As Good Friday is only two days away, I had this to meditate on this morning…

Matthew 27:3, “Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “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.”

A few observations on Judas Iscariot – the one who betrayed Jesus:

1) He was one of the disciples.

2) He had direct contact with the Son of God.

3) He had responsibility (ministry) at his “church.” (He was the treasurer!)

4) He heard the same sermons other disciples heard from Jesus.

5) He went through hardships with other disciples.

6) He felt very guilty betraying Jesus.

7) He didn’t think he could be forgiven by Jesus and thus ended his life…

This is very troubling. Up to point #6 above, he looks like every other disciple, or you and me! He even looks like Peter who also denied Jesus 3 times at the most critical moment. But why was Judas condemned and Peter saved?

Judas’s never submitted his will to the will of God. The whole time he was with Jesus, he wanted Jesus to take over the government, so that he would reign with him on earth. But when that didn’t seem plausible, he had no “use” for Jesus. In other words, to Judas Jesus was an instrument to bring about what he really wanted. Jesus was a bellhop to fetch something he wanted…

That was the difference between Judas and Peter. Although Peter had denied Jesus too at the most critical moment, his will was submitted to God. He had a temporary lapse (sin) in denying Jesus but ultimately showed his true color in coming back to Jesus and even dying for Him later on in life. But Judas never understood what Jesus was about. Which is scary because many churchgoers among us look and feel like genuine born-again believers, but unless their will is submitted to the Lord (so that they can genuinely pray, “Your will and not mine,”), they are never saved! And will be condemned to hell for all eternity like Judas…

What you desire ultimately might be a noble thing (after all, Judas Iscariot might have been a very patriotic man who wanted nothing more than his beloved country to be out of Roman control…). But you must desire a greater thing, and that is to desire God’s kingdom to be established. Even if that means a harm would come to you. Jesus must be above all in our lives!

PH