"Every sin is a betrayal"

The name of Judas is forever associated with betrayal. Flattered by 30 pieces of silver, the apostle betrayed the Teacher, handed Him over to suffering on the cross and death. How is betrayal understood in the Gospel? A teacher at the Sretensky Theological Academy, cleric of the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist in Sokolniki, Archpriest Oleg Stenyaev explains why the betrayal of the Apostle Peter was worse than the kiss of Judas. And how to begin the path to God if betrayal has been committed more than once.

– Father Oleg, today, on Good Friday, there is a lot of talk about betrayal. What is betrayal from the point of view of the Gospel?

– Betrayal is the inability to realize with repentance and accept (as a real threat) one’s own depravity, brought from outside by the devil into the lives of each of us. And the inability to rebel against it! This is a state when a person follows the lead of his base instincts and false fear brought by the devil. But betrayal in the general understanding also means deceiving someone’s hopes. When you were given trust, but you not only did not justify this trust, but acted completely opposite to what was expected of you. Thus, betrayal is a rejection of divine destiny (God's plan for each of us) and a decisive rebellion against it. An act of moral and spiritual suicide! Similar to what we see in the world of the modern West! Suicidal self-destruction through the removal of any moral restrictions and prohibitions, an attempt to legalize and justify any forms of sin and lawlessness.

– Could Christ have forgiven Judas if the latter had come to Him?

– Firstly, we see that Christ fought for Judas! Judas was a thief... had a cash box and carried what was put in there (John 12:6).

But Christ entrusted him with this alms box! Christ, Who saw the heart of this man, did not offend him with any distrust. On the contrary, he trusted him. There is an ancient legend: when Judas wanted to hang himself, he could not hang, because miraculously the tree bent. And then he bent his knees and that was the only way he could hang himself. That is, the fight for him continued until the very end! And this is not only in relation to him... As I live, says the Lord God, I do not want the sinner to die, but for the sinner to turn from his way and live. Turn yourselves, turn from your evil ways (Ezek. 33:11). Although in Matthew we find about Judas: it would have been better for that man not to have been born (Matthew 26:24).

But the real point of no return is physical death, because at this moment the instrument for correcting the soul, the mechanism for restraining it, is lost. And the instrument for correcting the soul and restraining it in the paths of evil is our body, as Justin (Popovich) taught. Man is spirit, soul and body as a whole. And it is the will of God that our spirit, soul, and body be preserved in their entirety without blemish at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. 1 Thess. 5:23).

If any sinner is alive, this means that there is some intention of God regarding this person. But the problem is that there is no one righteous; there is no one who understands; no one seeks God; they have all turned aside from the path, they are worthless to one; There is none who does good, no, not one (Rom. 3:10-12).

It is an illusion that there are some people who lead an absolutely righteous life. No, that's not true! Behold, He does not trust His servants and sees shortcomings in His Angels: much less in those who dwell in temples of clay, whose foundation is dust, who are destroyed as quickly as moths (Job 4: 18-19).

If we analyze our good deeds, we will find that here too there is something to confess

And Alexey Ilyich Osipov very correctly notes that great ascetics and ascetics even repented of their virtues, because they saw depravity in them. The motivation for doing good is sometimes sinful, for example, to be praised and exalted. People do charity work on the eve of parliamentary elections. And it's all insincere, you know? If we analyze our good deeds, we will find that here too there is something to confess. Unfortunately, when people prepare for confession, they pay attention only to that part of life that, in our understanding, is sinful (meaning only carnal life). And an audit must also be carried out in that part of our life that we consider obviously righteous (the “spiritual” life).

But! If we were to lament like the prudent thief (see: Luke 23:42), this one appeal would be enough. If we repented like Mary of Egypt, repentance alone would be enough. If we read the Holy Scripture (Romans) like St. Augustine, our whole life would change. One reading of this message was enough for him.

The audit should not be done of evil deeds, but to correct what a person considers good in his own life. Notice that Christ never condemned the fornicator, thief, adulterer or robber! He didn’t teach or talk about it at all. He denounces religious hypocrisy, the spirit of hypocrisy. That which is associated with virtues on display (“piety on display”). Do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do... when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing... when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stop and pray in the synagogues and on street corners in order to appear before people (Matt. 6:2–5).

And what compassion did Christ have towards the so-called. "real sinners"! From our point of view, “real”. But what does Christ say Himself? Truly I tell you that publicans and harlots are going ahead of you into the Kingdom of God (Matthew 21:31)! Why does He say this? Because, unlike the truly spiritually fallen Pharisees and scribes, these people had no illusions about themselves. They knew who they were and what they were! One must begin the path to salvation precisely with the awareness of one’s own sinfulness. Otherwise, we are not talking about Christianity, but about something else. For you say: “I am rich, I have become rich, and I have need of nothing”; but you do not know that you are unhappy, and pitiful, and poor, and blind, and naked (Rev. 3:17)!

– Does a person who goes to confession, but knows that the sin tormenting him will most likely repeat himself, betray Christ?

