the disciples to think this mob and temple soldiers came out all on their own and he was coming out to meet up with them. Maybe he is still hoping he can fit in with the disciples and play up how horrible it is that this has happened to Jesus. Have you ever had some try to play you? They were acting all innocent and you were buying it. I have been entangled like that before. This may be the first of many reasons Jesus wanted Peter, James and John to pray. They needed discernment.
Jesus answered Judas' question at the Passover Supper, "It is as you say." Jesus exposed Judas as the betrayer. When Judas arrives with the mob and temple soldiers I am not sure if Judas kissed Jesus or not. Maybe he got close but Jesus shifted to dodge the kiss.
Luke 22:47-48 (NKJV) And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
It might have depended on where you stood to see if Jesus sidestepped the kiss or not. There are times when you just don't play into the betrayers hand. You let them know you are in charge. Jesus wants to hear Judas say it. Then everyone with Jesus knows what Judas has done and is doing.
I am not a kiss and make up kind of person. Let's make up first and then we need to rebuild our relationship. I am willing to rebuild, but the foundation of the friendship has been fragmented. Therefore to build upon it without strengthening the foundation would cause something to eventually topple in the future. Right or wrong, it is important to me to repair before I rebuild.
Jesus exposed Judas in person and then before the rest of the disciples. They did not understand what was happening. Jesus had to ask the question for all to hear and for Judas to be convicted of what he had done. It is painful to be asked a question by the Lord that expose my wicked heart. But when God asks I know I have the opportunity to repent before it goes any further. I pray I repent quickly for judgement must come when a heart is unwilling to repent.
Father, I am thankful for Your confronting my evil heart. Thank You for exposing thoughts and actions that are not honoring to You. Thank You for giving me time to change my evil ways, to seek You for help, to repent and make things right. I am so in awe of how You expose me only to make a way for me to be convicted by the confrontation, so I will repent and turn from what does not honor You. In fear and trembling I ask for You to ask those tough questions. I pray I will hear what You are asking and repent. I pray I will awaken from the slumber of sin and pride. I pray I would step through the doorway of repentance and be completely restored to You in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
Join together as Believers in Jesus Christ to pray and to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.
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