Intimate Hangout.

God's Word is amazing. It is a love story like no other. God has been wooing me in the bible book of John, chapter 18, verses 1-11. We continue to journey towards the cross. Jesus has identified that Judas will betray Him. He has gone to pray with a few garden friends where He cried out to His Abba in the garden. His Abba gave Him what He needed to intentionally head towards the cross.

It tells us that Jesus and His disciples, minus His betrayer, went to an olive grove. And we get this really intimate, quiet detail. Judas knew the place because Jesus had often met there with His disciples. It was a hangout. A place that they could be together intimately and share deep, dark beautiful life together. And this is where the intimate richness keeps getting harder and harder.

The intimate hangout is becoming a battle ground for betrayal.

My heart just aches for me and you and Judas. So, so , so many times for us to repent and turn away from our betraying heart towards our Savior lover. As Jesus offers Judas the piece of bread, face to face, breath to breath...."turn Judas, don't do it, don't betray Him." As Judas leads the detachment into the olive grove hangout with torches, lanterns and weapons...."Another chance Judas. Turn now. This is your intimate hangout with Jesus.You don't have to betray your Savior Friend." And you and me.....so many chances to repent, turn and not betray. Our hangout with Jesus, our heart, becoming a battle ground for betrayal. "Repent Damon, turn. You don't want to betray your Savior Lover".

Sometimes we follow through with Jesus.

Sometimes we follow through with sin.

Among many, there is a piercing moment that seems to hide here in this passion story that blows me away. Judas has led his new crew to the hangout where Jesus is with His friends. This is so rich. Jesus meets them in the betrayal ground. "Who is it you want"? Wow. Listen up men....listen to what Jesus is asking you in the midst of your sin. Sin beats you, blinds you and binds you up so that you are a beat, blind, bound fool needing a sin slayer to ravage your heart. "Who is it you want"? I long for me and them to cry out with crazy passion and abandon, "It's You Jesus that I want. Please forgive me. I love you. I long for You." But that doesn't always happen. And yet they are still speaking His name....."Jesus of Nazareth."

"I AM HE."

As He speaks these words with haunting, beautiful history dripping off of them (I AM..........HE), something simply astounding happens. The men, at the hearing of the name of Jesus coming off of their own lips and His, "drew back and fell to the ground."

"That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow...and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord."

What is happening to them? They are on a mission with Judas as accomplices to betray Lord Christ into the hands of unjust rulers for the purpose of murdering Him. Murdering Him. And while doing their evil job, they hear the name of Jesus and they fall to the ground. The word here is "pipto." Like a seed dying so that there can be life. Like Jesus.

This is heavy with glory. They don't even know what is happening to them, but at the name of Jesus, they are pipto-ing. They were dying to themselves in the presence of the Savior King even though they were on a mission to help kill Him. They couldn't help themselves, His presence is so powerful.

Sin is not more powerful than the presence of Jesus and His name!

Stay in this! While betraying Savior Jesus, they encountered His majesty in the process and were experiencing outward signs of inward spiritual healing without even knowing it! He's that powerful. He's that worthy of our attention. RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BETRAYING!

RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF MY BETRAYING. While I'm betraying Him in my intimate hangout, He is powerful to save right in the middle of it.

Right in the middle of the betraying they're saying His name. Right in the middle of my betraying, I can say His name. Oh, how I want to say His name right in the middle of it.

Salvation is found in NO ONE ELSE, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved! Jesus of Nazareth, SAVE ME! SAVE ME! SAVE ME FROM MYSELF!

Every knee. Every tongue. At some point. Why not now?

There's more.