– According to the Gospel, in this earthly life we will not be able to get rid of everything sinful to the end. And we will always have problems that began long before we were even born. They are connected with the fall of our first parents Adam and Eve. Behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and my mother gave birth to me in sin (Ps. 50:7).

And at the same time it is said about the creation of man: And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; He created them male and female (Gen. 1:27). This is a great trust that was shown to the person! But the man did not justify this trust. Therefore, in a sense, a Christian believer who commits a sin again commits some kind of betrayal. As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness (Proverbs 26:11). But not in the sense that God thought one thing about us, but it turned out something else. In the eyes of God, we are absolutely transparent. He knows everything that will happen to us in the future, what is happening in the present, what happened in the past (see: Ps. 37:10).

– That is, a person who commits the same sins betrays himself, and not just God, right?

– I would go a little different way. Two betrayals occurred these days. This is the betrayal of Judas and the betrayal of the Apostle Peter. And his (Peter's) betrayal is more significant than Judas' betrayal, because we do not fully see Judas' motivation. There was also a point of view that Judas did this in order to speed up the earthly reign of Christ, as if to provoke and speed it up. But this hypothesis is not very supported by the texts themselves.

But the case with Peter is more difficult. He denied the Divine Teacher three times, and not just once, like Judas. He swore that he did not know “this Man.” He began to swear and swear: I do not know this Man of whom you speak (Mark 14:71). Can you imagine what it is like for a believer to say about the Lord: “I do not know this man of whom you speak”? This is a fact of renunciation (!), this is spiritual betrayal! But the case of Judas is different. He even showed active repentance, saying: I have sinned by betraying innocent blood... And, throwing away the pieces of silver in the temple, he went out... (Matthew 27: 4-5).

But there is one difference between the repentance of Judas and the repentance that Peter experiences. It is said about Judas that he came out, walked and hanged himself (Matthew 27:5). What kind of repentance is this?

Judas passed judgment on himself and put an end to Divine Mercy and Divine Love

This is self-repentance. It was as if he had sentenced himself and put an end to Divine mercy and Divine Love. He decided that this sin was unforgivable, so he went and killed himself. And this is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, that is, disbelief in Divine love and Divine mercy. It is in the Holy Spirit that Divine Love manifests itself most fully. As the Apostle Paul writes: The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5). This false repentance of Judas was a real self-criticism that tore this man from the inside.

And another thing is the repentance of the Apostle Peter. Peter's sin is worse than Judas' sin, but repentance is completely different. This is repentance before God. True, the holy fathers say that this fall - a threefold betrayal - was allowed to him.

Peter was allowed to sin, so that this allowance would become a reason for philanthropy towards others

St. John Chrysostom says in the “Sermon on the Apostle Peter”: “Peter was allowed to sin, since subsequently a large people was entrusted to him, so that he, being not without sin, would not be harsh and unmerciful towards his own brothers... Peter, the Teacher of the Universe, was allowed to sin, so that this permission would become a reason for philanthropy towards others... Therefore, neither the Angel nor the Archangel was entrusted with performing sacred services (for they are sinless), so that they (the Angels) would not immediately strike sinning people with lightning, but this throne was entrusted to man among men.” (PG. 50.728).

Otherwise, the Apostle Peter would not have been able to become the head of the Apostolic Church. If he had not had this fall, he would have been like an Angel, that is, cruel in his straightforwardness. The angel acts in accordance with the instructions given by God. And Peter, having experienced his own threefold fall and restoration in Christ, became a man who understands the tragedy of the fall of another person through his own fall and rebellion.

Peter could really be a Christian shepherd who was filled with compassion, since he himself experienced divine forgiveness. The fall of Peter was and turned out to be this “necessary” brick in the economy of our salvation, in the economy of salvation of the entire Church of God!

The Apostle Paul in the Epistle to the Hebrews writes: For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin (Heb. 4:15). This means that no man was skilled in all things. Only Christ alone, who took upon Himself the sins of the world, He was truly “tempted in all things, yet without sin.” And in this Paul sees the advantage of Christ. He says: For just as He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are tempted (Heb. 2:18). Christ understands us, He sees us, He sees our condition.

– How to forgive a person when you have been betrayed?

– Every sin is a betrayal to one degree or another: either of God or of man. Betrayal towards God, because it is said: Whoever keeps the whole law and sins in one thing becomes guilty of all. For the same One who said: Thou shalt not commit adultery, also said: Thou shalt not kill; therefore, if you do not commit adultery, but kill, then you are also a transgressor of the law (James 2: 10-11); sin towards one's neighbor, because any sin is suicidal.

We are called Christians, we bear the name of Christ, but we very often do not live up to this name. And the Apostle Paul wrote in his Epistle to the Romans: For for your sake, as it is written, the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles (Rom. 2:24). Therefore, betrayal in such the grossest form is precisely when a person acts contrary to the trust that was placed in him, first of all, by God. And when a person receives Holy Baptism and is then anointed with holy chrism, he becomes a member of the royal priesthood. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Pet. 2:9).

