Judas

Is there another name that is despised as much or one that can stir up a feeling of contempt or a deep repugnance for, when spoken?  Perhaps that question depends upon who you are.  There are many Jewish people that would say, "yes there is" to that question.  They would say, how about the name Adolf Hitler?  His fanatical anti-Semitism led to the Holocaust.

But since I'm not Jewish by birth or faith, and because I'm a Christian, a follower of Jesus, the name ... Judas ... will always bring up in my mind the thirty pieces of silver that was payment for the betrayal of Jesus.  But was money the real reason Judas betrayed Jesus?

The Apostle John gives us a hint about Judas and his love of money in John 12:1-6.  Six days before the Passover, Jesus once again is at the home of Mary and Martha with His friend Lazarus.  Mary anoints the feet of Jesus with a very costly ointment of spikenard which seems to Judas to be a waste.  Judas asks, "Why wasn't this ointment sold and given to the poor?"

John relates ... "This 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."

So, who was Judas really?  His name was Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, and he was chosen by Jesus to be one of His twelve disciples.  John records that one day as Jesus was speaking to His disciples He says ... "Have I not chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil."  John adds that Jesus was speaking of Judas ... "for it was he that should betray Him." 

The way it is recorded ... "that he should betray Him" ... raises this question.  Did Judas have a choice as to the path he took as a traitor which led to the crucifixion of Jesus?  I've heard it said that this act of betrayal fell on him because of the "sop" given to him by Jesus.  This question of choice is one I intend to find the answer for as we look at what the Scripture has to say about Judas.

I believe this should be the order of events, first Luke's account and then Matthew's.

Luke 22:1-4 ... "Now the feast of unleavened bread (the Passover) drew near, and the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill Jesus; for they feared the people.  Then entered Satan into Judas, and he went his way and communed with the chief priests how he might betray Jesus in the absence of the multitude."

Luke continues with his version of the Passover meal after which Jesus speaks this to Simon Peter in verse 31 ... "Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat."

What many don't understand is that the word, "you," in speaking to Peter is a plural pronoun, which means ... the words of Jesus were not addressed to Peter alone, but to all the disciples.  Satan had already gotten one of the disciples, Judas; and he would later that night almost get another ... Peter, as he denies knowing Jesus.

Matthew speaks of what happened ... "after Satan entered Judas" ... which was the cause of his betrayal.  What entered into Judas was Satan's thoughts of betrayal.

Matthew 26:14-16 ... "One of the twelve, Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, and said, 'What will you give me, and I will deliver Him unto you?'  And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.  And from that time Judas sought opportunity to betray Jesus."

From these two accounts, it seems as though Judas left the group of disciples as they were preparing for the Passover meal to be held with Jesus in the upper room.  At this point in time, none of them knew it would be the last meal they would have with Him before He was betrayed.

The "love of money" that Judas had must have been apparent to Satan, and now because of that love, he has the opportunity to work upon the mind of Judas after he "entered into him" ... not as a possessed person ... but as one now open to Satan's thoughts and temptations.  Satan, later at the last supper, would finish his possession of him, otherwise I wonder if Judas could have went through with the betrayal after walking with Jesus for over three years.

We continue now with the supper in John 13:2-30 ... "And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him ..."

Supper being ended ... the word translated as ended, means "cause to be" which is speaking of the beginning of the meal time.  As we read further in the text we understand this.  It is likely that Jesus arose near the beginning of the meal, washed the feet of the disciples, including the trader Judas, and then sat back down and began the meal.

"Having now put betrayal into the heart of Judas" …  The meaning of this passage is that Satan "inclined" the mind of Judas to do this, made him feel willing or favorably disposed to sell Him out ... Satan tempted him to betray the Lord.
 
We don't know precisely how this was done, but I believe it was because of the love of money, the lust and desire for wealth and the greed for material things that was … already in the heart of Judas.

Satan can tempt no one unless there is some inclination of the mind, some natural tendency or propensity; a disposition to behave in a certain way, something naturally born in our flesh that he can make use of.  Satan can present temptations of all types fitted to the propensity that he already knows about in each individual's soul, which is tied closer to the flesh than to the spirit; and because he is already under the influence of a strong inherent inclination to do so … then man yields to this personal temptation. 

In the case of Judas this propensity was … the love of money … and it was necessary only to present to him the possibility of obtaining money, and it found him ready and willing to "betray" Jesus. 

Satan's end game in this temptation was to work upon Judas "to betray" Christ into the hands of His enemies, in order to put Him to death. 

Judas was an apostle of Christ's; and from this we should learn even the highest office, and greatest gifts, cannot keep men from the temptations of Satan.  The manner in which he tempted him was this … Satan "put" which means "cast" a fiery dart into his very heart (thoughts or mind); which shows the access Satan has into, and the influence he has upon … the minds of men.

All of this was known by Jesus, which He prophesied to His disciples that one of them would betray Him; yet it was an action which one would think, could never have entered into the heart of Judas … had not the devil put it there.

John's story continues with Jesus being "troubled in spirit" as He says, "One of you shall betray Me."  The disciples all look at each other not knowing who it was that Jesus spoke of.  Peter "beckoned to John" nearest to Jesus to ask Him who was going to betray Him.  John asked, "Lord, who is it?"

"Jesus answered ... 'He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it.'  And when He had dipped the sop, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon."

Judas now knew that Jesus knew what he was going to do.  God did not force Judas to do this act of betrayal.  What Judas did, he did freely.  He just did what his wicked heart prompted him to do.  If Judas was born to do this or forced by God to do this ... then God would be the author of sin ... and that cannot be. 

Many Bible commentators are of the opinion that Judas was on the opposite side of Jesus from John, one on the right and one on the left, which would allow for Jesus to hand him the sop which consisted of a piece of the Paschal lamb wrapped in unleavened bread, dipped in a sauce of vinegar, figs, dates, almonds and spice.

And now the final possession of Judas ... "And after the sop, Satan entered into him.  He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night."

Satan had entered into him before, and now he enters again to take control of Judas and give him the strength he needed to carry out this evil deed to betray Jesus and deliver Him to the Roman guards.

When men can sin, knowing that God sees it all, it shows that the heart is fully set in them to do evil, and there is nothing that will restrain them from sin.  God will not interfere with a man's choice, with a man's free will.  This is why there is so much evil in the world. 

Judas was "free" to do his evil deed ... and he did.



Comments welcome.