The Full Atonement: Judas' Betrayal

Christ betrayal began with just a simple action, Judas "went unto the chief priests" (Matt. 26:14) It was there that the betrayal started and Judas turned against Christ. What was it that he betrayed Christ for? The sum of thirty pieces of silver. (Matt. 26:15) In those day that was enough money to buy a small farm or a field. (Matt 27:6-7) Judas betrayed Christ, the man who is our Savior and Redeemer and our

advocate with the Father, for a sum of money that would only buy him a field.

But that is not the only betrayal committed by Judas. There was betrayal in the sign he gave as to who was Christ.

"Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him."

(Matthew 26:48-49)

It is not just the fact that Judas betrayed Christ for money, but it is that He betrayed Christ with a kiss. A kiss is normally a sign of closeness between people, but at that moment it was the sign of Christ betrayal. One who was close to Christ and chosen by Him to be one of His apostles turned against Him and betrayed him to the scribes and elders. Judas Betrayed Christ to His murderers.

To those of us who may feel as though we have been betrayed by someone we love, our Savior, Jesus Christ, knows our pains. He too was betrayed by one who He loved and trusted. He can help us in our trials as we seek for his help.

Even being betrayed, Jesus Christ set the perfect example of forgiveness. Some of His last words on the Cross were "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)

That is what we have been told to do as well. To forgive and love one another. We need to follow the example of Jesus Christ and love all those around us. Will you do that with me? Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and love one another?

The Full Atonement: The Suffering in the Garden.

It all seems to start at the garden. After the Passover meal with His disciples, Christ traveled out of the city of Jerusalem to the garden of Gethsemane. To add more significance to the garden think about what the word Gethsemane means.

The word Gethsemane means an olive press. Now how does an olive press add more significance to Christ going to a garden? For that answer we must compare the similarities of an olive press and Christ's Suffering in the garden.

The way an olive press works is first crushing the olives into a fine paste. After that the paste is put under immense pressure to get every drop of oil out of the olives. How does that compare to Christ Suffering?  It is because of the immense pressure of our sins that caused Him to bleed from every pore. (Luke 22:44)  It was in the garden that He pleaded to have the bitter cup of our transgressions taken from Him, but submitted to the will of the Father. (Mark 14:36) It was during the suffering in the garden that an angel came to strengthen and encourage Him. (Luke 22:43)

In the garden of Gethsemane Christ " borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows..."(Isaiah 53:4, Mosiah 14:4) The suffering did not end after the garden, but was truly just the beginning. Shortly after His suffering in the garden, Christ was betrayed by Judas, one of his own disciples. That night in the garden, Christ suffering had only begun.