How can we correspond to this level that is offered to us by grace? Since we immediately deceive and betray the trust that was placed in us by those people (godparents) who made a promise to God of a good conscience for us (1 Pet. 3:21). Or the person himself, who was baptized as an adult, also made a “promise to God of a good conscience”

– Father Oleg, continuing your thought, can a person who has fallen become a shepherd, a priest? As you know, high demands are placed on these people.

– Of course, there are justified reasons to refuse ordination. And based on the principle of oikonomia or akrivia, the Church makes an appropriate decision.

But! The Scripture says: a righteous man will fall seven times and rise again” (Proverbs 24:16). Why is it said this way? After all, it is very unclear how a person can be righteous if he falls seven times. Because it's rising? And the number seven is an indefinite number in the direction of increase (see: Matt. 18: 22). What's the point of getting up if he's going to fall again anyway? And the point is that every time he falls, he feels the desire to get up! And this righteousness is from faith, not from works, so that no one can boast (Eph. 2:9).

And when a person who has fallen into “all sin” (see: Matt. 21:31), like King David, exclaims: “Out of the depths I have cried to you, O Lord” (Ps. 129:1), then this is righteousness from faith . It is the guarantee that if a person is alive for repentance, he is also alive for God’s forgiveness! For example, the prophet Isaiah has a very interesting text in the first chapter. It says that although your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow (Isa. 1:18). But agree that the opposite color to white is black. And it would seem more logical to say that if your sins are like black darkness, they will be white as snow. Why is it said specifically about the crimson one? Ancient exegetes say that the point is that if a person still blushes, falling into some sinful crime, moral or moral, and feels a sense of shame, he is close to correction. Because it is said about hardened sinners: Are they ashamed when they do abominations? no, they are not at all ashamed and do not blush. Therefore they will fall among the fallen; during the visit they will be defeated, says the Lord (Jer. 8:12). The expression on their faces testifies against them, and they openly talk about their sin, like the Sodomites, they do not hide it: woe to their soul! for they bring evil upon themselves (Isa. 3:9).

– Father Oleg, Lent is coming to an end. How not to lose the little that you managed to acquire?

– Beware of holidays! Many people fasted well and went to temple regularly. But they may break their fast on Easter so much that they will lose everything... And they will be thrown back significantly! Let us remember how we smoothly enter into Lent: first, a continuous week, an ordinary week, a Meat-eating week, then fasting... Otherwise, the words of the prophet Isaiah will apply to us:

“When you come to appear before Me, who demands of you that you trample My courts? Bear no more vain gifts: smoking is disgusting to Me; New moon and Saturdays, holiday gatherings I can’t stand: lawlessness - and celebration! My soul hates your new moons and your holidays: they are a burden to Me; It's hard for me to carry them. And when you stretch out your hands, I close My eyes from you; and when you multiply your prayers, I do not hear: your hands are full of blood. Wash yourself, make yourself clean; remove your evil deeds from before my eyes; stop doing evil; learn to do good, seek truth, save the oppressed, defend the orphan, stand up for the widow. Then come and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins be as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they be red as crimson, they will be as white as wool” (Isa. 1:12-18).

A holiday in a religious sense is a spiritual triumph, and not a carnal fall. He who sows to his flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life (Gal. 6:8).

And for many people, this breaking of the fast risks turning into their real downfall. For such people, it would be better if they did not struggle, because they challenged the devil by entering the field of fasting, then relaxed and as a result will suffer such damage. We must simply have no illusions about ourselves. We are all well-disguised sinners, but in the eyes of God we are completely transparent.

The Apostle Paul writes: “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For I don’t understand what I’m doing: because I don’t do what I want, but what I hate, I do. If I do what I do not want, then I agree with the law that it is good, and therefore it is no longer I who do it, but the sin living in me. For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; because the desire for good is in me, but I don’t find it to do it. I don’t do the good that I want, but I do the evil that I don’t want. But if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me” (Rom. 7:14-20).

Such existential inconsistency... On the one hand, the desire for the ideal, and on the other, a complete inconsistency with what we strive for. Christianity has the courage to ask such questions. And the apostles, once following Christ, were horrified, and then asked: so who can be saved? And Jesus looked up and said to them: With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:25-26).

And when Muslims and Jews ask me: “What is Christianity about?”, I ask a Muslim: “Do you observe Sharia? Just tell me honestly.” Some say: “Well... no.” The Jew asks: “Do you keep the commandments - 613 mitzvot?” An honest person, of course, answers: “No.” Then I tell them: “Christianity is just for this case! When it doesn’t work out... “For men this is impossible, but with God everything is possible”!

It turned out to be possible for him to be incarnate, to become one of us, to be tempted in everything except sin, and to accomplish the work of our salvation.

I would like to end this discussion with the words of the ancient Fathers of the Church.

“I will boast, not because I am righteous, but because I am redeemed; I will boast not because I am free from sins, but because my sins are forgiven me. I will boast not because I did good, and not because someone else did good for me, but because Christ is my intercessor before the Father, and because the blood of Christ was shed for me" (St. Ambrose of Milan De Jacob et vita beata).

