How Could Anyone Betray His Best Friend?
John 13:2, 18-30; Luke 22:1-6, 21-23, 47-48
INTRO.
From Walter Wangerin, The Book of God, pp. 765-767.
As he went, more and more people threw their garments down in the road before him. It became a garment of clothing and praise. People ran back to groves of trees and cut branches, then rushed forward and spread them also in the way. A vast, laughing multitude surrounded him now, some running ahead, some following. Excitement raced from heart to heart like fire in a dry field. They shouted and sang songs.
Then, as they were descending the mount to the gates of Jerusalem, the voices of thousands of people all became one voice, one massive music, singing, Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest!
Judas was delirious. The city gates began to pour forth another mass of people equal to the first. Those who came out converged with those who were coming in, so the singing was doubled and the roar of it cracked the high blue vaults of heaven. It seemed that all Judea was spiraling down to this sole place for the praise of Jesus of Nazareth. Oh, what a mighty army! Now truly, the very legions of Rome must tear off their greaves and beg for mercy.
Certain rulers with bright red faces had also come out of the city. They fought their way to Jesus on the colt.
“Teacher!” they screamed, “control your disciples! Tell them to shut up!”
But Jesus shouted, “I tell you, if these were silent the very stones would cry out!”
Judas laughed with magnificent glee. He couldn’t help himself. He was sailing on a sea of victory, surely, surely! And the water was the people, and the ship was his Lord, and the wind was behind them, surely!
Shaking with laughter, seeking quick camaraderie, he glanced up at Jesus – and suddenly there descended to the earth a horrible silence. Or so it seemed. Judas felt as if he and Jesus were alone beneath a green sea where there was no sound but the voice of Jesus only.
Because Jesus was crying!
He was not rejoicing in the public acclaim nor glorying in the advent of his kingdom now. He was crying! He was gazing at the stones of the city and allowing tears to run down his face.
Was Judas the only one who could hear the tragic sobbing of the Master? He wanted to grab Jesus and shake him. Don’t lose heart now! Judas howled in his heart.
Jerusalem, he heard Jesus saying, O Jerusalem, would that even today you knew the things that make for peace. But they are hid from your eyes. For the days shall come when our enemies will surround you and dash you to the ground, you and your children within you. They will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.
For just a moment Judas suffered a stark panic. The words might be words of a defiant messiah, but the tone was defeat. The tone was melancholy. Judas screamed out loud, “The kingdoms of the world, Master! The jewels of creation! Their power and their glory are all yours, if you will fight for them!”
Immediately it broke the spell: the thunderous songs of the people rushed in again, and Judas heard roarings on every side. He and Jesus once more were riding the great surge of royal power through the city itself! They were at the very gates of the Temple.
Jesus dismounted. The Lord went afoot, now, majestic and wrathful, through the Triple Huldah Gate in the southern wall of the Temple, his golden eyes fixed and flaming. The disciples could scarcely keep up with him.
Then Judas saw where Jesus was going. The booths. The hundred shops in the southern portico. The tables, the selling of animals for sacrifice, the money exchange, commerce in the precincts of the Temple.
As he approached the busy marketplace, Jesus twisted three cords into a whip. Then he cried in a piercing voice, “Away! Away!” and began to crack his furious whip over the heads of the merchants.
Judas trembled with pleasure. Now it was starting. This was Messiah! Jesus, hurling fire to earth! Jesus, the howl of God, whose voice is a rod of iron: Judgment has come, O you people! For look how the Master flings to the pavement the coins of the money changers! How he tips their tables over! And those who sell sheep and oxen and pigeons – them he drives out of the Temple, crying accusations like a Zealot: ”Away with these things! Away! It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer. But you have made it a den of thieves. Away!”
All these things took place on the first day of the week, the Sunday before the Feast of Passover. On that day, Judas said in his soul, This is he whose coming is a refiner’s fire – and who shall endure it now? Who shall be standing when this week is done?
All the way back to Bethany, Judas wiped tears from his eyes and sighed with excitement.
But that was the last time he felt such joy. That was the last time Judas Iscariot was glad, for the rest of his life.
