It is so difficult to imagine that while His betrayal was happening, Jesus instituted what is now called the Eucharist.
But that is what obedience to the Father will do. It will discount what is going on around us, and its stigma, to embrace the inner peace of pleasing God.
And it will bring joy, “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy (emphasis mine) that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2 ESV).
Barnes writes,
“It is difficult for us now to realize the force of the expression, ‘enduring the shame of the cross,’ as it was understood in the time of the Saviour and the apostles. The views of the world have changed, and it is now difficult to divest the ‘cross’ of the associations of honor and glory which the word suggests, so as to appreciate the ideas which encompassed it then. There is a degree of dishonor which we attach to the guillotine, but the ignominy of a death on the cross was greater than that; there is disgrace attached to the block, but the ignominy of the cross was greater than that; there is a much deeper infamy attached to the gallows, but the ignominy of the cross was greater than that. And that word – the cross – which when now proclaimed in the ears of the refined, the intelligent, and even the frivolous, excites an idea of honor, in the ears of the people of Athens, of Corinth, and of Rome, excited deeper disgust than the word ‘gallows’ does with us – for it was regarded as the appropriate punishment of the most infamous of mankind.”
Yet our Lord found joy in “staying under” the cross. He despised the immediate shame of such a death for what was to come—being seated at the right hand of the throne.
Paul would say it this way:
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18).
In our struggle of obedience none of us may have resisted to the point of shedding our blood (cf. Hebrews 12:4). But we certainly may have dealt with the shame of the cross.
As you go about today carrying the Good News, give thanks during the midst of your “betrayal” (acts of injustice or disloyalty). Be thankful to be under your cross and embrace the joy in obedience!