“You can proclaim that the ancient righteous possessed great righteousness, and yet they were saved by nothing less than faith in the Mediator, who shed His blood for the remission of sins” (Blessed Augustine. Ad Bonifacium)

“Therefore we are righteous when we confess ourselves to be sinners and when our righteousness does not consist in our merits, but in the mercy of God” (Reverend Jerome of Stridon. Dialogus contra Pelagianos).

Nikita Filatov spoke with Archpriest Oleg Stenyaev

“Jesus' Prediction of Betrayal; Judas went out" - interpretation

From John the holy gospel. Chapter 13, verses 16-38.

16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than him who sent him.

17 If you know this, blessed are you when you do it.

It must be said that in the law of God from the beginning of the world it was predicted that at first people would believe in God, understanding the law of God directly from the text (which is incorrect), that is, people would live “by every word of God.” Therefore, we now have three world religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam, and in Christianity we have seven major faiths. At the same time, it is also predicted in Scripture that at the end of times people will believe in God, understanding the law of God (figuratively interpreting it), that is, people will live “by bread alone.” Thus, if people understand God's law directly from the text, then they are God's servants. And if people understand the law of God through its figurative interpretation, then they are friends of God (like Abraham). In this case, people are “free” and not “slaves”. The Apostle Paul wrote about this in one of his letters.

That is, verses 16 and 17 say that people should strive to reach the spiritual level of Christ and become “free” from “slaves.” This is the meaning of the entire law of God: to develop a person spiritually, to the level of Man with a capital “H”, to develop a person to the level of Christ, the Son of God and the Son of Man, that is, born “from heaven” and born of Man. How to achieve this? Only through understanding the law of God. Verse 17 actually says that if you have understood what God is telling you in verse 16, then you are blessed. In other words: neither earthly temples, nor fasting and prayers in the modern sense are needed at all. You need to understand the law of God, that is, interpret it figuratively, and then you directly communicate with Christ. After all, Christ is the understanding of the law of God (a figurative interpretation of the law). At the same time, the Holy Spirit comes inside you, and you are cleansed from the inside, and not from the outside, as Christ taught. But if you fast and pray in the modern sense, then you can only cleanse yourself on the outside, and even then only temporarily.

18 I do not speak about all of you: I know those whom I have chosen. But may the Scripture be fulfilled: “He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.”

Here Christ prophetically says that not all Christians will understand the law of God (interpret it figuratively). This prophecy has already come true! At the time of the first coming of Christ into the world in the form of a Man, He Himself taught people a figurative interpretation of the law of God (understanding). For this He was crucified physically, but this was not so important to God. But after the death of all the Apostles, people completely forgot the teaching of Christ (about understanding the law) and began to understand the law of God directly from the text (which is incorrect) - this is the spiritual crucifixion of Christ. The New Testament talks about this, and not about the physical crucifixion of Christ.

“To eat bread” means to figuratively interpret the law of God, to understand it. He who figuratively interprets the law of God (understands) eats bread with Christ (eats with Understanding). In other words: if a person wants to satisfy his believing soul, then he must saturate it with spiritual food, that is, read the law of God and understand it (figuratively interpret it).

“He lifted up his heel against Me” - this means that after the death of the Apostles, people began to understand the law of God directly from the text (which is incorrect). In other words: people read the New Testament superficially, as if on top of Christ. Thus, people crucify Christ, walk on top of Him, perceive only human moral teachings and do not understand the law of God.

19 Now I tell you before it comes to pass, so that when it comes to pass, you may believe that it is I.

Here Christ shows us that when you see and hear that you are called to figuratively interpret the law of God, to understand the law of God, then know that Christ Himself predicted this. Do not be afraid of this, it will definitely happen, like everything predicted in the law of God. Believe that the understanding of the law (figurative interpretation) is Christ, this is the teaching of Christ. And what you were taught earlier - refuse it, since this is the teaching of Judas. Understanding the law directly from the text is the teaching of Jude. This is discussed later in this chapter.

20 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives him whom I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.

That is, the one who accepts the teaching about the figurative interpretation of the law of God (the teaching about the understanding of the law), he accepts the teaching sent to people by Christ Himself. This is a teaching from God!

21 Having said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.”

Christ is the teaching about the understanding of the law of God, about the figurative interpretation of the law of God. And Judas betrayed Christ - that is, the teaching about understanding the law of God directly according to the text.

22 Then the disciples looked around at each other, wondering who He was talking about.

Why do students look at each other? Here we are talking about Apostles not in the sense of Apostles-people, but in the sense of Apostles-teachings. That is, for example, at first the Apostle Peter was on earth - this is when all Christians correctly understood the law of God through its figurative interpretation (understanding). Then Peter denied Christ and people began to misunderstand the law of God - right according to the text. Just at this time Judas came to earth. And so each Apostle in the Bible means a certain period of time of Christianity on earth.

