Unbelief

“‘But there are some of you who do not believe.’ (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)” – John 6:64

It’s interesting here that John equates unbelief with betrayal. Unbelief betrays Jesus.

Most people would probably agree with that at a certain level. It makes sense somewhat that an unbeliever is a betrayer of Jesus. An unbeliever, someone who is created for communion with God, has outright rejected God, switching to the other side, and so recasting that as “betrayal” seems fair. But what about believers who harbor unbelief? Is there a direct correlation between unbelief and betrayal?

I think so.

To the degree that we coddle unbelief, I think we betray Jesus. We betray him as we worry. We betray him as we doubt. This thought stings a bit, but I think it is accurate and a faithful wound.