Today we associate the name “Judas” with treachery, betrayal. No one names their child “Judas.” But not always been so. At the time it was a honorable name, a popular name - the Greek form of the a common royal tribal name Judah (יהודה, Yehûdâh, Hebrew for "God is praised"). One of Jesus’ own half-brothers was named Judas, as was another of the twelve.
Judas was a disciple – had decided to follow Jesus. Had heard Jesus teach, had seen his miracles. Not only a disciple, but hand-picked after a night of prayer to be one of the apostles – one of the inner circle! Judas had gone out paired with another apostle preaching, healing the sick, casting out demons! Had the same authority, preached the same message, performed the same miracles as the others.
Trusted enough by the others that he was the treasurer for them in their travels, even though the group included other businessmen and even a tax accountant.
Seated in the position of honor to the immediate left of the host at the banquet table in the upper room.
But we don’t think of any of that. What we remember is how he ended up! How Judas agreed to betray Jesus, conspiring with religious leaders in a contract for murder.
WHEN: Happens at Passover. The Passover celebration commemorated the night the Israelites were freed from Egypt, when all the firstborn males died throughout Egypt except for those marked with the blood of a lamb. Those the angel of death passed over.
Originally two feasts which followed one another immediately. Passover took place on one night and one meal, and was followed by a seven day festival of unleavened bread. By now considered one eight day feast.
One of the most important feasts on Jewish calendar. Every male over 12 years expected to come to Jerusalem to celebrate. Huge number always made the Romans nervous. Afraid of possible political overtones, attempts to revolt, especially at this feast when Israel celebrated freedom from Pharaoh.
The religious leaders had determined that Jesus was a threat to their way of life. Efforts to trick him had failed. He was becoming more and more popular, and hundreds of thousands of pilgrims descending on Jerusalem made it imperative for them to do something about him before he gathered an even larger following!
And so, as incredible as it seems, we find that the religious leaders – whose job was to pray, teach, and sacrifice the Passover lamb whose blood protects from divine wrath – are during this most holy festival plotting to execute the One who fulfills all that the exodus deliverance and Passover lamb represented.
How could they do such a thing?
As part of preparation for Passover, they had cleansed their homes of every bit of leaven. But hadn’t cleansed their hearts of sin.
Read Luke 22:1-6 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2and 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. 3Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5They were delighted and agreed to give him money. [Matthew 26:15 – thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave]. 6He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.
They were thrilled! Had an insider! Judas knew Jesus’ every move, and now they could capture him when there was not a crowd present. They prepare to circle for the kill.
Shift scene to upper room. During the supper Jesus reveals the presence of a traitor in their midst. Doesn’t do it so much for the other disciples, as for Judas himself.
John13:18-30 “I am not referring to all of you;” (refer back to vs. 17, “you will be blessed if you do them.”) “I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: ‘He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’ 19I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He.” . . . 21After he had said this; Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.” 22His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”
25Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. 27As soon as Judas took his bread, Satan entered him.
“What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him, 28but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. 30As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.”
Even though Jesus knows what Judas is up to, he doesn’t exclude Judas as (in John’s terminology), he showed them the full extent of his love. He had kissed him, washed his feet, and now he is giving Judas another chance to repent. Even knowing what Judas has conspired to do, he offers him once again his friendship. Significant that Jesus doesn’t openly identify Judas as the traitor, but protects him to the very end.
The other disciples are puzzled, don’t know Judas’ true character or understand the prophecies in the Psalms. If Peter had known, I suspect he would have used his sword right then on Judas.
Shift scene again to betrayal itself.
WHERE it happens – across the Kidron Valley- O.T. the Eastern boundary of Jerusalem. On the Mount of Olives. In Jerusalem itself there were few, if any private gardens. Instead, the wealthy had their gardens outside the city. Presumably, some unnamed friend had given Jesus the right to use his garden, and it was evidently Jesus’ custom, when he was in Jerusalem, to go to that garden to pray.
As we read in Luke 21:37 Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives. Judas knew where he would be. Jesus isn’t trying to hide from Judas. Goes to the place of rendezvous where Judas would normally expect to find him.