Verse 22 says that after the death of the human Apostles, new teachings and new Christian denominations began to appear on earth one after another. And they all looked at each other and said: “It was you who betrayed Christ, but we love Christ.” And this continues to this day. But in fact, all Christian denominations are mistaken, just like those professing Judaism and Islam. Christ is the understanding of the law of God, its figurative interpretation. That is why it is said that at the time of the Second Coming Christ will “explain everything to people,” that is, he will explain what is actually written in the law of God. It is also said: “Behold, I am making all things new.” This also means that God creates within people a new understanding of the law of God, a new understanding of the law of God. And through this, the whole world will change, because all three world religions will unite, and a new era will begin.

23 And one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved, reclined at Jesus’ breast;

24 Simon Peter made a sign to him and asked who it was that he was talking about.

25 He fell to the chest of Jesus and said to Him: Lord! who is this?

26 Jesus answered, “He is the one to whom I dip a piece of bread and give it.” And, having dipped the piece, he gave it to Judas Simon Iscariot.

“Having dipped a piece of bread, I’ll serve it” - the key word here is “dipped.” If “eating bread” means figuratively interpreting God’s law (to understand), then “dipping the bread” means that the bread has become softer, easier to eat, and almost no need to chew (to interpret). This means that Judas understands God's law directly from the text, just as easily! That's the problem. Thus, Christ Himself, that is, the understanding of the law of God, tells us who Judas is! Jude is a teaching about understanding the law of God directly from the text!

Thus, if the law of God says that Solomon built the temple of God, this does not mean that he built an earthly temple. The temple must be built in the soul of every person through the understanding of the law of God (its figurative interpretation). If the law says that people did not listen to God, this does not mean that people did not fulfill the teachings of earthly churches. On the contrary, this means that people were fulfilling the teaching of the earthly churches, which was from Jude. Therefore, people could not hear God, because Christ is the understanding of the law of God!

27 And after this piece Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to him, “Whatever you are doing, do it quickly.”

28 But none of those reclining understood why He said this to him.

“whatever you do, do it quickly” - this means that in any case, Judas’s renunciation of Christ was predicted in advance in the law of God, which means it could not fail to take place. But at the same time, Christ wants this renunciation to pass as quickly as possible and for Him to return to people forever through the understanding of the law of God (its figurative interpretation).

Why did none of those reclining understand this? It was God's will that this should happen. Therefore, the existing earthly churches still do not understand that “out of ignorance” they began to preach the teachings of Judas. This applies to Christianity, Judaism and Islam. This is the “sin of ignorance” about which the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Hebrews. And in the Old Testament this is called the “sin of Egypt.” They have one essence - understanding the law of God directly from the text, which is incorrect and leads to sins.

29 And since Judas had a chest, some thought that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy what we need for the festival,” or to give something to the poor.

“Judas had a box” - in fact, this indicates that Judas had power in the earthly world. In other words: modern Christian churches have a New Testament. They all operate with it as a kind of “box” in which wealth comes from God. Therefore, no one can doubt their correctness, but in fact their teachings are from Judas. It's not their fault, they didn't know it. But all people who have realized this fact must return to Christ (to the understanding of the law). The same applies to people professing Judaism and Islam. After all, all three world religions came out of the Old Testament, and it must also be understood (figuratively interpreted), otherwise there will be no internal purification, but there will be worship of Baal.

30 He took the piece and immediately went out; and it was night. When he came out

That is, as soon as people began to understand the law of God directly from the text - that’s it, they left Christ. Why did they leave? It was “night” on earth. In the Bible, the word “night” means the time when people misunderstand the law of God (directly from the text), and “day” - when people understand the law of God (interpret it figuratively). In other words: “at night” it is dark, people read the law of God and do not see God, but “in the day” it is light - people read the law of God, interpret it and through this they see God. Therefore, the word “morning” means the time of transition from “night” to “day”. Now is the time when I figuratively interpret the New Testament for you. This is the time before the second coming of Christ into the world. Well, He has already come to me.

31 Jesus said, Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him;

32 If God was glorified in Him, God also will glorify Him in Himself, and will soon glorify Him.

That is, if a person figuratively interprets the law of God (understands it), then by this he glorifies God, devotes himself to God (fasts). And through this, God will glorify him as a righteous man or a prophet.

33 Children! I will not be with you for long: you will seek Me, and as I said to the Jews, that where I go, you cannot come, so I say to you now.

That is, at the time of the first coming of Christ into the world, people figuratively interpreted the law of God (understood it). And then Christ left them, that is, people stopped understanding the law of God and began to misunderstand it - right according to the text. And people could not immediately return to Christ, since they fell into the clutches of Satan and were besotted with the teachings of Judas. This was predicted in advance, but now the moment of our deliverance has finally come. Christ has returned to us, and we can again understand the law of God (interpret it figuratively).

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, so you also love one another;

That is, just as Christ gives us an understanding of the law of God (loves us), so we must pass on from generation to generation the knowledge of the teaching of Christ (to love each other) - the teaching about the understanding of the law of God (about love), the teaching about the figurative interpretation of the law of God .

