The Kisses You Do Not Want Series

They were people he should have been able to trust, and they betrayed him.

He didn’t deserve his slavery.

And he didn’t deserve the time in prison that followed.

But God lifted him up out from behind his bars and lifted him up to become the 2nd most important man of the world of that day.

Eventually, his brothers were reunited with him and they “made up.” But when their daddy died, the brothers got together and decided that their own days were numbered. Now that their father was out of the picture, Joseph had nothing to stop him from destroying them for the evil they had done to him.

Knowing this, Joseph called his brothers together and told them they had nothing to fear. "… You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” Genesis 50:20 (NKJV)

In other words: all things worked together for good for Joseph, because he loved God and was called according to His purpose… even the actions of those who were his enemies.

Then there’s another story of betrayal.

The story of a kiss that brought death.

The story of Judas. A man you would have thought Jesus could have trusted. A man who instead took money to sell Jesus to be captured, tried, beaten. A man who’s kiss condemned Christ to be nailed to a cross… to be lifted up and hang between heaven and hell.

It was the kiss of an “enemy” that led Jesus to Calvary.

It was the act of a betrayer that led to our salvation.

All things worked together for good…

Now, one last thing. Do you think – if Judas had repented – Jesus would have forgiven him???? (Yes). How do we know?

Because Jesus forgave 11 others who turned their backs on Him at the cross. And the worst offender was Peter… who betrayed Jesus by denying Him not once, not twice, but three times.

And Jesus forgave him.

If Jesus could forgive those who betrayed Him, don’t you think we could forgive those who’ve hurt us?

CLOSE: Do you remember my telling you about the church where all those folks walked out?

They dealt with it Biblically. Pretty much from the time they left the church, the Elders prayed for that group of people. And they even went over to these rebellious people… and wished them good will … and even offered to pray with them.

WHY?

Because they realized that while these people treated them badly they served a Jesus who would have them reach out even to these who had betrayed their trust.

Footnote: Regarding the story of James and John’s desire to bring fire down on the Samaritan city – it’s worth noting that I only found this complete story in the KJV and NKJV. Apparently, most of the earliest manuscripts did not have most of this exchange between Jesus and the two brothers.

I however, have no compunction against using this passage because I’m inclined to believe that the Textus Receptus (on which the KJV was built) is a valuable resource, and the story may indeed be true.