Betrayal

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present. Luke 22:1-6

What do you think of the little picture above? There were dozens of internet sites with paintings of the infamous kiss or the shamefully discarded money bag, but this one seemed special. Here is a man alone in near dark, turning away from the only source of light in the picture. What is the worst thing on earth that could happen to you? How about this: Easing yourself down a spiritual stairwell far enough to bid Satan to enter your heart. What a nightmare.

It seems like there are at least two ways to view Judas:

The first way is the easy way. We’ll call it the “WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?! route. Come on, he spent three years with the Son of God. We’re not exactly sure which teachings and miracles Judas was present for, but John said if they had all been written down the world would not be able to hold the books. How could Judas have not been affected by the Teacher he had lived and traveled with all that time? This tirade could go on…

Or, we could sadly realize that he was made of the same stuff we are. He was (yikes) one of us. No pointy teeth. No perpetual scowl and shifty eyes (Hollywood). When Jesus told the disciples that one of them would betray him, they all looked among themselves, right at and through Judas, each asking the Lord if it was them. It seemed at the time like the betrayer could have been anyone, and they all seemed worried for themselves.

It seems that Judas just never trusted God with his heart. He must have figured he could manage as his own spiritual gatekeeper. He must not have known the strength of the Adversary. How very close a relative Judas is to me. But for God’s grace I could have played Judas’ part. That realization makes me want to hit the floor before the Throne of Grace just that much harder. Could it have been me Lord? Surely it could not have been me…

This is a very dark place, but it is also the opening move in Satan’s failed strategy. The Journey to Jerusalem is almost complete. Soon this stage will be flooded with inexpressible light and (to borrow Meghan’s analogy) music of triumph. And if you let your heart listen very carefully, you will detect a low, faint…drum roll.

Wayne Lindell