How to Overcome Betrayal and Sin.

JOHN14.1-12

I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life

14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, that where I am, you may also be. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas told him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

⁸ Philip told him, “Lord, show us the Father; it is enough for us.” ⁹ Jesus told him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. ¹¹ Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

¹² “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and more excellent works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

Have You Been Betrayed?

Have you been betrayed? If you’ve lived on this planet for a significant amount of time, the chances are that you would have been betrayed by a friend, an acquaintance or somebody close to you. I have been betrayed many times by various people and a few times by the same people. Betrayal leaves you in total shock when you discover the truth about it. And it can affect you physically; for me, it was like a physical feeling of a knife entering my heart.

Betrayal is one of the worst things somebody can do to another person, and it has consequences, not only for the person being betrayed but for the betrayer, as we see in today’s story.

The Betrayal

Jesus told his disciples, ‘Do not let your heart be troubled. You have faith in God, her faith also in me. In my Father’s house, there are many dwelling places there; if there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? John 14 verses 1-2. ‘ 

These consoling and encouraging words were spoken by Jesus to the Apostles at the last supper. Immediately after the supper, Judah’s left to betray Jesus. Jesus turned to Peter in the presence of the others and told him that he would deny Jesus three times before the rooster crowed- New Living Translation.

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

By now, the disciples must have been discouraged. 

So, likewise, Peter must have been discouraged from being accused of a future betrayal.

What a fantastic supper they enjoyed, full of hope and promise, then at the end, it became shrouded by discouragement, doubt and fear. The Apostle’s bubble burst when Judas walked out, and then Peter was singled out by Jesus as a betrayer. Imagine the heartbreak for Jesus that two of his beloved disciples turned away from him in different ways. The repercussions varied; Judas would hang himself with overwhelming guilt, and Peter, repenting and receiving God’s forgiveness, would become the first Pope- who can know the mind of God?

In the upper room, Jesus sensed his follower’s despair and possibly feared in their hearts, so Jesus, who loved them all, said, ‘Do not let your heart be troubled.’

 Peter was told that he would soon betray Jesus, and when he did, Peter wept bitterly. Weeping can be a sign of repentance because as he wept, he realised the gravity of his actions. Thinking about it, I wonder if he recalled Jesus’ words -‘ do not let your heart be troubled.’

We Can be Tempted

 Being tempted to engage in sin can be discouraging, but that is a good sign. Because if we are not affected by our sins, it shows we lack genuine love for God. And if we give into those temptations and fail to experience sorrow, this is even worse. So to truly repent, we must sincerely apologise for our sins.

However, discouragement over our sins cannot remain. It must turn into its opposite, the virtue of hope. Hope will result from seeing only when we hear. And understand Jesus’ promises. Jesus not only tells the disciples not to be troubled, but he also tells them why. Jesus promises them he will prepare a place for them in heaven. And will come to take them to that place in his Father’s house, despite their failings.

 Do You Get Discouraged by Your Sin?

By believing in what Jesus said, Peter and the other Apostles will be able to dispel the initial discouragement they feel over their failings and turn back to God with the anticipation of heaven. So Peter overcame his sin and later became Pope – but Judas allowed his sin to overcome him. 

Do you get discouraged by your sin? If you do, begin by calling to mind any sin you regularly struggle with. Habitual sin, especially, will lead to sorrow, repentance and hope. The problem is that all discouragement ends in despair and the abandonment of virtue. 

Like Saint Peter, we must strive to weep bitterly over our sins. However, we must not let our sins and temptation lead us toward despair, like Judas, instead like Peter, motivate us to seek forgiveness and regain hope, courage and determination.

Jesus Forgives Sin

Jesus was betrayed by those closest to him, and yet he forgave.  To regain hope, courage, and determination will only be possible if we always hear Jesus tell us, do not let your heart be troubled. Instead, we must sense his compassion and tenderness and allow that love to fill us with confidence. 

We will one day overcome all sin and be welcomed into the Father’s house. 

Reflection

Do you allow your sins, temptations, and the testing of this life to discourage you from Jesus’ promises of redemption and eternal hope? Do you allow your sins and the temptation to drive you to despair, or do you use them as a motivation to regain hope? Finally, do you find the courage and determination to trust in Jesus’ promise of redemption and eternal life? 

Reflect today upon any sin with which you regularly struggle. As you do, consider whether your discouragement leads to despair or hope. Hope does not come from your ability to overcome sin on your own. It comes from the compassion of our Lord and his promise to redeem you. That is good if you have a troubled heart; it is the starting point for hope. So, may Jesus lift your troubled heart and point your eyes to heaven.

Let us pray.

Most compassionate Lord, though I am a sinner, you speak to me with tenderness and call me to repent and seek forgiveness so I will always have hope in heaven. 

Please give me a feeling of true and holy sorrow for my sins, and help me to always turn back to you. So that you will one day lead me to the fullness of the Father’s house.

 Jesus, I Trust in You. 

Amen.

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Remember to live life on purpose, in Hope. Faith and Love

Paula Rose Parish💕

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