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Judas
John 12:1-8 (KJV) “Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. 3Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. 4Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, 5Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. 7Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. 8For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.” Here we first see the true heart of Judas exposed. Judas was a thief and did not care about the poor. Judas knew by experience what the ointment was worth and lied about giving it to the poor. We also see the character contrast between Judas to Jesus. Judas focused on what was for him now, but Jesus focused on what was for others in their future. Judas looked for price while Jesus looked for eternal purposes. Scholars believe that Judas had been chosen as treasurer for the disciples because scripture says twice that “Judas had the bag.” (John 13:29) Early in scripture we see that Judas was known by Jesus as a devil. John 6:70-71 (KJV) “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.” It is interesting to note, in the scriptures leading to the betrayal of Jesus, that Judas received payment to betray before the supper with the disciples. Matt. 26:14-16 (KJV) “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 15And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. 16And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.” Luke 22:3 says, “Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot” Judas, the one who was treasurer, the one who knew about value and worth, found thirty pieces of silver enough to assist in the murder of his leader. Judas’ greed had finally gotten the best of him. Matt. 26:20-25 (KJV) “Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. 21And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 22And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? 23And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. 24The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. 25Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.” Judas already knew that he was the one. He was being typical Judas with his deception. Matt. 26:47-49 (KJV) “And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. 49And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.” One thing about Judas was that he was all about love, love, love, even unto the betrayal. Why a kiss? Did he feel guilty? Was it something he had to do with no choice? People who live for fulfilling the present do believe they have no choice. People who do not understand their own value and destiny will live only for the now and cover it with “love.” Matt. 27:1-5 (KJV) “When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: 2And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. 3Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.” Here we see the tragic ending to a man of betrayal. “Repented,” in verse 3, means that he “regretted” or “was sorrowful.” Judas died with no true repentance. Today, many will go to their grave with bitterness, hatred, deception, and greed, never repenting. Many live their whole life for satisfying the now and never seeing the destiny of their life. God forbid that any of us follow the example of Judas by betraying our leaders and putting a price on their life. -S. Chad Ross October Newsletter 2002 | Higher Things | Living Worship Pastor's Journal October 2001 | Judas | Destined to Become part 1 of 3 |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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