GOD WORKS THINGS OUT.

He woke up that very morning and began to bask in the euphoria of how ‘great’ the event of the day was going to be. Eyes darting across the room, his gaze was at that instant, fixed on a little bag sitting quietly on top of a small table at the far end of the room. His thought on the content of the bag brought a fresh wave of joy to him. He began to reel out in his mind what he would do with the money. A wry smile played around the corners of his lips.

His heartbeat missed all of a sudden. Today, he was going to be called several names: Traitor, greedy fellow, religious rebel, betrayer and who knows whether his name could be a definition of the act he was about to commit by generations yet unborn. He imagined the look on his boss’ face and how his other colleagues would perceive him. He shrugged it off and cared less in as much he had been made richer with the bribe. Today again, his profile would rise and his curriculum vitae would swell, having been a petty thief using his position as the treasurer to piffle what he could lay his hands on.

He left his house to meet his ‘contractors’ who were restlessly waiting for his appearance. These were the group of people that considered and paraded themselves as the religious mentors of the people and high religious VIPs of the society.

The young man sighted his boss and his other colleagues, but he ignored them and went straight to his boss, and with an hypocritical praise, he kissed him.

The response of his boss, who knew his mission, was unprecedented.

“And Jesus said unto him, Friend wherefore art thou come? Then come they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him” (Matthew 26:50).

How could Jesus regard somebody who gave Him up to be killed as a friend? What sort of friendship could that possibly be? A so-called friend who passed an indirect death sentence on you? Is a friend not a person that cares and protects your interests and looks out for the best in you?

I’m so sure the disciples would be wondering while Jesus could call Judas Iscariot a friend. The supposed friend who could not protect his friend’s interest. This is what the disciples would think, and the rest of us. Conventional wisdom teaches that a traitor is not a person worthy to be called a friend. But not with Jesus.

Jesus knew better than the disciples and the rest of us. To Him, Judas was His friend and a very good one at that.

Jesus knew His purpose on earth. He was the only baby that was born and destined to die for the sins (Past, Present and Future) of mankind. His purpose would not have been accomplished if He was not given away by a kiss. The work of redemption would have been halted if Judas had not been greedy. The gap and enmity between God and man would have never been closed and never ceased if Judas Iscariot had a good conscience. Our hope of eternal bliss would have been jeopardized if Judas was never a black sheep among the disciples.

Have you ever been betrayed by someone or people very close to you: Siblings, family, friends or those not in this category? Learn from Jesus. His traitor led Him to fulfill His mission and purpose in life which made Him to be glorified eventually.

Every acts of betrayal or disappointment always lead to a greater glory if you are in Christ. It is in Him we live, move and have our being; hence, we are at a very great advantage. Just hold unto Him and you will know that all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28).