Now is the time and place of Jesus choosing. Wasn’t before. The way Jesus arranged for the Passover meal shows he knew something was afoot. Jesus sent Peter and John to make preparation for the feast – location a secret from everyone else, including Judas. If Judas had known, might have informed the authorities then, and Jesus wanted to eat the last supper with his disciples, and give them some crucial final teaching.
Luke 22:47, 48 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Matthew and Mark indicate that he did indeed kiss him – common custom to so greet a friend, kissing on cheek or forehead.
To make sure the temple police could be certain of the identification of the one they were to arrest there in the moonlit shadows, Judas kisses him several times. Luke’s tense indicates Kiss = prolonged kissing. Matthew and Mark have a compound form indicating repeated kissing.
Can’t you hear the pain in Jesus’ voice as he asks, Judas, are you betraying the Son of man with a kiss. Could have pointed him out. Could have called out, “here he is!” But a kiss? The mark of respect and affection? What callous hypocrisy.
This is yet another attempt by Jesus to touch the conscience of Judas. He had identified with the enemy, but it’s not too late to switch sides, seek Jesus’ forgiveness! In Luke Jesus calls him by name. In Matthew’s account calls him “friend.” “Comrade,” my “companion.”
Other eleven by then had no doubt formed a circle around Jesus to protect him, but allowed Judas to approach, because still had not identified him as the betrayer!
I believe Jesus probably suffered no greater disappointment than Judas’ betrayal.
Deepest hurts come from those who are closest to us.
• Spouse is unfaithful. Leaves for “greener pastures.”
• Child whom you have raised, loved unconditionally, sacrificed for, turns on you.
• Friend you’ve confided in betrays a confidence.
• Co-worker stabs you in the back if it means they get the promotion and you don’t.
• Happens even in churches. [E.g. Mark Serviss??]
My question is WHY? Why did Judas defect from the ranks and betray the Master? How can anyone betray his best friend?
I have some reservations about how accurate psychoanalysis can be, especially posthumous psychoanalysis. But at least thing of some factors, some possibilities we can consider
The Gospel of Judas, a 62 pg. Coptic text which was discovered several years ago, and trumpeted by the liberal media as “giving us new insights into the disciple who betrayed Jesus” is really of no help here. We must go to Scripture if going to get some clues into the reasons for his behavior.
We know he was a thief. Back up six days previous to the events of Thursday night. John 12:5-6 [protesting the anointing of Jesus feet with nard by Mary]. Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
Four days later another incident occurs – Matthew 26 Jesus is anointed with alabaster – this time on his head – and though it doesn’t list them by name, surely Judas was one of the disciples who were indignant (vs. 8), and protested that it could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.
Jesus explains it was to “prepare me for burial.” Then, the next verse – Matthew 26:14 Then (that’s the trigger) one of the Twelve – the one called Judas Iscariot – went to the high priests 15and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. 16From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
Greed no doubt played a part. But 30 pieces of silver really wasn’t really a large payment for such a crime. There had to be something more.
Has been suggested because of disappointed hopes. He followed Jesus hoping to get an office in the kingdom when Jesus overthrew the Romans. Now Jesus is talking about dying instead of setting up his kingdom. His own plans frustrated, Judas turns against Jesus in bitter retaliation. Jesus may be going down, but no way he is going down with him!
Another perspective is that he was trying to precipitate a crisis, so that Jesus would have to fight. Don’t know.
Do know the betrayal was to fulfill prophecy.
Psalm 41:9 Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. [picture of kicking horse]. This is quoted by Jesus in the upper room – John 13:18.
Psalm 55:12-14 If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God.
After the Resurrection, before Pentecost, as the disciples gathered in Jerusalem daily, Peter quotes two additional verses – Ps. 69:5 and Ps. 109:8 regarding the vacancy in leadership that Judas left, and the necessity of choosing someone else to take his place among the twelve apostles.
Questions:
Did Judas “have” to do it? Had been prophesied – was his fate foreordained and there was nothing he could do about it?
If so, why condemn him? After all, he simply did God’s will and fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies.
If Jesus knew that Judas would betray him, why had he picked him in the first place? Jesus spent a whole night in prayer before he picked his twelve apostles, so we must believe that it was the Father’s will that Judas be among them.
