I can’t begin to imagine what Judas was thinking just before he entered the Garden of Gethsemane on that night.  How could anyone possibly explain what he was about to do?  In that moment he would walk up to his friend and betray him with a brotherly show of affection.  It was as if the devil crept into his soul and took up residence, but it was still part of the overall plan woven together by the King of Creation.  It had to be this way.

Jesus again prayed zealously that he would be spared his fate, but he knew deeply inside that it was the only way to achieve the price necessary for the redemption of the world.  The passion with which he prayed was evidence of his great love for all of us.  He knew the time was drawing near.

No human being ever willingly goes uncomplaining to his death, but Jesus wasn’t just an ordinary man.  He was the Son of the Most High God, yet he carried human blood in his veins and felt the pain, suffering and abuse that we can’t begin to comprehend.  He knew what was about to happen, but he went ahead with his impending torture and death, because he knew it was the only way.  He would suffer the humiliation, brutality, betrayal and unbelief at the hands of every one of us.

Betrayed by a kiss – denied by his most zealous disciple – scorned by a crowd that a few days before praised him as their king – delivered into the hands of his enemies and placed before a corrupt court – this was no longer the little boy I carried.  He was God’s  Son alone and was about to prove it to the world.

As Judas approached him, the stage was being set for the end of the story.  Or was it?