Our scripture today is John 13:21-32.
After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.” Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
John 13:21-32
Jesus cares for His friends so much, He goes ahead with the Passover celebration with them even though He knows the betrayal is coming. Jesus is so focused on obeying God’s will, He is willing to endure the suffering that lies ahead. Even facing denial, pain and death, Jesus does what He has been called to do.
We are called by God for His purpose in the world as well. We know that along the way we may encounter the same obstacles Jesus did – disappointment, rejection, hurt. God doesn’t want these things for us, but because we live in a world broken by sin, they will occur.
God doesn’t promise we won’t be challenged by the world, but He does promise to be with us when it comes. Our trials may be different but His love for all of us is the same forever. As He was with Jesus through the ordeal of His final week on earth, He will be with us.
Loving Lord, our hope is in You. Help us to endure when we are confronted by evil, knowing and doing Your will in spite of the tests we face. Amen.