35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

That is, if all people understand the law of God (interpret it figuratively), then in such people they will recognize the true disciples of Christ (disciples of Understanding). In this case, there will be no division into religions and confessions; the “dispersion” of believers will leave the world (as predicted).

36 Simon Peter said to Him: Lord! where are you going? Jesus answered him: Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, but later you will follow Me.

This is a repetition of the prophecy that at first people understood the law of God (they interpreted it figuratively), then they renounced Christ (they began to understand the law of God directly from the text), and then they would return to Christ again (they would understand the law of God) at the second coming.

37 Peter said to Him: Lord! Why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my soul for You.

38 Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for Me?” Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow until you have denied Me three times.

This means that the second coming of Christ into the world will not yet occur (the rooster will not crow, the morning will not come), and Peter will already deny Christ three times. That is, from the beginning of the world until the second coming of Christ, people will deny Him three times and will misunderstand the law of God - right according to the text. In fact, this has already happened (first the ancient Jews renounced Christ, then the ancient Christians, then the ancient Muslims). This means that “morning” on earth has already come.

Energy of Relationships

Imagine a situation where you had a fight (betrayed) with your strongest and most influential patron, and after that you are trying to resolve some issue “under his patronage.” What will it be like? Feelings of shame and guilt are putting it mildly. And the fear that others will find out about this will force you to behave very, very modestly. Other people also have such “patrons” and they are also not always friends with them. And these patrons can communicate with each other “through their own channels.” And the person who is in the best relationship with his Ego will immediately see through our betrayal, and we will fear this person like fire, choosing people around us whose Ego is clogged, about the same as ours, or stronger. At the same time, we can complain about their stupidity, narrow-mindedness, suffer and want more. But our Ego will not let us into better conditions. Not the Ego itself, but precisely the awareness of our betrayal in relation to the Ego, and the fear that this betrayal will be revealed.

Therefore, the first thing you need to do is not strive to become the very best, but to make peace with your “patron” - with your Ego. This formulation is not entirely accurate, and looks like the Christian thesis about “coming to God.” The fact is that our Ego is our patron, our god, and ourselves. We have nothing else but Ego. The ego is us, and everything else is programs that oppose it and impose their own rules. Therefore, the word “put up” is not entirely appropriate here, except in relation to oneself.

This was a quote from the last paragraphs from the last newsletter.

This is the same thing that Christianity teaches. If I'm not mistaken, somewhere in the Bible there is even a hint that God is within us. But nevertheless, in Christianity it is customary to look for God somewhere “on the sidelines.” And if you replace God with Ego, you would get a very interesting religion

And Moses also saw some kind of god, no one knows what he just saw there. Most likely one of the “accompanying” of the program parasitic on humanity.

The Apocalypse promised us the end of the world from the coming of God to Earth - the death of “sinners” was supposed to come from “God’s glory”, in my understanding - from shame. Shame arises when interacting with those people (or their images - this doesn’t matter now) whose Ego is more revealed - the better they see us “through and through”. Therefore, the openness of the Ego of the “descended god” must be colossal. People “clogged” with humility and repentance would simply burn with shame - if they did not die themselves, they would commit suicide - as often happens when “everything secret becomes clear.”

Christianity almost does not deceive us, but contains in its interpretation a fatal omission, thanks to which we strive to connect not with our Ego, but with an alien program. And this is only possible in one case - by completely betraying your Ego.

The only real “sin” a person can commit is to betray his Ego. There are no other sins. All possible interpretations of sin are only special cases and consequences that can only occur in a person who is “not on friendly terms” with his Ego. I don’t mean the 10 commandments here, since the entire first tablet with four commandments contains principles that are destructive to the Ego, and only the second tablet lists the consequences of “sin”.

And the most interesting thing. There is no God above man! Man in himself is God, and his capabilities most likely potentially exceeded those of other gods. Including those we have always been called to worship. This was the danger of man, and the desire to carefully “eliminate” him was quite appropriate and understandable.

The essence of Christianity is to force us to betray our Ego and resubordinate it to our alien program for the Ego. If someone likes it better, they can sell their soul in exchange for “toys” that are interesting to our Ego in their own way, but not so much that we can’t see them anymore. Since the potential capabilities of the Ego are colossal, the understanding always remains within that there is nothing within which a person could always be kept. A person takes any “toy”, plays with it for a while, but then it becomes uninteresting to him - he “betrays” it and looks for a new one. By and large, there is nothing that could become the meaning of life for a person.

It seems that even the gods could not do anything about it. And realizing that one fine moment they themselves could become a new toy of a person... “somewhere out there” a decision was made - to eliminate people. This decision has been implemented to this day with varying degrees of success.

Then, based on the biblical story, something like this happened.

For unknown reasons, which have long been erased from our history, man was able to be isolated in the “incubator” of the Garden of Eden. Where, in all likelihood, experiments were carried out on him: what he would do, how to behave, what kind of names he would come up with for animals. Probably the gods (then still in quotes) had something to learn from us

The “information lock” in this incubator was the “forbidden fruit.” Until the person tried to “play with this toy,” he did not pose a danger - at that time we could calmly decide what to do with us next... Most of all, it seems that the person had already “got into treatment” from which he had no intention of getting out — a stable meaning of life was generally indicated. But we don’t know - for how long?

