What Jesus Didn’t Do

Have you found yourself on the lonely path of un-reciprocal relationships or felt the sting of an anguishing betrayal?

Jesus can relate.

Reflecting on the mystery of Judas’ betrayal and wrestling through some of my own un-reciprocal relationships, I’ve been perplexed by the invitation Jesus gave Judas to come into his inner circle and absorb every facet of His life, knowing from the beginning that Judas would betray him—unto death.

Despite Jesus and the other eleven disciples loving Judas well, his heart didn’t change. He continued stealing from the treasury proving he was untrustworthy (John 12:6). He neglected cleaning the inside of his cup (heart) because he was more concerned about outward appearances (Matthew 23:25-26). He liked being in proximity to the power of Jesus for his own gain, while missing the fact that His grace is only given to the humble (I Peter 5:5-6). He didn’t protect Jesus and put him in harm’s way (John 18:2). He exchanged the truth of God for an empty idol (money) in order to gain the world, but lost his soul (Matthew 16:26, Mark 8:36, Matthew 27:5, James 4:1-12). He despised Jesus, not because Jesus did something to him, but because Jesus was shining the light of truth into him (Galatians 4:17-32).

All Jesus longed for was Judas’ shattered soul to lament, with David’s, “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, God, you will not despise.” (II Peter 3:9, Psalm 51:17)

Because when we bring all of our broken pieces to Him—all our pain, insufficiencies and insecurities—it connects our deepest needs to His greatest provisions.

But it cannot happen without surrender. Nowhere in scripture do we find Judas doing this. Nor do we see him loving Jesus back (John 15:5-8), doing what he says (John 14:21), or loving others well (John 13:35, I John 4:20).

I often wonder if Paul was thinking of Judas when he penned II Corinthians 7:10, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” Judas cried tears and regretfully threw the money back. His tears weren’t from godly sorrow, but worldly actions that led to death (spiritually, relationally and ultimately physically).

And as perplexing as it is to wonder why Jesus gave this guy a seat at the table, it’s even more compelling to notice what Jesus didn’t do.

• He didn’t chase after Judas to try to convince him that what he was doing was wrong--He had already made that abundantly clear through his teachings.

• Jesus didn’t confront Judas’ wayward heart--He had already tested the soil and knew it was incapable of receiving the seed (Matthew 13:1-23).

• He didn’t try to reason with him that there was a better way--Judas already knew there was.

• Jesus didn't remind him how much he loved him--he already knew that by the way Jesus lived.

• Nor did he cry to Judas begging him to do the right thing--Judas saw what made him weep and knew what broke his heart.

Jesus was fully aware that if Judas didn’t receive Him (the seed) who is love (I John 4:8 & 16), it wouldn’t be possible for him to reciprocate. For what soil can produce the fruit of love when the seed is planted in sand that cannot retain water (Romans 1:28, Jeremiah 2:13)?

Therefore, Judas was the perfect character to play the most ignoble part in God's grandeur purposes. Because the soil of Judas’ heart wouldn’t receive the seed (God’s love poured out through His Son, Jesus), Jesus had to let the natural course of what was in Judas' heart grow into full fruition--death hanging on every limb.

Jesus’ love had to let him go his own way. Love let him choose to recklessly wound the innocent and destroy his own life. Not because love is incapable of changing lives, but because love can only change the lives of the ones willing to receive the seed. True love is never forceful, coercive, manipulative or controlling (Galatians 5:1). It always hopes for reciprocity, but is wise enough to let the natural course of what’s in the heart work itself out, even when it costs everything.

Therefore, Jesus waits in long-suffering for love to be aroused or awakened in the hearts of those He came to save (Song of Solomon 2:7).

And so do we.

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Do you have people in your life who don’t love you back?

How does Jesus’ example help you navigate those relationships?

Where do you see yourself needing to let go?