"Something Beyond The Norm"

"For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: but it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance." (Psalms 55:12-13) I know, I am all over the place with this chapter; then again, this chapter is all over the place with 'betrayal', meaning all the different ways to be "Betrayed". Just a little side note on what Jesus was saying in Mark 13:34, in that the porter was commanded to watch, but it is really everyone that needs to be watching, because the porter may not be doing his job. Another little hint for those that might think we can somehow blame someone else for not telling us the truth, or for not preparing us for His return; because we are all responsible for our own salvation, and we will all have to answer for our work done while the Master was gone. Today, what we have before us, is nothing but pure betrayal of a friend; and not just any friend, but a friend that was close enough to have trusted in as a 'guide', and to have considered your 'equal'. This is not an easy thing to try and understand, because it is not something that we deal with on a regular basis, and some of us never have; because it deals with betrayal on a completely different level than most of us would ever have the misfortune to deal with. If I had to point to something that comes close, then I would give the example of divorce; and not just any divorce, but one that has one side totally bent on the destruction of the other; not just wanting to get even, or to cause some pain, but wanting to totally destroy the other, the one in whom they once had so much in common; and to make matters even worse, the one that is being destroyed still has feelings for the other. Imagine what that might feel like to the defending party, and you can get just a little taste of what David might have been feeling. Then again, imagine what Jesus must have been feeling with regards to Judas; not as though He did not know that it was going to happen, because He did; but that someone to whom He had shared His heart, and His passion for saving those that are lost, that he could not only betray Him, but betray Him with a kiss; that is "the power of darkness"... "And while He yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? When they which were about Him saw what would follow, they said unto Him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And He touched his ear, and healed him. Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to Him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against Me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness." (Luke 22:47-53)