Do you know what it is like to be betrayed by someone you thought you could trust? No more than Jesus. Jesus knew from the beginning who would betray him. He knew that one of his most loyal followers, Peter, would deny that he even knew him. He knew that Judas would betray him to the Pharisees. Jesus is someone who can empathize with our feelings because he has been there.
Not only has he been there, but he did not give up on Peter even though he knew better than Peter did that he would deny him. He gave Peter a definite sign, the cock crowing, as a sign that this was the betrayal that he mentioned. But, Jesus also told Peter that he had prayed for him, that when he repented he would strengthen those around him. He didn't give up on Peter and he doesn't give up on us.
In fact, there seems to be something else going on behind the scenes that Jesus alludes to in Luke 22:31-32, that Satan has demanded to sift Peter like wheat. Jesus said, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you; that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you hae turned again, strengthen your brothers." You notice the idea of sifting here. That Satan had been given an opportunity to sift Peter, to get rid of things in Peters life that were hindering him and to help him to be more fruitful. To be sure, Satan means it for harm, but God uses it for his own purposes.
Sometimes we can exalt people to a place they should not be in our lives. Then, God allows Satan to sift us as well, he allows Satan a season of purifying us and our faith, not because he is trying to destroy us, but to purfiy what remains, so that we can be more fruitful. I think God wants us to beware of exalting other people than Himself. When we do we set ourselves up for disappointment. For most people will disappoint us at one time or another. We sometimes even will disappoint ourselves. But, God is not shocked by our lack of strength. He knew that it was there all along. He allows us to see it to keep us humble and to help us realize we have less to be proud about than we thought.
To be betrayed by a trusted friend hurts alot. It violates a trust that we had in the person. Whether it is a lie that was said or some gossip or something far worse. But, part of what makes the christian faith so amazing is that God became flesh and dwelt among us and experienced the same kinds of pains that we have. He experienced physical weakness and thirst, but also the deeper things, the friendship of others and also the pain of rejection. Ultimately, he faced it far more than we, for he was forsaken for our sakes on the cross.
