04/04/2026
Today my Bible reading was in John 13.
I have participated in a 1 year through the Bible reading plan for many years. Yet even after all these years, I am amazed at how the Bible surprises me with new messages and thoughts.
Today’s reading, for example, shows an understanding in Jesus of depth of emotion and challenges in life that I had not previously understood. Look with me at the amazing response Jesus has to betrayal.
This chapter is arguably the most important time in Jesus’ earthly life. He is near the end, asking if this cup could be lifted… knowingly walking to His death.
And it is here at this vulnerable time, that He is also betrayed.
This struck me. Jesus Himself was facing betrayal from those closest to Him. How I related, as I too had experienced this vile occurrence in my own marriage. I was betrayed. He who was supposed to be my greatest safe person in this life had for a long time been my most difficult person.
My husband.
How to you respond to that?
Look at what Jesus says to Judas, aware of his plans.
“What you do, do quickly.” (V 27b)
Then He goes on to say “Now is the Son of Man glorified.”
As I walked through the realization of betrayal in my marriage, I certainly didn’t think this was the time of any glorification. For me, it was my darkest time.
How was Jesus able to say that?
He tells His friends He is with them just a bit longer. And then in verse 34, He says the impossible.
“A new Commandment I give to you. Love one another as I have loved you.”
What?
The actual moment that he is being betrayed, lied about and misrepresented by His most intimate friends… He tells us to “love one another.”
When the storm hit, destroying my marriage, I too was torn by those closest to me, who betrayed me. Devastated and confused, I tried to think about how to protect myself and my children. I wanted to lash out against the one that I saw as the destroyer of our family. And I wanted to defend myself knowing that slanderous words were being told about me.
Yet as I examined my own heart, I too had done things wrong. My heart was not exempt from having done things to hurt my spouse. I had let others down.
I had dishonored and yes even betrayed this man. A small level of comfort came from feeling less guilty… Yet I was guilty, nevertheless.
What love could Jesus be talking about? In my own limited understanding, I sat and reread that scripture.
Instead of defending Himself from Judas’ betrayal, or wanting vengeance, Jesus had a higher perspective. He knew His Father had this covered. He didn’t have to defend Himself or His reputation. He didn't need to fear the future, yet looked to it with joy, understanding that there still would be purpose and even benefit from this horrible situation.
Could God make something good from my pain? Could there be a higher purpose for all the upheaval I was experiencing? Was there a way that seemed foolish to me, that God was going to use to accomplish a work in me and those I loved?
I sensed a readjustment, a renewed sense of understanding.
Hebrews 12
“…lay aside every encumbrance (to perplex, embarrass, burden) and the sin which so easily entangles (is difficult, embarrass) and let us run with endurance the race (continuing under the pain) that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, Who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
“For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin.”
Wow.
And in verse 6
“For those whom the Lord loved, He disciplines… It is for discipline that you endure.”
I believe God is calling us to a higher, more mature walk. Dealing with the sin that easily besets us, we are to run the race in a way that our Father wants us to. We must bow our knee to Him. Look to the Word to guide us through this storm.
Have you been weary and losing heart? Consider Him.
When was the last time that you spent time with your Heavenly Father and got to the place where you knew He had you covered? He cares about you.
My hope was for healing in my family. But now I see it is for healing for me. As I learn to trust Him, may it come to my family and eventually, in our land. May we learn to love one another as Jesus, releasing our self-protection and vengeance.
Even in the middle of the betrayal, may we go to our Father and ask Him for His perspective. It starts in us, and then goes to the family and finally out from there.
And if the marriage fails, may we find ourselves in His everlasting arms. Because He cares for us.
Today my Bible reading was in John 13.
I have participated in a 1 year through the Bible reading plan for many years. Yet even after all these years, I am amazed at how the Bible surprises me with new messages and thoughts.
Today’s reading, for example, shows an understanding in Jesus of depth of emotion and challenges in life that I had not previously understood. Look with me at the amazing response Jesus has to betrayal.
This chapter is arguably the most important time in Jesus’ earthly life. He is near the end, asking if this cup could be lifted… knowingly walking to His death.
And it is here at this vulnerable time, that He is also betrayed.
This struck me. Jesus Himself was facing betrayal from those closest to Him. How I related, as I too had experienced this vile occurrence in my own marriage. I was betrayed. He who was supposed to be my greatest safe person in this life had for a long time been my most difficult person.
My husband.
How to you respond to that?
Look at what Jesus says to Judas, aware of his plans.
“What you do, do quickly.” (V 27b)
Then He goes on to say “Now is the Son of Man glorified.”
As I walked through the realization of betrayal in my marriage, I certainly didn’t think this was the time of any glorification. For me, it was my darkest time.
How was Jesus able to say that?
He tells His friends He is with them just a bit longer. And then in verse 34, He says the impossible.
“A new Commandment I give to you. Love one another as I have loved you.”
What?
The actual moment that he is being betrayed, lied about and misrepresented by His most intimate friends… He tells us to “love one another.”
When the storm hit, destroying my marriage, I too was torn by those closest to me, who betrayed me. Devastated and confused, I tried to think about how to protect myself and my children. I wanted to lash out against the one that I saw as the destroyer of our family. And I wanted to defend myself knowing that slanderous words were being told about me.
Yet as I examined my own heart, I too had done things wrong. My heart was not exempt from having done things to hurt my spouse. I had let others down.