But here some gods were tempted to not let the person “wither”, but instead save him, and have him in the future as an ally. Apparently our opportunities were worth it

We know this story. The serpent, who is also the devil and Lucifer, deceived everyone, made his way into the “incubator” and said something like the following.

-Are you completely crazy? Grab the fruit and get out of here before you are completely withered, zombified and taken to pieces... Who knows what God said? Who is he to you? You yourself will be like Gods!

And the man opened his eyes...

Naturally, the person was kicked out of the “incubator”, they yelled at him and cursed him... And they began plan No. 2.

We have long been accustomed to praising God and scolding the devil-snake. But one cannot help but notice that this snake behaved honestly with the man, and did not lie to him a word. Unlike “God”, who in the Bible lies and completely contradicts himself. I won’t go into detail about this here—it can all be found in the Bible itself.

Therefore, if the idea that no gods need a person is too difficult for someone, but on the contrary, it gets in the way. Then the earth-Lucifer should have become the first contender for this vacancy. At least he behaved with people as a friend and ally: he took risks, sneaking into the “incubator”, managed to unzombify people, for which he received a scolding from God in the form of a curse, and apparently found himself outside the law. You could say he made a big bet on us: if we lose, he will lose too. Judging by the Bible, reprisals against Lucifer will be carried out after all “sinners” are destroyed... It turns out to be a completely different religion...

How to survive betrayal and not let feelings ruin our lives

Often we have to deal with unpleasant, if not destructive, feelings. Loneliness, rejection, fear, sadness and many other experiences can affect not only our mental, but also our physical and spiritual state. One of these strongest destructive experiences is betrayal. How to get through this period and become stronger? Is it possible?

Vera Kasevich, pastor of the DYNAMO church, (Miami, USA)

The most painful betrayal always comes from those closest to you. And I empathize. I empathize as a person who was betrayed both in the distant past and in the not so distant present. But can I say something from my experience - the experience of trusting God's Word? God can even turn betrayal for us, those who were betrayed, for good if we love God and do not stop moving in our destiny because of betrayal.

Betrayal of friends. Program “Question to a Church Minister”

Hegumen Nektariy (Morozov), rector of the Peter and Paul and St. Nicholas-Japanese churches in the city of Saratov

Nektary (Morozov) , abbot, rector of the Peter and Paul and St. Nicholas-Japanese churches in the city of Saratov, dean of the Peter and Paul district of the Saratov diocese, head of the information and publishing department of the Saratov diocese, director of the Orthodox military-patriotic club "Patriot", president of the Orthodoxy and Modernity Foundation

It seems to me that in such cases we almost always make the same mistake, which is based, of course, on our wrong attitude towards our “I.” Where does this feeling of betrayal, betrayal come from? From there, it is likely that we previously believed that we were connected with a person by those relationships that imposed certain obligations on both us and him. But in fact, do we have the right to demand from him - another - the same thing that we demand from ourselves? From myself - please! But from the other - no. This is not a business, not a contractual relationship with signing a bunch of papers, stamps and seals. This is a living life in which we must act according to our Christian conscience and not be arbiters in relation to someone else’s conscience.

And why do we generally perceive what a person does as necessarily related to us? He, most likely, thinks about us least of all. He thinks about himself - about his circumstances, problems, interests, needs, and so on. He does not set himself the goal of betraying us, hurting us, annoying us, hurting us, he simply does what is most convenient and profitable for him, that’s all.

We feel bitter about what we experience as a betrayal, we feel uncomfortable in our souls... But it would be good to figure out exactly why. If, because we were betrayed, they were not faithful to us, then do we really have grounds to demand this loyalty and condemn someone in whom we did not find it? Perhaps not: people are not faithful to God, let alone us. If it’s bitter because we were deceived in a person, thought about him better than he turned out to be, and now we recognize him and seem to have lost him, then well... He is free to be what he wants, and we can only step aside, but again - without judging.

Is it difficult? That's not the right word! So much so that it’s generally rare when you manage to immediately set yourself up like that and act like that. It is difficult, but possible - with the help of the One who so often forgives genuine betrayal and apostasy, including ours. And if we do not deliberately etch the wound in the heart, do not turn it into a slowly, painfully corroding ulcer, but resort to an infinite number of times the Betrayed and Abandoned, but not Betraying or Forsaking anyone, then He, of course, will teach us how to troubles and sorrows to benefit your soul. And more than that - how to get closer to Him through this, to become at least a little similar, at least a little closer...

Pastor of the New Generation Church Andrey Tishchenko: “How to survive betrayal”

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: how to recover from betrayal

Nancy Leigh DeMoss , author, speaker at spiritual conferences, and host of the women's radio program Renew Our Hearts, shared how to recover from betrayal.

