His Cross Our HopeSampel

When we think of Easter, our first thought is often of the Resurrection. A Sunday morning that changed history. Sin conquered. Death conquered. The devil conquered. We have an empty tomb as proof of the once-for-all victory. Or maybe we think of Good Friday. The day of the Crucifixion. The day Jesus Christ was crucified to receive the full brunt of God’s wrath for sin—yours and mine. The afternoon the sky became dark and the Savior said the words that still ring with victory 2,000 years later: “It is finished!” But our thoughts don’t usually move to the Thursday that started the chain of events leading to Sunday. The day betrayal unleashed evil, although evil did not know this would be its undoing. Betrayal. Its sting leaves us feeling raw. Sucker-punched. Blindsided. For most of us, betrayal comes as a shock. How could I have missed the signs? If I had only known, I would have…. But we did not know. We did miss the signs. And we were left struggling to put our life back together. No one who saw the signs of betrayal coming would do nothing, would they? No one who knew betrayal lay just around the corner would proceed without trying to stop it, would they? No one! Yes, One. One Person did just that. One Person shared life with His betrayer for three years. He lived with him and conducted ministry with him. All the while knowing how it would end. Jesus allowed His betrayer to act because He looked beyond the betrayal. He looked to Sunday, His day of ultimate and permanent victory. And His victory meant our victory. He knew betrayal was coming and didn’t stop it…and He did it for you and me. Have you ever been betrayed? You’re not alone. Tell Jesus about it. He understands. ~Ava Pennington Writer, speaker, and co-host of the Faith Over Fear podcast