Oh, Judas!

He was  proud old creature with a terrible job at Dad’s stockyard. I remember him but not affectionately for he would chase me when I was a little boy. That goat led the fattened sheep onto the rail cars that took them to plant that turned them into lamb chops!  He was trained to walk in front of them and they followed meekly into the rail car.  He then circled back to the door to go back to his pen, leaving them destined to die!  He was a “Judas goat!”  The name comes from the tragic person in the story of Jesus this Holy Week.

Judas sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.  Luke says, "The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which begins with the Passover celebration, was drawing near. The leading priests and teachers of religious law were actively plotting Jesus’ murder. But they wanted to kill him without starting a riot, a possibility they greatly feared. Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, and he went over to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted that he was ready to help them, and they promised him a reward." (Luke 22:1-5, NLT)

The Gospels of Luke and John both tell us that Judas became a tool of the devil, used by the evil one to bring about the destruction of Jesus.  So how did Judas open himself to the devil’s influence? On that the Gospels are silent. Was it greed, jealousy, lust for power?  Of this much I am certain; Judas did not start to follow Jesus with an intent to one day betray Him.  He was not a double agent, planted by the Sanhedrin.  Somewhere along the way, he entertained ideas that took root.  As keeper of the disciples’ money, did he ‘borrow’ a little for his own use?  Did he grow bitter when he started to understand that Jesus was not going to start a revolution?  Was he disappointed that he was not included in the Lord’s inner circle with Peter, James, and John?  We’ll never know the exact reason, but we do know that his heart turned! When opportunity presented itself, the devil took advantage of his duplicity. Judas, once captivated by the Master’s message, gave Him up for a slave’s price. Like so many who have followed him, only too late did he realize that the evil one had played him. His shame and regret consumed him!

There are still those who walk Judas’ path. They begin to explore the way of Jesus, sitting among His disciples, serving, but with some part of themselves held in reserve.  Never fully owned by the Lord, never filled with God’s Spirit, they walk among the flock of God until the day that the deceiver steps through the door they have left open.  Deceived they turn on the One they professed to love.  Their waywardness bring division and confusion to the flock of God, and so often, only after the damage is done, do they realize something of what they have done to the Lord they once claimed to love.   My prayer is that these who fall into the deception of the Devil will find Peter’s path of repentance and restoration, not Judas’ end of destruction.

James has this word for us. He warns about living without the anchor of conviction, "adrift at sea, keeping all your options open. " (James 1:8, The Message)  His counsel? "Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field." (James 4:8, The Message)   Proverbs offers this insight - "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity." (Proverbs 11:3, NIV)   The person who gives himself to the Lord, without reservation and remains tender in His presence, is kept by the Spirit from the wiles of the deceiver.   When evil comes seeking an entrance, that person has no secret sin waiting to be exploited, no cracks in his heart that offer access to greater sin.

As we make our way through this Holy Week, let this be our prayer.
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

The result?  The very opposite of Judas!  We will never betray Him.
We will exalt Him with praise!  David continues his song.

“Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.
Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise." (Psalm 51:9-15, NIV)

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Traitor's Look

How did it feel to take the place

Of honor at the meal,

To take the sop from His own hands,

A prophesy to seal?

Was it because He washed your feet

That you sold Him as a slave?

The Son of Man. the Lamb of God,

Who'd only come to save.

Silver that they paid to you,

From out their precious till,

Was meant to buy a spotless lamb.

A sacrifice to kill;

How heavy was the money bag

that couldn't set you free?

It became a heavy millstone

As you fell into the sea.

Now Judas don't you come too close

I feel that I might see the traitor's look

Upon your face might look too much like me!

'Cause just like you I've sold the Lord,

And often for much less.

And like a wretched traitor I've betrayed

Him with a kiss.

Michael Card

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