John 13:21-26 — Love Beyond Betrayal — Aneel Aranha

Hello and welcome to the Bite-Sized Gospel. Today we will reflect on John 13:21-26. Listen.

After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”
His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”
Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.

Have you ever felt a sense of foreboding, knowing deep down that disappointment or betrayal was on the horizon? I wouldn’t be surprised if you did, because it is a universal human experience, one that Jesus himself did not escape. In this touching moment, Jesus openly shares the imminent betrayal, telling his apostles that one of them was going to betray him.

Let us look at the nature of betrayal and trust. Jesus is fully aware of Judas' impending betrayal. Yet, he chooses to engage him, even extending a piece of bread as a final gesture of fellowship. It's a powerful testament to Jesus' commitment to love, even in the face of ultimate betrayal. This act is not a resignation to fate but a profound demonstration of unconditional love and forgiveness.

Now, I pose a question to you: How do we respond to betrayal? Do we close our hearts, vowing never to trust again, or do we learn from Jesus’ example, finding the strength to forgive and love despite our deepest wounds? It's a challenging path, one that requires divine grace and a heart willing to mirror Jesus' own. In his letter to the Corinthians, when describing the qualities of love, Paul says, “Love always trusts.” This implies forgiveness.

Consider the power of forgiveness in your life. Have you experienced a freedom in forgiving someone, perhaps not for their sake, but for your own peace? Forgiveness doesn't excuse their actions but liberates us from the burden of bitterness. Jesus shows us that even in betrayal, there's an opportunity for grace, an invitation to rise above our human instincts and embrace a love that heals and restores.

In today’s world, where betrayal might seem just a click away, let's draw closer to the example set by Jesus. He invites us to not just look at the actions of others but to focus on our capacity to love beyond betrayal. This doesn't mean we ignore the pain or pretend it doesn't hurt. Rather, we acknowledge our hurt, bring it to Jesus, and ask for the grace to forgive, just as he forgave those who betrayed him.

God bless you.