Judas’ Story
Jesus Christ called each of them. One by one, Jesus hand-picked the men He wanted with Him, to learn His ways and be able to teach others the way to eternal life.
And so, Judas was called and became a member of the 12.
Still a Member of the 12
Judas went with the 12 when they were sent out to preach the gospel and “heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead and cast out demons.” Matthew 10:5-15, Mark 6:7-13, Luke 9:1-6. He received the same power as the 12 to do what the rest of us long to see, the power of God at work in people’s lives.
When Jesus healed the man with the withered hand, Judas was there. Matthew 12:9-14, Mark 3:1-6, Luke 6:6-11.
When Jesus fed the five thousand, Judas was there. Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17, John 6:1-14.
Judas witnessed Peter, walk on water with Jesus. Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52, John 6:15-21.
When Jesus healed many people, Judas was with Him. Matthew 14:34-36, Mark 6:53-56.
And when Jesus healed the Gentile woman’s daughter, Judas was still a member of the 12. Matthew 15:21-28, Mark 7:24-30.
Judas again saw Jesus heal great multitudes (Matthew 15:29-31, Mark 7:31-37) and feed the four thousand (Matthew 15:32-39, Mark 8:1-10).
Seeing His Works
During His time, Jesus was extremely busy healing countless people and laboring to save Mankind. Jesus Christ did so many miracles, they must have been a common thing to see.
Let’s take a moment to contrast Judas Iscariot with Jesus’ mother Mary.
During the wedding where Jesus turned the water into wine, Mary said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” John 2:5. Mary knew her Son and His abilities. I am sure she had seen His works and miracles freely given as she raised Him. Mary believed He would intercede and freely help with her request at the wedding feast, not only because she carried Him in her womb and gave birth to Him, but because she had a history of seeing His works.
Judas’ Heart
Judas had a history of seeing Jesus do miracles as well. In the end, why didn’t Judas believe?
Judas was there for the parables. He was there for Jesus’ teachings. And Judas was there for conversations with the 12.
When the 12 argued about who among them was the greatest, Judas was part of the conversation. Matthew 15:1-5, Mark 9:33-37, Luke 9:46-48.
When Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ, Judas heard Jesus’ question and Peter’s answer. Matthew 16:13-20, Mark 8:27-30, Luke 9:18-20.
Being a member of the 12, which conversations was Judas not a part of when they talked about the Man they were seeing and hearing and helping?
And Judas was there when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, before His suffering. But Judas’ heart was not right within him. John 13:10-11
Where Was His Faith?
Jesus called Judas, friend. This is most painfully obvious during Jesus’ arrest when He asks Judas, “Friend, why have you come?” Jesus knew why Judas had come, but I believe Jesus wanted Judas to know to the very end that He considered Judas His friend.
Judas was with Jesus during Jesus’ ministry which lasted about 3 years and was an eye-witness of all that Jesus was doing. When we read a red-letter Bible, we see the words that Jesus spoke. Judas heard those words with his own ears. He learned the truths we seek, from a first-hand experience. But in the end, where was his faith?
The One Who Gives
Money was important to Judas. We all need money to survive, but Judas put money before his relationship with Jesus. He went so far as to steal money from the group for his own desires. And when Mary (not Jesus’ mother) poured an expensive oil on Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair, Judas was critical of her. He wanted to sell the oil because he wanted to take some of the money from it. Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, John 12:1-8.
What makes me ponder Judas’ story is the fact that he had no self-awareness of his own behavior or the fact that the only Living God was his friend.
I can’t help but wonder if Judas was so focused on himself and his own desires that he could not truly perceive the information in his face about who Jesus was. I think most of the world is so focused on themselves that even if Jesus was their friend here on earth, they would be oblivious to the fact that He is God and the One who gives eternal life.
His Relationship with Jesus Christ
What is self-awareness? I think it comes down to having our eyes open to the truth about ourselves and being honest with ourselves. We overlook a lot about ourselves because we want to be approved in our own eyes.
Do we ever question what we are doing or why? Over the years I have been forced to be so brutally honest with myself that it was quite painful, but now that I am able to look at the ugly parts of me, it has made it easier to be deeply honest with myself.
Does this mean we should overthink everything? No. I often overthink things and make them more difficult than they are, but I believe some overthinking can help us be more aware and even bear more fruit. If Judas had taken a few minutes to overthink his relationship with Jesus Christ then maybe he would not have betrayed Him.
Jesus Christ in Your Life
Even after betraying Jesus Christ, Judas could have repented but he didn’t take the time to stop and think about what he was doing in regards to Jesus. Had he stopped long enough to consider the mess he had made and turned back to Jesus Christ, then maybe he wouldn’t have taken his own life and the story would be different.
Unfortunately for Judas, eternity is going to be a very long time.
What about you? Have you taken time to think about the path you are on? Are you on the path with Jesus Christ or, like Judas, are you so focused on the life before you that you haven’t even considered the life to come? Then let me encourage you. There is still time.
Jesus Christ doesn’t care where you have been or what you have done. He does care that you spend eternity in heaven with Him. Stop right now to spend some time being self-aware. Overthink Jesus Christ in your life a little. Find that road to heaven.
What the Bible Says
“Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.” Mark 14:10-11
“Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.” Matthew 26:14-16
Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude. Luke 22:3-6
Judas Hangs Himself
Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.”
And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!”
Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.
But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.” And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.
Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, and gave them for the potter’s field, as the LORD directed me.” Matthew 27:3-10