Ps 69.8-10,20-21,31-34
Part of the suffering that Jesus endured was that of betrayal. Besides dying for the sins of the world, he died a broken-hearted man, for he had been betrayed by a friend who had eaten at the same table as he did. It must have hurt him so deeply to have a fellow brother give him over to be scorned at and tortured (Ps 69.20).
Walking in the way of Christ can at times be a heart-breaking experience. Others around you, whom you deem to be trusted friends, can at times turn you over to suffer for your convictions to follow Christ. And despite knowing these possibilities, we are still called to trust these friends in a posture of vulnerability, just like Jesus kept on trusting Judas.
William Tyndale was the man best known as the first translator of the Bible from Hebrew and Greek into the English language. In 1535, he was betrayed by a friend, taken prisoner to the castle of Vilford, and continued to work on his translation. He was unable to finish his work because he was sentenced to die a heretic’s death: strangulation and burning at the stake. Such was the life of a faithful follower of Christ.
Reflection: Have there been times when you have felt betrayed by trusted Christian friends? Will you keep on trusting like Christ? Trust does not reflect on the trustworthiness of the one being trusted, but rather, on the virtue of the one who chooses to trust.
(meditations by Sherman)