The more I reflect on the life of Jesus, the more I notice His intentional relationships. He shared fellowship with twelve, stayed especially close to three, yet frequently withdrew to be alone.
Today, I was reminded of how Judas went from sitting at God's table to standing with His enemies—all within 24 hours.
"Then Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve [disciples]. And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him and hand Him over to them. They were delighted and agreed with him to give money. So he consented, and began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus to them [at a time when He was] separated from the crowd [because the people might riot or stop them from seizing Him....When the hour [for the meal] had come, Jesus reclines at the table, and all the apostles with Him." Luke 22:3-6, 14
This passage serves as a powerful reminder: if we fail to distinguish between genuine support and invasive surveillance, we may soon bear the heavy burden of betrayal ourselves. Those led by ill intent are not seeking closeness; they are seeking information. Judas needed to know Jesus’ plans, not out of loyalty or care, but so he could betray Him to the chief priests. Judas did not have Jesus’ best interests at heart. His loyalty was only to his personal agenda. If Judas could betray Jesus, the King of Kings, don’t deceive yourself into thinking your circle is immune to such betrayal.
It only took one demon to undo the goodness Jesus had shown Judas. Jesus led Judas to the truth, gave him a prominent place at the table, fed him, and loved him deeply. Jesus shared life with Judas. Yet, while Judas' seat next to Jesus was warm, his heart grew cold. This reminds us that even when you love someone as purely and selflessly as the Savior loved Judas, you may still find yourself left with an empty chair.
Too often, we focus on filling seats at our table without evaluating the character of those who sit with us. While Judas was always part of Jesus’ divine plan, let me reassure you: Jesus isn’t asking you to embrace betrayal to prove your faith. Instead, He’s asking you to be vigilant, to understand the reality that "Judas-types" exist, and to learn from the pain of pouring love into someone who ultimately walks away. Jesus is teaching us self-control when our instinct is to retaliate. He’s showing us how to confront sin with grace—addressing it privately without shaming the whole table. Ultimately, this story teaches one profound truth that a faithful table is far more valuable than a full one.
"The man of too many friends [chosen indiscriminately] will be broken into pieces and come to ruin, But there is a [true, loving] friends who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a bother." - Proverbs 18:24
The key takeaway is to thoughtfully categorize our friendships with greater clarity. Are they like the 12 disciples—those we choose to invest in while maintaining healthy and respectful boundaries? Are they part of the inner circle of 3—those rare friends to whom we give our time, energy, and care selflessly, without hesitation? Or perhaps they represent relationships we need to gracefully release, allowing ourselves to learn the importance of being at peace with an empty seat when necessary? Identifying this distinction early on can save us from unnecessary heartache, help us avoid undue complications, and provide deeper, more meaningful insight into the nature of our connections so that they can be both biblical and beneficial to our walk as a believer.
Sincerely Selena
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