Jesus knew early on – John 6:70 “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71(He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)
Consider the possibility that the selection of Judas did not seal his fate. Instead, it gave him the opportunity to watch the Lord Jesus closely, to believe and be saved.
Luke 6:16 “Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.” “Became” suggests he didn’t start out that way.
In his sovereignty God had determined that his Son would be betrayed by a friend. But divine foreknowledge does not override or excuse human freedom to choose. We are responsible and accountable for all our actions. Can’t blame God.
Ultimately only one to blame was himself, even though Judas was also motivated by Satan.
Satan had actively opposed Jesus through out his ministry. After temptation of Jesus at beginning of his ministry read in Luke 4:13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. This was such a time.
Luke 22:3 Satan entered Judas. John 13:2 at dinner “the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon to betray Jesus.” 13:27 “As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.”
The murderous purposes of the religious leaders and Judas’ intent converge, and Satan utilizes them for his own designs.
Begin to understand there is a “story behind the story.” This is more than a conflict of human political interests. The betrayal and ultimately the crucifixion involve more than the selfish ambitions of some religious leaders and the disillusionment of one disciple. There is a cosmic battle going on – a battle in which Satan will be completely defeated.
Luke’s statement Satan entered Judas doesn’t mean he took over control – not like an occult movie of demon possession where demon possessed person like a puppet. Yes, Judas heart was under the devil’s influence, but Satan could not have entered unless Judas opened the door.
Can’t hide behind Flip Wilson’s line, the devil made me do it! You may play into his hands, you can indeed be used for his purposes. But you DON”T HAVE TO DO IT! You have control over your volition – what you choose to do.
When Jesus handed Judas the piece of bread – John 13:27 – it was a sign of friendship. Despite Jesus’ knowledge of Judas intentions, it was a last appeal for him to change his course. Some commentators think his words what you are about to do, do quickly in vs. 27 is in effect a demand that Judas make up his mind either to respond to Jesus’ friendship, or to betray him. But with the morsel of bread, Satan entered into him. Judas had made his choice, and in making it he had cut himself off from the light of the world.
The moon was full, but John observes that when Judas left the room it was night. He’s using the term symbolically. Judas had surrendered himself to the power of darkness.
Can a Christian be “demon possessed?” Those who say, “yes” site Judas as an example.
I don’t think he was a Christian and thus didn’t have the protection of SALVATION, of the indwelling Christ for two reasons: (1) Jesus himself said Judas had never been cleansed by the Lord. John 13:10b-11 [as noted last week, a beautiful illustration of cleansing that comes at salvation, yet need for subsequent confession]. And you are clean, though not ever one of you. 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
(2) Interesting fact I discovered this week – there all along, just hadn’t noticed it before. As read through each passage of Scripture than mentions Judas, I was curious to see how Judas addressed Jesus.
What we call a person reveals a great deal about our relationship to that person. John 13:13 (last week) “you call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.”
Judas calls him “teacher” (or “rabbi”), but there is no record that he ever called him Lord! Example Matthew 26:49 (in garden), Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
A lot of people say “Jesus was a good teacher.” Judas called Jesus “teacher,” but never called him Lord. Even among those who mouth the word, there are those who do not really have a relationship with Jesus as their Savior, their Lord, their Master.
Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evil-doers!’
E.g. Jesus’ parable of the “wheat and tares.”
We have had the spotlight on Judas. Need to refocus. Shift scene again. More pertinent to our own lives than just asking, “why did Judas do it?” “How could he betray his best friend?”we need to examine our own hearts.
You may have done a lot of “disciple” things.
• Went forward at an altar call, were
• baptized in the river,
• went to a Christian college, even seminary,
• preached,
• sang, played instruments,
• built churches,
• taught Sunday School,
• gone on mission trips,
• led people to the Lord,
• counseled people in trouble,
• lived a clean life – a model citizen.
When people talk about you they say, I wish I could be just like him/her!
Question isn’t what you’ve done. Question is: are you going to finish well?” Judas is a wake up call – doesn’t matter who you are, what positions of responsibility you’ve held or do hold, what you’ve “done for God,” if you allow sin to creep in and master you (in Judas’ greed) or Satan to control you, it leads to destruction!
