Judas Iscariot

John 13:18, “He who shares my bread has lifted his heel against me”. The expression has lifted his heel against me is describing “the lifting of a horse’s hoof and delivering a deadly kick.” That’s what Judas was delivering to Jesus. Feeling betrayed can feel like someone kicked you in the stomach. If we compare the feeling to the kick of a horse-that’s a pretty painful feeling.

Vs. 24-“woe to him who betrays me. It would’ve been better had he not been born.” If I’m Judas, I’ve got a lump in my throat, my knees are knocking’ and I’m white as a ghost. Perhaps this is what fueled Judas’ response in vs. 25. We need to allow Jesus to show us our deeds in the truest light. Not that he would be telling any of us it would be better if we had not been born but we do need to allow Jesus to show us the truth. We need to see our actions for what they really are.

Vs. 25-Did Judas really not know? He had already been to the religious leaders and made plans. Perhaps he wasn’t looking at it as a betrayal. Sometimes when we wrong Jesus we don’t see it for what it is. Jesus told it like it was-revealed the grave reality of the situations; laid out the truth.

But, even after the washing of the feet and the gesture with the bread, it wasn’t to be (John 13:27-30). What a scary statement-“Satan entered into him”. In Luke 22:42 it states that Satan entered Judas when he went to discuss with the chief priests about handing Jesus over. And here we see it happening again. It shows the control Satan had over Judas.

Vs. 30-“and it was night”. Things done in secret happen at night. Jesus’ trial happened at night because it didn’t follow the correct procedure. Judas went out literally and figuratively into the darkness.

Later, we see Judas accompany the Roman guards to arrest Jesus Matt. 26:47-50. Was Judas nervous as he entered the garden and saw his former companions? [Luke 22:48, “But Jesus asked him, ‘Judas, are you going to betray the son of Man with a kiss?”]) Judas turned a symbol of intimacy into an in instrument of betrayal. I wonder-did Judas look into Jesus’ eyes when he went to kiss him or did he sheepishly look away? The betrayer is exposed for who he is. If we are moving toward betrayal God will reveal and expose but it’s for the purpose of conviction and repentance.

3) What have I done? It appears as if Judas regretted his decision to betray Jesus. Matt. 27:3-5. Vs. 4, “I have sinned…for I have betrayed innocent blood.” What did Judas think Jesus was guilty of? Perhaps all the things the religious leaders were accusing him of. When we are disappointed with Jesus we will charge him with wrongdoing. We need to be like Job. When calamity befell him the first chapter states that Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Regardless of Judas’ actions here he wasn’t truly repentant. His feelings had changed but his heart did not. From the Fourfold gospel commentary, “There are two Greek words which are translated "repented," the one properly so translated, metanoeo, which means literally "to know after" and which therefore means a change of mind or purpose; and the other, metamellomai, which is used here and which means literally "to care after," indicates a sorrow for the past. The first should be translated "repent"; the second, "regret." Trench draws the distinction thus: "He who has changed his mind about the past is in the way to change everything; he who has an after care may have little or nothing more than a selfish dread of the consequences of what he has done." Considering the prophecy which had been uttered with regard to Judas' act (Mt 26:24), he had good reason to fear the consequences. While he testifies as to the innocence of Jesus, he expresses no affection for him.”