Love Even for the Betrayer
Month 11: The Cross & the Empty Tomb · Loving Others
Today's Scripture
Read together: Luke 22:47-51
47 While He was still speaking, a crowd arrived, led by the man called Judas, one of the Twelve. He approached Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 Those around Jesus saw what was about to happen and said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. 51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And He touched the man’s ear and healed him.
Memory Verse
“Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.””— Matthew 26:39 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Luke 22-24
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (The Last Supper, the cross, and the empty tomb — the whole heart of the Gospel in three chapters.)The Heart of It
Jesus rose from prayer, and into the garden came a crowd with torches and swords. They were led by Judas, one of His own twelve disciples. Judas stepped forward to betray Jesus with the most twisted sign you can imagine. He used a kiss, the greeting of a friend. And how did Jesus respond? Watch closely, because it is astonishing. To Judas He said, gently, "Friend, why have you come?" (). Then Peter swung a sword and cut off the ear of the high priest's servant. Jesus said, "Permit even this." He reached out and healed the man (). It was the last miracle before the cross, and He did it for one of the people who came to arrest Him.
This is love that does not depend on being treated well. Jesus loved Judas to the end. He healed an enemy who had come to drag Him to His death. He refused to let His friends fight back with violence. In the very hour He was being betrayed, He kept on doing good. That is the kind of love He calls us to. "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you" (). We usually love people who love us back. It's easy to be kind to a friend who is kind to us. But Jesus shows us a deeper love. It keeps choosing kindness even toward someone who has hurt us, lied about us, or let us down. We cannot do this on our own. But the same Spirit who filled Jesus can grow that very love in us.
Around the Table
Judas pretended to be Jesus' friend, but he was helping the bad guys. Even so, Jesus was kind. When someone got hurt, Jesus healed his ear! Jesus loves even people who are unkind to Him.
Let's do it: Touch your ear and say, "Jesus is kind even to people who are mean. Help me be kind too!"
Jesus called Judas "friend." He healed an enemy's ear, in the very moment they came to arrest Him. He did good even to people doing wrong to Him.
Let's talk: Who is someone hard to be kind to? What is one kind thing you could do for them this week?
Jesus refuses violence. He says, "Permit even this." And He shows mercy to His captors. His love for enemies isn't weakness. It is strength held under control, flowing from a heart surrendered to the Father.
Let's go deeper: Loving an enemy doesn't mean pretending they did nothing wrong. So what does it look like? How did Jesus show it here?
💬 Conversation Starter
What is harder — being kind to a friend, or being kind to someone who was mean to you? Why do you think Jesus asks us to do both?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
People sometimes say Christianity is just like every other religion. But think about "love your enemies." Think about a Savior who heals the ear of the man arresting Him. That is strikingly unique. No other founder calls his followers to that, and then dies praying for the ones killing Him.
For Dad · Go Deeper
The healing of Malchus (John names him, ) is easy to skip past, but it is a thunderclap of grace. The last recorded healing of Jesus' ministry was given to a member of the arresting party. Love for enemies is not a fringe idea in the Gospels. It is the visible signature of the kingdom (). Jesus roots it in the Father's character. The Father "makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good." For a father this is a costly inheritance to pass on. Our children learn how to handle being wronged mostly by watching us. When you are slighted by a neighbor, cut off in traffic, or mistreated at work, your reaction is teaching them what enemy-love is, or isn't. Be honest. This love is impossible by willpower. That is exactly why it is a fruit of the Spirit (). It is grown in us, not manufactured. Loving an enemy does not mean denying the wrong or refusing justice. Jesus named Judas's betrayal for what it was. It means refusing to return evil for evil, and leaving room for God (). Lead your home to be a place where even the one who wronged us is still treated as a person Christ died for.
Draws on: Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that Jesus loved even the one who betrayed Him. He healed the ear of an enemy. We cannot love like that on our own. Fill us with Your Spirit. Grow that kind of love in us, even toward the people who hurt us. In Jesus' name, amen."
Jesus loved even His betrayer. By the Spirit, I can choose kindness even toward those who hurt me.