Reflection for April 19, 2011: Tuesday of Holy Week.

Abstract

God knew us before we were even born. Knew what we were going to be like, what sorts of things we might do. But also maybe he had a plan for us. Jesus knew Judas was going to betray him, maybe even before Judas did. And he also knew the betrayal was necessary. As soon as Judas leaves, Jesus says, "Now is the son of man glorified." The betrayal is a necessary first step to get to the glorification. Things were then set into motion. What Judas did seems terrible, and was terrible, but it was necessary for the next steps.||While Judas is the big betrayal, there's Peter to deal with as well. When Jesus says he is going where his friends cannot follow, Peter says he wants to go too, and he wants to go with him now. And Peter will go, but just not now. I understand how hard it is to be left behind and how hard it is to wait. But Peter has to deny Jesus and has to stay because there are still things he has to do. Peter tells Jesus, "I will lay down my life for you." And he will, but not just yet. And Jesus knows this too. He knows that Peter will deny him and must deny him so he can finish what he needs to do here. And when the time is right Peter will die for him, as Jesus died for all of us.|If Judas hadn't made his horrific decision, none of this could have been set in motion. If Peter hadn't made his decision, the church wouldn't have been established. These decisions seem selfish, but they are necessary for the necessary outcome. If Jesus hadn't made the hardest decision of all, we wouldn't have Easter. Jesus had to be betrayed by his friends, and his friends had to betray him in order for the son of man to be glorified. And God knew from long before who they all were and what they all were capable of, and what we all are capable of.