“When Judas had left them, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.”

John 13:31

When I read this, I had to pause. Jesus just said that betrayal had led to glorifying him, that God was now glorified in him. As Judas was on his way to start the wheels in motion of the crucifixion, Jesus was beginning His torturous walk to the resurrection.

What struck me about the passage was Jesus’ lack of hesitation. He did not stop to grieve the betrayal or his ultimate death. Instead, he saw it as the entryway to something new, something greater. This event had to happen in order for Jesus to enter into his glory. It was part of God’s story.

Have you ever been betrayed? Sat and wrestled with how someone you trusted, someone you cared for could turn on you? This past year has tested that for me, going through some of the greatest betrayals of my life. But instead of seeing it as God’s greater story, I wrestled with it. The whys and hows, and the pain that comes from the proverbial knife that is left in your back. During this year I have often commented to my closest friends that betrayal is the wound that nobody sees, but it is most certainly the deepest.

I don’t think that Jesus wasn’t hurt, I just think that in his perfect wisdom, he knew that this was necessary to effectuate what the Father had sent him to do.

Judas’ betrayal was in fact the event that triggered Jesus’ rise to glory.

And maybe this is the way we have to see betrayal in our lives. That some events are part of our greater story. That the betrayal we experience will be used by God to show His greater glory. He did it for Jesus and I firmly believe He can do it for us.

God uses everything- our hurt, pain, loss and grief to write a story that is bigger than ourselves. Today, if you are suffering from the pain of betrayal, put down the pen and allow God to finish writing your story.