Be honest with God about how you feel. He can handle this.
Get some sleep. You are incredibly drained by this whole situation. When we are physically exhausted, we are more likely to believe things about God that are not true.
Listen to music that talks about Bible truths.
Take up the Psalms. Read slowly. See how the psalmists offer up their pain to the Lord, and how He lifts up their heads at this time. Keep reading even when you don't really believe or feel what you're reading.
Find a few verses that speak directly to you where you are right now; remember them and keep quoting them again and again. I started with Psalm 17:1-3.

Take a walk. Listen to sermons or music while walking. A sedentary lifestyle feeds depression and bad emotions.
Do not draw conclusions based on what you think or feel during the night hours, as the enemy is trying to bring great fear, doubt and unbelief into the darkness.
Meditate on Jeremiah 17:5-10 and Psalm 117:8-9. How does the Lord want to transfer your trust from man to Christ?
You will need time to deal with the feelings you are experiencing. This is fine. It took me 18 months to get through my “darkest night of the soul.” The night won't last forever.
Protect yourself from bitterness. I believe that my journey would not have been so long if I had not given room for bitterness.
Be careful not to be isolated. When you struggle, turn to Him and others. You cannot fight this battle alone. If you try to fight on your own, it will be easier for the enemy to defeat you.
“Do not doubt in darkness what you have seen in the light.”
You will get through this, but not because you are strong - “We are weak... but He is strong.” In due time you will know and believe and love Him more deeply than you ever thought possible.
Be at peace before the Lord. Wait patiently for His presence. He won't leave you. He will set you free. And He will make you an even stronger instrument in His hand.

Pavel Rain, pastor of the Word of Truth Church, Nizhny Tagil

Regardless of how people treated me, continue to believe people.

Dmitry Velidchenko, pastor of the Victory Church in Crimea

Dmitry Velidchenko , pastor of the Christian Church “Victory” in Crimea, missionary, publicist, noted that no matter in what area and in what form, the essence is the same: betrayal is the highest degree of rejection coming from someone who is very close to you. As an example, he cites the story of the woman caught in adultery from chapter 8 of the Gospel of John.

This amazing principle of forgiveness is hidden in this chapter! When we cry out in the pain of a broken heart: “Why, God???!!!”, He quietly but firmly says: “It was not you who were crucified by this betrayal, but first of all Me. It was not you who suffered for the sins of this person, but I. And if you do not want to crucify Me with your unbelief, you should give Me this pain.”

When your heart is torn to pieces because someone has betrayed you, enter your Garden of Gethsemane. Fall to the ground on which the Savior lay, experiencing the betrayal of millions and billions of people of all times. Try to feel what He went through that night. Then look to Calvary and allow your soul to die to pain so that God can fill it with Himself, His mercy and love. The veil separating God from you was torn by the death of Christ. Only you can break the veil of your suffering that separates you from God.

Maybe your soul is tormented by the fact that you yourself betrayed someone - just raise your eyes and you will see that standing next to you is the One who tells you: “I paid for this with My blood, I free you and love you...”

Sometimes it is in this way, through betrayal (our personal, or in relation to us) that God leads us so that we can know the full depth of His forgiveness and love. At these moments it may seem that you are abandoned by God and all people on earth. Believe me, Christ also endured this pain on the cross just before his death, crying out: “My God, My God! Why have you forsaken me? (Gospel of Matthew 27:46) I endured it so that you could always give this pain to Him. Never try to hold on to it, let your soul die with this pain, and then Christ will revive you again as a completely different person, with a new soul filled with love and life!

One decision of yours will transform you from a victim to a winner. And even more: “He who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son” (Book of Revelation 21:7) Forgiveness is worth it!

Zazazu.tv: How to survive?

T.D. Jakes: Signs It's Time to "Let Someone Go"

Bishop T.D. Jakes , pastor of the Potter's House megachurch (Dallas, Texas, USA), called the signs that it is time to “let someone go.”

When you are no longer happy to see or be around such people. If you feel unsettled in your spirit in their presence, do not ignore this sign. Your instincts only notice the truth and seek to direct you to act accordingly. There comes a time when everything - including people - no longer brings joy or happiness.

When they offer nothing but negativity. Those who view the world from a positive perspective will reap positive reinforcement and reward as the fruits of their thoughts and actions. At the same time, those who constantly complain or spread an attitude of ingratitude fill the atmosphere with darkness and negativism. People who always want to criticize others are sending the message loud and clear that they are wasting their precious time and energy on the wrong things, and ultimately they don't deserve your time or your energy.

When they want (or take) more than they give. Relationships are exchanges. It takes two people who mutually strive to make each of them better, holding each other accountable, and providing help when the other person needs it.

When you can't trust them anymore. Trust is one of the most essential factors in any form of relationship. Once trust is broken, the relationship will never be the same. It may take years for trust to be built, but just a few minutes can ruin everything.

When they no longer support you. You should always surround yourself with people who support you and your dreams. While support comes in many forms, the common thread or common thread should be authenticity and honesty.

Should betrayal be forgiven? Program “Question to a Church Minister”

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