INTRODUCTION
Judas: the name is synonymous with betrayal, a false friend. It conjures up images of a dark undercover agent for the enemy. Several men are named Judas in the New Testament, so further identification is necessary. Judas Iscariot was the only disciple from Judea. Somehow, he learned about Jesus and was attracted to Him. Though Jesus knew one of His disciples would betray Him, He chose Judas (John 6:70–71). Judas was among the twelve Jesus called, wanted, and appointed to preach, heal, and cast out demons (Mark 3:13–19). For three years Judas witnessed the miracles of Jesus and listened to the Saviour’s teachings. He went on a missionary journey, probably with Simon the Zealot. Judas was not a monster in the beginning of His association with Christ and other disciples.
I. WHAT WENT WRONG?
What factors caused Judas to betray his Master? How does one willingly succumb to commit the treachery of being a traitor? The Gospel writers knew Judas. Apparently the other eleven admired and respected his executive abilities and made him their treasurer of the common purse. Yet, John called him a thief (John 12:6). The eleven other disciples missed indications that all was not right in Judas’ heart. Christ was not fooled, and lovingly tried to win Judas to Him.
Judas loved money, which Paul calls “a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Tim 6:10, NKJV). Shortly before Passover, Jesus was the guest of honor at the home of Lazarus and his sisters. Mary anointed Jesus with the very costly and fragrant spikenard. Judas objected, asking, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” (John 12:5, NKJV). Jesus gave Judas a mild rebuke, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial” (John 12:7, NKJV). How often are nice words said in eulogies to honor a dead person. Saying them to the person when they are alive would be more meaningful. Luke wrote that the chief priests and scribes were plotting to kill Jesus at this time. Stung by Christ’s rebuke, Luke says, “Satan entered Judas” (Luke 22:3, NKJV).
II. THE DANGER OF CHERISHED SIN
Whether resentment or revenge was the motivation may never be fully known for sure. We do know cherished sin of any kind, small or great, preserved in a dark corner of the heart, leads to spiritual disaster. Rationalized and excused hidden sin hardens the heart, making it “stony” (Ezek 11:19–21), resistant to repentance, and harder to resist temptation. The devil waits for the opportune time to attack (1 Pet 5:8). Satan uses his victims, then cynically casts them aside to writhe in the agony of remorse. Remorse is neither repentance nor conversion. It only turns us against ourselves and makes the soul act like the scorpion in a fire that stings itself to death. Also know, the door of the human heart cannot be opened from the outside; it can only be opened from the inside by you. Nobody can force you to love God or do evil.
III. HOPE FOR A REVOLUTION
Like most first-century Jews, Judas longed for a Messiah to end foreign domination and restore the kingdom of Israel. When Jesus fed the multitudes, Judas, like many others, was filled with hope that Jesus would lead a revolution and become king. As a faithful disciple, Judas hoped for a high position in the new government. When Jesus made clear “the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing,” “many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more” (John 6:63, 66, NKJV). “Then Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Do you also want to go away?’” (John 6:67, NKJV). This incident may have been a turning point in the heart of Judas when he began to realize the kingdom of heaven being implemented by Jesus would not fulfill earthly political aspirations.
No doubt his disappointment led to resentment and a strategic plan to manipulate events that would benefit himself by either of two outcomes. Judas went to the chief priests of the Temple in Jerusalem and negotiated the betrayal of Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (Matt 26:14–15). In essence Judas sold himself, not Christ, for the price of a slave (Exod 21:32). Perhaps Judas reasoned that when Jesus is arrested, He will not allow Himself to be killed and in some miraculous way prove He is the Messiah. If He is accepted and becomes king, then I should be rewarded. If He is not the Messiah, my exposure of Him as another imposter will make me a hero to national leaders and I will still be rewarded in some way.
IV. THE FAILED PLAN
Judas was not as clever as he supposed. His secret strategy unraveled and became exposed. Jesus was aware of the plot even as He washed Judas’ feet (John 13:10–11). Next Jesus indicated who the betrayer was when he quoted Psalm 41:9 and acted accordingly (John 13:18). When Judas asked, “‘Rabbi, is it I?’ He [Jesus] said to him, ‘You have said it’” (Matt 26:25, NKJV). Judas had to know that Jesus knew about the betrayal, especially when He told Judas, “What you are going to do, do quickly” (John 13:27, ESV). And finally, the whole sinister sin came fully to light when Judas, feeling remorseful over what he had done, publicly confessed.
When Judas realized Jesus would be put to death, he rushed into the judgment hall and declared, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood” (Matt 27:4, NKJV). The priests and elders rejected his pathetic plea, “What is that to us?” (Matt 27:4, NKJV). “Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself” (Matt 27:5, NKJV). The money he returned was used by the priests to purchase “a field of blood” in which to bury strangers (Matt 27:6–10).
V. REDEMPTION REJECTED
As Jesus observed the Passover with His disciples in the upper room, He gave Judas four discreet invitations to confess his disloyalty and seek divine forgiveness. First, Jesus performed a servant’s role and washed each disciple’s feet (John 13:1– 17). Second, Judas sat next to Jesus, a place of honor. Third, following custom, Jesus passed the morsel of bread He dipped to the favored guest, who was Judas rather than John (John 13:18, 26–30). Judas hardened his heart, spurned Christ’s appeals, and determined to sin. Fourth, when Jesus bid Judas go quickly to complete his grim task, Jesus did not unmask the traitor to the others. The Gospels record Judas went out into the night, led a detachment of troops to the Garden and consummated the betrayal of Jesus with a kiss (Matt 26:47–50).
In reality everyone has denied and betrayed Christ at some point in their lives. The Scriptures declare “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23, NKJV). Now is the time to confess our sins and claim the assurance of Christ (1 John 1:9).
CONCLUSION
Paul declares God’s goodness leads us to repentance (Rom 2:4). In His dealings with Judas, Jesus demonstrated God’s gentle long-suffering, but Judas rejected God’s grace and chose his own way to achieve his goals. God’s love and mercy is greater than any sin. The only unpardonable sin is the one that we will not allow God to forgive. How tragic for someone to be a believer and church member for many years, yet presumptuously harbor a little sin, thinking it won’t matter. Unfortunately, sin is like cancer. If left untreated, it grows until it destroys us like it did Judas.
Gary R. Councell is a retired teacher, pastor, chaplain, and departmental director. Immediately prior to his retirement he was the director of the Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries, at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
