The Touch of God, part 99

Warriors Arise: October 21, 2021

Luke 22:47-53 (NKJV) And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

This being the 99th Touch of God is pretty impactful. I never thought this series would go this long but God has outdone Himself. He has shared so many things about how powerful, compassionate, life altering His touch can be in our lives. Jesus is betrayed by one of His twelve. His twelve were hand selected. He had prayed about each one. Most of us can say one of the hardest conflicts in life to "get over" is betrayal. As Jesus said, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me..." This totally could have happened a different way. Did it really have to happen with one of His own betraying Him?

The closer the person is, the deeper the betrayal. ...Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” Jesus knew hours before that Judas would be the one to deliver Him into the hands of the Pharisees.

Matthew 26:14-25 (NKJV) Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. 16 So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him...20 When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve. 21 Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” 22 And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?” 23 He answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me. 24 The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?”

He said to him, “You have said it.”

It doesn't matter that Jesus knew He would be betrayed, even that He knew who would betray Him. The pain still is deep. When He reaches the garden after Passover, He goes off by Himself and prays, He knows what is going to happen, what must happen. He tried to tell the disciples. He turned to His Father to gain strength to carry on. This was not the place He would pay for mankind's sin. He had to make it to the cross. He had to fulfill prophecy. People had to know He is the one and only Messiah; therefore, Scripture had to be fulfilled, every jot and every tittle. He would be betrayed by one of His own.

Later in the garden, Jesus knows there will be people who will reject Him and all He came to do for their redemption and restoration to the Father. John 17 reveals His heart to pray for those who will receive Him. In His prayer, it is easy to see that Jesus knows there will be those, just like Judas, who will not receive the gift the Father is giving them. When Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss and He asks, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” There is a breaking of bonds. Judas has chosen his path and he did not choose to believe. When He kissed Jesus he came under condemnation because he knew, maybe for the first time, who this really was. His eyes were opened as the touch of God brought condemnation rather than love, compassion, and forgiveness. He tried to give the money back and confess his sin to the priests but they were not the ones to forgive him for his sin. Jesus is the One from whom he needed to seek forgiveness. The touch of God was not the same because Judas had chosen to violate covenant, betray the Son of Man.

This being the 99th Touch of God, gives the sense that it is missing something. Jesus lost one of His twelve that night and the pain that He would not be able turn Judas back had to be excruciating. Try as we might to witness, testify, demonstrate the Father's love, and offer compassion, people still have a choice. Genuine love is a choice. Jesus did not force Judas to stay at the Passover celebration. He let Judas choose just like He lets each one of us choose. Love is a choice. God loves us immeasurably and we get a choice as to whether we will embrace the fullness of His love and be grafted into His family or get what we can out of God and then betray Him with a kiss.

Father, this is heavy. It searches my heart to see if I have been a taker in our relationship or if I receive, grow in, and give You love, adoration, and authority in my life. Thank You for all the times You pour Your love upon me. Thank You for Your wisdom You have shared in my time of need. Thank You for the favor You give me. Thank You for teaching me of Your ways. Thank You for healing me and making a way when there seemed like there was no way. Thank You for Your abundance in my life. Thank You for calling me to Yourself. Thank You for releasing me to do Your will. Thank You for all that You are to me and all that You are doing through me. I bless Your Holy Name in Jesus' name amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy Hand

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