None of us is immune to failure! To betrayal! To being exposed as a fraud!
Who can honestly say he would never “sell Jesus out?” If we were in the wrong circumstances, facing an incredible amount of pressure, everyone is capable of betrayal.
In the guise of being “good Christians” do we pretend to love and adore and serve him. Do we appear to others to kiss the Son of God – but with false motivation? Are our outward demonstrations of allegiance just a sham to cover up our real intentions? Do we just want to use him for our advancement, our purposes, our pleasure? Do we turn on him with bitterness and anger when life doesn’t go as we expected when we “signed on?”
Judas serves as a WARNING of how close can come to God’s kingdom and still be lost!
Some today may identify with Judas.
May feel there is no hope for you: say “I am ungodly, a sinner, an enemy of God! How could God possibly forgive me?
Though he was Satan’s agent, Judas was still a lost soul. And Jesus cares deeply about lost souls. In fact, the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost. In Jesus’ reaching out to Judas we see he loves his enemies, sinners, and ungodly people.
Today he’s reaching out to you:
Are you ungodly? Romans 5:6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Are you a sinner? Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Are you God’s enemy? Romans 5:10 For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life.
Through his death on the cross Jesus did it all. There is hope for us! There is deliverance from our sin! Even for the most hardened enemy of God, reconciliation is possible.
The choice is yours – what will you do with Jesus?
ENDNOTE: i A Coptic manuscript of some 62 pages which popped up on the antiquities market a few years ago is supposed to be a version of the otherwise lost Gospel of Judas mentioned by Irenaeus of Lyons in the 180s.
According to National Geographic, which was ecstatic over its discovery, “The Gospel of Judas gives a different view of the relationship between Jesus and Judas, offering new insights into the disciple who betrayed Jesus. Unlike the accounts in the canonical Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, in which Judas is portrayed as a reviled traitor, this newly discovered Gospel portrays Judas as acting at Jesus’ request when he hands Jesus over to the authorities.” http://www9.nationalgeographic.com/lostgospel/index.html
Initial suggestions by the liberal news media were that the Gospel of Judas could shake the foundations of Christianity. Actually, the document -- though certainly an ancient artifact of interest for its historical value -- has no impact at all on our view of the church or Christian theology.
It is one more old Gnostic document (there are several others), written a century or more after the New Testament documents, aimed at trying to attract converts away from orthodox Christianity and toward the Gnostic cult groups that the church had already rejected as heretical.
The "Gospel of Judas" text may be recently discovered, but its existence has been known for about two millennia. It was condemned as a fraud by the early Church fathers.
The quotes below are from the actual text of The Gospel of Judas (Edited by Rodolphe Kasser, Marvin Meyer, and Gregor Wurst
Published in book form complete with commentary by The National Geographic Society, Copyright (c) 2006 by The National Geographic Society).
“INTRODUCTION: INCIPIT
The secret account of the revelation that Jesus spoke in conversation with Judas Iscariot during a week three days before he celebrated Passover.”
“JESUS SPEAKS TO JUDAS PRIVATELY
Knowing that Judas was reflecting upon something that was exalted, Jesus said to him, “Step away from the others and I shall tell you the mysteries of the kingdom. It is possible for you to reach it, but you will grieve a great deal. [36] For someone else will replace you, in order that the twelve [disciples] may again come to completion with their god.” Judas said to him, “When will you tell me these things, and [when] will the great dayof light dawn for the generation?” But when he said this, Jesus left him. . . . .
“JESUS SPEAKS OF THOSE WHO ARE BAPTIZED, AND JUDAS’S BETRAYAL . . . . “But you will exceed all of them. For you will sacrifice the man that clothes me.”
“CONCLUSION: JUDAS BETRAYS JESUS
[…] Their high priests murmured because [he] had gone into the guest room for his prayer. But some scribes were there watching carefully in order to arrest him during the prayer, for they were afraid of the people, since he was regarded by all as a prophet. They approached Judas and said to him, “What are you doing here? You are Jesus’ disciple.” Judas answered them as they wished. And he received some money and handed him over to them.”