I had dishonored and yes even betrayed this man. A small level of comfort came from feeling less guilty… Yet I was guilty, nevertheless.
What love could Jesus be talking about? In my own limited understanding, I sat and reread that scripture.
Instead of defending Himself from Judas’ betrayal, or wanting vengeance, Jesus had a higher perspective. He knew His Father had this covered. He didn’t have to defend Himself or His reputation. He didn't need to fear the future, yet looked to it with joy, understanding that there still would be purpose and even benefit from this horrible situation.
Could God make something good from my pain? Could there be a higher purpose for all the upheaval I was experiencing? Was there a way that seemed foolish to me, that God was going to use to accomplish a work in me and those I loved?
I sensed a readjustment, a renewed sense of understanding.
Hebrews 12
“…lay aside every encumbrance (to perplex, embarrass, burden) and the sin which so easily entangles (is difficult, embarrass) and let us run with endurance the race (continuing under the pain) that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, Who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
“For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin.”
Wow.
And in verse 6
“For those whom the Lord loved, He disciplines… It is for discipline that you endure.”
I believe God is calling us to a higher, more mature walk. Dealing with the sin that easily besets us, we are to run the race in a way that our Father wants us to. We must bow our knee to Him. Look to the Word to guide us through this storm.
Have you been weary and losing heart? Consider Him.
When was the last time that you spent time with your Heavenly Father and got to the place where you knew He had you covered? He cares about you.
My hope was for healing in my family. But now I see it is for healing for me. As I learn to trust Him, may it come to my family and eventually, in our land. May we learn to love one another as Jesus, releasing our self-protection and vengeance.
Even in the middle of the betrayal, may we go to our Father and ask Him for His perspective. It starts in us, and then goes to the family and finally out from there.
And if the marriage fails, may we find ourselves in His everlasting arms. Because He cares for us.
Today my Bible reading was in John 13.
I have participated in a 1 year through the Bible reading plan for many years. Yet even after all these years, I am amazed at how the Bible surprises me with new messages and thoughts.
Today’s reading, for example, shows an understanding in Jesus of depth of emotion and challenges in life that I had not previously understood. Look with me at the amazing response Jesus has to betrayal.
This chapter is arguably the most important time in Jesus’ earthly life. He is near the end, asking if this cup could be lifted… knowingly walking to His death.
And it is here at this vulnerable time, that He is also betrayed.
This struck me. Jesus Himself was facing betrayal from those closest to Him. How I related, as I too had experienced this vile occurrence in my own marriage. I was betrayed. He who was supposed to be my greatest safe person in this life had for a long time been my most difficult person.
My husband.
How to you respond to that?
Look at what Jesus says to Judas, aware of his plans.
“What you do, do quickly.” (V 27b)
Then He goes on to say “Now is the Son of Man glorified.”
As I walked through the realization of betrayal in my marriage, I certainly didn’t think this was the time of any glorification. For me, it was my darkest time.
How was Jesus able to say that?
He tells His friends He is with them just a bit longer. And then in verse 34, He says the impossible.
“A new Commandment I give to you. Love one another as I have loved you.”
What?
The actual moment that he is being betrayed, lied about and misrepresented by His most intimate friends… He tells us to “love one another.”
When the storm hit, destroying my marriage, I too was torn by those closest to me, who betrayed me. Devastated and confused, I tried to think about how to protect myself and my children. I wanted to lash out against the one that I saw as the destroyer of our family. And I wanted to defend myself knowing that slanderous words were being told about me.
Yet as I examined my own heart, I too had done things wrong. My heart was not exempt from having done things to hurt my spouse. I had let others down.
I had dishonored and yes even betrayed this man. A small level of comfort came from feeling less guilty… Yet I was guilty, nevertheless.
What love could Jesus be talking about? In my own limited understanding, I sat and reread that scripture.
Instead of defending Himself from Judas’ betrayal, or wanting vengeance, Jesus had a higher perspective. He knew His Father had this covered. He didn’t have to defend Himself or His reputation. He didn't need to fear the future, yet looked to it with joy, understanding that there still would be purpose and even benefit from this horrible situation.
Could God make something good from my pain? Could there be a higher purpose for all the upheaval I was experiencing? Was there a way that seemed foolish to me, that God was going to use to accomplish a work in me and those I loved?
I sensed a readjustment, a renewed sense of understanding.
Hebrews 12
“…lay aside every encumbrance (to perplex, embarrass, burden) and the sin which so easily entangles (is difficult, embarrass) and let us run with endurance the race (continuing under the pain) that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, Who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
“For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin.”
Wow.
And in verse 6
“For those whom the Lord loved, He disciplines… It is for discipline that you endure.”
I believe God is calling us to a higher, more mature walk. Dealing with the sin that easily besets us, we are to run the race in a way that our Father wants us to. We must bow our knee to Him. Look to the Word to guide us through this storm.
Have you been weary and losing heart? Consider Him.
When was the last time that you spent time with your Heavenly Father and got to the place where you knew He had you covered? He cares about you.
My hope was for healing in my family. But now I see it is for healing for me. As I learn to trust Him, may it come to my family and eventually, in our land. May we learn to love one another as Jesus, releasing our self-protection and vengeance.
Even in the middle of the betrayal, may we go to our Father and ask Him for His perspective. It starts in us, and then goes to the family and finally out from there.
And if the marriage fails, may we find ourselves in His everlasting arms. Because He cares for us.
