“And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.”

-Luke 22:4

IN 1985, BRITISH MOUNTAINEER Simon Yates made a notorious decision that would forever mar his reputation in the climbing community.

He and his climbing partner, Joe Simpson, set out to climb the west face of Siula Grande, an extremely remote and difficult 20,540-foot peak in the Peruvian Andes. 

In mountaineering, each climber must literally entrust his life to his partner, as they prove an essential asset in the backcountry. An experienced climber, Yates knew this. 

After an arduous three-day ascent, the pair summited. The descent began smoothly until Simpson fell and broke his leg on one of the rappels. In such a remote setting, Yates thought Simpson might die on the mountain. 

The pair kept descending, though now slowed by Simpson’s injury. At one point, Simpson rappelled over an edge and became stuck, free hanging in space—no longer able to descend, nor climb back up. The two men couldn’t hear each other and after an agonizing nine hours, Yates decided that both men shouldn’t die. He took out his knife and made a fateful decision: he cut the rope.

It was the ultimate betrayal—as a friend and as a climbing partner. 

And yet a man named Judas Iscariot committed a far worse act of betrayal. One of the 12 disciples and the only non-Galilean in the bunch, Judas joined Jesus’ ministry in the early days. Yet he decided to sell Jesus out to his enemies for a mere “30 pieces of silver.”

As we study Judas, we may grow incensed by him. But we have more in common with this traitor than we would like to admit. 

Judas frequently accompanied Jesus and was familiar with his teachings and deeds. He looked like a true disciple, and even acted like one, though Scripture records that Judas never called Jesus Lord, only Rabbi, meaning teacher. 

Judas was interested in Jesus, but his love of self eclipsed his love for Jesus—if he loved him at all. And this proved the crux: Love evidences discipleship. As Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15).

As we assess our hearts, we, too, should fear the traitor within. Betrayal may seem like a strong word, but we often put our desires ahead of the Lord’s. Great or small, these treacheries stem from the same root: a deep love of self. 

Seeing a glimpse of our heart’s darkness should unsettle us. Who wants to betray a good friend, let alone the Savior?

Sure, betrayers gain from disloyalty, but like Judas’s story, it’s never worth it. 

Yet betrayal doesn’t have to end in tragedy. Consider Peter: he disowned Jesus three times to save his own skin. But he later repented, and Jesus restored him. 

The climber Yates also found redemption. Simpson somehow survived the fall, and three days later, he crawled into base camp—weak and exhausted but somehow alive. 

He later forgave Yates. The way Simpson sees it, Yates cutting the rope saved both of their lives. He even dedicated his book, Touching the Void, to Yates, “for a debt I can never repay.”

Likewise, we don’t get what we deserve. Jesus, the only person in history who lived a sinless life, died for our sins. Because the betrayed bore the penalty for the betrayers, we can live reconciled to God.

And even while we still commit acts of betrayal—great and small—every day, we can ask God to forgive the disloyalty in our hearts and turn from our treachery. 

As unthinkable as it may seem, God will forgive us and restore us—again and again—because of Jesus. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

There is hope for betrayers. We can rise again to be his loyal followers. 

Question: 

What are some areas of your life where you struggle to love God above yourself?

Prayer: 

Lord, as painful as it is to ask, please reveal to me the traitor within. Show me areas in my life where I lack loyalty to you. Please forgive me, restore me and help me to love you as you love me. Amen.