How Jesus Handled Betrayal

by Annie Yorty ©2022

Jesus endured not only excruciating physical torment but also the pain of betrayal, false accusations, and loneliness near the end of His life on earth. How could Jesus continue to perceive God, His Father, while living in such a toxic environment? This week let’s consider how Jesus handled betrayal.

Have you ever been stabbed in the back? Betrayed by the one you trusted? I suspect everyone has a painful story. My first heartbreak over betrayal hit me when I was eight years old in the third grade. My best friend refused to play with me, choosing someone else instead. I remember being so devastated I sat by myself during recess, oblivious when the rest of the class lined up and went inside.

That betrayal faded to insignificance when my mom walked out for the first time when I was ten.

Jesus Sympathizes

The Bible reassures us that Jesus understands and sympathizes with all our burdens because He Himself also endured such grief. And because He loves us, He encourages us to come to Him for help.

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:15-16 NASb1995).

That’s why I want to study the Bible to learn how Jesus handled betrayal.

The Betrayal of Jesus

Almost from the moment Jesus began public ministry at the age of thirty, those who should have welcomed Him plotted His demise. The envious Jewish religious leaders repeatedly schemed against Him, culminating their efforts to trap Him by colluding with Judas to betray Him.

As one of the twelve disciples, Judas traveled in the inner circle with Jesus. Yet something—perhaps pride, disappointment, anger, or resentment—sent Him to the chief priests to ask how much they would pay him to betray his Teacher.

Jesus, aware of the evil conspiracy against Him, did nothing to stop Judas. Jesus allowed Himself to experience the awful repercussions of betrayal. Then the Jewish leaders convinced the previously adoring crowds to turn against Jesus and demand His crucifixion. The people Jesus came to save mocked Him, spit on Him, and lied about Him.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never experienced that level of treachery. Amazingly, Jesus endured this betrayal without indulging in even one sin. No thought, word, or deed that was not pleasing to God escaped from His fully human heart throughout His entire ordeal.

4 Ways Jesus Handled Betrayal

1. Jesus relied on His Father.

Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray” (Matthew 26:36 NLT).

In the hours right before Jesus was arrested, His troubled heart sought refuge with His Father. He went to the Garden of Gethsemane, as He often did, to connect with God. Cloaked in human skin and bones, God the Son had the same need as you and I—to come into God’s presence to receive wisdom, strength, and guidance. No one was more acutely aware of His need for God’s provision than Jesus.

Luke’s gospel records how God responded to Jesus. “Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him” (Luke 22:43 NLT). God faithfully provided His presence and provision to sustain Jesus through every human struggle. Can you believe that God has the resources to meet your needs? Will you imitate how Jesus handled betrayal by praying?

2. Jesus focused on His mission.

“Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here” (Matthew 26:46 NLT)!

Jesus spoke these words to His dozing disciples immediately after fortifying Himself through communion with His Father. And, no, He wasn’t urging them to flee with Him from His betrayer. Instead, with resolute obedience, He faced Judas and the arresting Roman centurions. In fact, when impulsive Peter attacked one of the officers, Jesus intervened and healed the man’s severed ear. Jesus humbly submitted to His betrayers to fulfill the plan of salvation known by Him since before the beginning of time.

Could it be that God has a plan to bring good out of your struggle with betrayal? Does believing this truth help you to accept your current situation? With your eyes fixed firmly on the golden outline of God’s will, you will not be distracted by the thunder and lightning flashing from the clouds below.

3. Jesus spoke the truth.

Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there every day. But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns (Luke 22:52 NLT).

This question, posed to the Jewish high priests by Jesus, called them out for their hypocrisy. Furthermore, Jesus lumped these seemingly holy men in with the power of darkness. Ouch! He never minimized betrayal. Neither did He get bogged down in bitterness or revenge. Maintaining an attitude of compassion, Jesus did not return evil to the ones who plotted against Him.

We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church (Ephesians 4:14b-15 NLT).

Truth is a light that exposes, focuses attention, and enlightens. Jesus’ caveat? Speak truth in love rather than condemnation so the recipient has opportunity to reflect and change. Don’t use the FBI spotlight of accusation. Be forewarned: we can’t expect everyone to receive the truth and change, as we clearly see with these religious leaders. Nevertheless, when we follow how Jesus handled betrayal by speaking truth in love to a betrayer, God will use our words to accomplish His purpose.

4. Jesus remembered who He is.

Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor. “Are you the king of the Jews?” the governor asked him. Jesus replied, “You have said it.” But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent. “Don’t you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?” Pilate demanded. But Jesus made no response to any of the charges, much to the governor’s surprise (Matthew 27:11-14 NLT).

Didn’t Jesus have the ultimate defense against the accusations of the priests and Roman officials? Jesus knew long before Ben Franklin said it that “innocence is its own defense.” Yet He didn’t bother to defend or justify Himself to His corrupt accusers. He knew it wouldn’t change the murderous intent of their hard hearts.

But Jesus did answer who He is. The four gospels tell us some of the names Jesus gave to answer His accusers: King of the Jews, Son of Man, I Am.

Betrayal often leaves us crushed, our identities tattered. Consider, for example, the betrayal of divorce. If I’m not a wife anymore, who am I? Whatever betrayal you’ve experienced, God still says who you are. Jesus died on the cross so you may identify as His child, dearly loved despite what people say or do to you.

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12 NLT).

No betrayal can steal your true and eternal identity as a child of God. Remember your identity as you slog through the quicksand of betrayal.

Where is God in Betrayal?

Have you ever doubted if God is present during your hardest times? God’s enemy, Satan, claims God abandons you, that He just doesn’t care what you’re going through. That couldn’t be further from the truth. We see in the gospels that God the Father stayed with His Son, Jesus, throughout His betrayal ordeal.* It is precisely because of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection that God is with us always. When we receive Christ’s sacrifice and surrender to Him, the Holy Spirit of God permanently lives within our hearts because we’re God’s children too.

Look Up and Perceive God

When I was a young girl, I didn’t know much about Jesus’ experiences with betrayal. But as I grew and learned more, I found it comforting to know He had “been there, done that.” So when, not if, betrayal comes your way, remember that Jesus traveled this road before you. Because He sympathizes, we should follow how Jesus handled betrayal. Look up from the hurt, anger, and bitterness of betrayal to perceive that God is right by your side, providing everything you need.

Join the conversation:

Have you ever experienced God’s restoration after betrayal?

I welcome your comments!

*Note: While there was a point where God and Jesus became temporarily separated, this is a special circumstance I’ll address in the weeks to come.