Judas: A Betrayer in Our Midst

When did Judas' heart turn toward hatred? Was it hatred? Was it a love grown cold? How does one become apostate?  Psalm 41:19  foreshadows Judas' betrayal in the Psalmist David's words, "Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me." What does betrayal mean? Does it mean to abandon, to turn my back on someone when he needs me most?

Matthew 6:61, Jesus asks the penetrating question: "So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”  “Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray him."     Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him, but He loved him anyway. Can I love my Judas?  

  

Even while sharing the Passover meal with His Messiah, breaking bread which signifies covenant and solidarity, "During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him" (John 12:32). He betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (Matt. 26:14-16). How many times does money separate friends?  "He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it" (John 12:6).

Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss, a sign of  affection. How many times do I betray with a kiss, with a seeming sign of affection, but my heart is full of anger and murder: "And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him." (Mark 14:43-45).

After his betrayal, he wanted to redeem his choice. He tried to return the money to the priests:

“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.” So they took counsel and bought with them the potter's field as a burial place for strangers " (Matt. 27:3-10).

Unfortunately, Judas had ungodly, rather than godly sorrow, "For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death" (2 Corinthians 12:7).In the death of that betrayal friendship, God has a new one:  "May his days be few; may another take his office!" (Psalm 109:8).

When we betray God, no place is found for us in the kingdom. If we are ashamed of Christ, He declares that He will not acknowledge before His father. Ouch.

Betrayal Stinks,
MJ