Then
Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to
them. (Mark
14:10)
Have you ever met someone named Judas?
Probably not.
Many of the characters featured in the Bible are used in naming children—John,
Mary, David, Elizabeth, and so forth—but, not Judas. That name will live in infamy. It is synonymous with treachery—sealed with a
kiss!
The motives of this traitor are not stated
emphatically, yet, may be deduced from the text. Judas’ reaction to the actions of Jesus was
one of misunderstanding and a growing dissatisfaction. He had apparently followed Jesus due to the
warped idea of Messiah so many of his generation possessed—expecting the
overthrow of Rome and the glory days of Solomon restored. He saw the Kingdom of God in political rather
than spiritual terms. The blessings
Judas desired were not for eternity, but to experience on earth. Because of this Judas was associated with
Christ, but never one with Christ. He
was unconverted—not a believer, but a make-believer.
This thinking reached critical mass one day, when Mary
is commended by Jesus for pouring expensive perfumed oil on Jesus—something Judas
considered a “waste.” It was the proverbial straw that broke
the camel’s back. Judas decided to cut
his losses and get out of his three years of dashed dreams by betraying Jesus to
the religious leaders who hated Him. Judas
sold his soul to the devil for thirty pieces of silver.
This is surely one of the saddest stories in
Scripture. Judas had such an opportunity. Think of the teaching he heard, the miracles
he saw, and the love he received, yet the shine of silver captivated his heart
more than the splendor of the Savior.
Heaven slipped from his grasp and he slunk into the shadows—on to
everlasting darkness. He felt remorse
for what he did and the tortured wretch ended his life—temporal sorrow soon
swallowed up in eternal grief. Will any
weep, wail, and gnash their teeth more than that man? Jesus said that it would have been better for
him not to have been born.
I have no intent to disturb your faith if it is
real. Your faith in Christ may be small,
but if it is genuine it is enough. We
are not saved because of the amount of our faith, but the object of it—Christ alone saves us! My desire is that if you examine your faith
and find it superficial that you become disturbed greatly! To be so close to being a follower of Christ
and yet fail of salvation is most tragic.
The story of Judas is to show us the reality of counterfeit
Christianity. We may be identified with
the church, yet not in Christ. We can be
near the Kingdom of Heaven and still outside it. Judas is in hell and we do not want to join
him there!
Give yourself unreservedly to Christ. Commit your all to Him. It will be His commitment to you that insures
your safe arrival home.
Judas wanted no part of the cross. Only through that cross, however, can we be
saved. Place your hand in the
nail-scarred hand!
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