²¹ When Jesus had said this, he was troubled in his spirit and testified, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” (John 13:21 CSB)

Betrayal, especially by someone close to us, hurts more than just about anything else. This was as true for Christ as it is for us.

And how do we respond? Our broken human nature is to lash out. To find a way to counteract the betrayer. It would seem to run contrary to accept the betrayal and continue to love the betrayer.

This may be one of the hardest test of our maturity and faith. To not react and not put up a defense against an act like this. It can be a true “turn the other cheek” moment God is asking us to endure. It could be that anything we do would only make matters worse and we must stand an take the brunt of the attack.

So what are we to do? Lash out or stand and take it? Well, maturity in faith may require that we simply stand and take it. It may reason that this response is needed so to maintain the integrity of our testimony.

Not everyone will stand by us. Betrayal may come in many forms, but we can rest assured for every one where we have stood by Christ we will be rewarded in heaven.