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Judas
I. Intro
A. We’re all familiar with Judas and his horrible act of betrayal.
1. His name is synonymous with a traitor or backstabber.
2. We’re going to look at a biblical profile of Judas and see what we can learn about his life, and death.
3. Read Luke 6:12–16.
12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; 14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, 16 And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
II. Luke 6:12–16.
A. A Profile of Judas.
1. He was a member of a good group of people.
2. Judas was counted as one of the original twelve disciples
3. What more elite company can you have?
4. Everywhere he went he was known as one of the twelve.
B. He was close in proximity to Jesus.
1. As an disciple, he was almost always with Jesus.
2. The disciples spent three years with the Lord.
3. Judas saw the power of Jesus in other peoples’ lives.
4. Judas heard the wonderful words of Jesus. (How to be saved)
C. He did not believe Jesus.
1. Read John 6:63–71.
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. 70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
2. He did not accept who Jesus said He was.
3. In fact, he would one day turn Jesus over to the authorities.
D. Jesus knew who Judas was.
1. Jesus knew when He chose Judas what he was and what he would do.
2. Jesus knew Judas was not a true believer.
3. Jesus knew who Judas was really serving.
E. Judas was not concerned about the ministry of Jesus.
1. Read John 12:1–6.
1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. 3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. 4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
2. Judas put on a front that looked like compassion for the poor people.
3. But he really didn’t care about ministering to poor people.
4. He just saw money poured out on the ground.
F. Judas was only concerned about himself.
1. Judas saw that money poured out as money to go into the ministry treasury.
2. And then he knew he could get his thieving hands on it.
3. All Judas cared about was Judas.
4. Later, all Judas saw was thirty pieces of silver.
5. Judas was self–absorbed and would do anything to get what he wanted, even steal from Jesus.
G. Judas sat at the table with Jesus.
1. Read John 13:1–4.
1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
2. He was at the Last Supper with Jesus.
3. He lived his act until the end.
4. He even had his feet washed by Jesus
5. But the touch of Jesus on his feet couldn’t change his heart.
6. He wasn’t following the Lord.
7. He had given his heart to evil and self–service, and this meant giving his heart to the devil.
H. Judas felt guilty for betraying Jesus.
1. Read Matthew 27:3–6.
3 Then Judas, which had betrayeth him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. 6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.
2. Judas had a conscience and he felt bad about what he had done.
3. Suddenly the money didn’t mean that much to him.
4. But Judas wasted his life serving himself.
5. Judas had been with the only One who could have saved him from himself & his sins.
6. But he refused to accept Jesus and he died without Him.
I. Judas’ sins condemned him.
1. Acts 1:24–25.
24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, 25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
2. His transgressions caused him to forfeit the place he could have had.
3. His sins sent him to his own place, HELL!
4. Sin without repentance and acceptance of Jesus means Judas was lost.
5. Without Jesus, Judas spends eternity in hell.
III. Lessons Learned from the Life and Death of Judas
A. The Condition of the Heart is known by the Lord.
1. Judas looked like he was in good standing with the Lord.
2. People would see him and associate him with Jesus and the other disciples.
3. He was the treasurer who paid out money to the poor and for the support of the ministry.
4. But in his heart he was a thief and despised the use of money for the ministry.
5. And Jesus knew his heart.
B. The Lord knows your heart.
1. You may look good on the outside.
2. You may be with all the right people.
3. You may put on a good front and do the right things on occasion.
4. But Jesus knows the condition of your heart.
5. He looks right in to who you really are.
C. Guilt and remorse doesn’t mean repentance.
1. Judas felt guilty about what he had done.
2. The Bible says he was remorseful.
3. He felt so bad that he took the thirty pieces of silver back.
4. But guilty Judas went to the wrong people for forgiveness.
5. Repentance means turning around.
6. Judas could have turned around and went to Jesus hanging on the cross for forgiveness.
7. Judas felt guilty but he still wouldn’t turn to the only One who could forgive him.
8. There was no true repentance, just guilt.
D. You may feel guilty about your actions and way of living.
1. You can go to the shrink and feel better and ease your guilty conscience.
2. You may be able to go back and place the blame on some event in your childhood.
3. You may be able to place the blame for all your sins on someone else.
4. But you won’t be forgiven until you go to the only One who can forgive you, Jesus.
5. Guilty feelings don’t equal repentance.
6. True repentance is turning from your way of life and turning to Jesus.
E. Association doesn’t mean Salvation.
1. Judas was with the people Jesus chose.
2. He was with eleven people who would shake this world for Jesus Christ.
3. There are people here who are surrounded by others who Jesus has saved.
4. There are people here who are surrounded by people on fire for Jesus.
5. Being in church doesn’t mean you’re saved.
6. Being a member of a Christian church doesn’t necessarily mean you are a Christian.
F. Judas knew about Jesus.
1. Judas knew about Jesus well; he spent three years of his life with Jesus.
2. Knowledge of Jesus doesn’t equal salvation.
3. Knowing facts doesn’t mean knowing Jesus.
G. The fate of all lost people is still the same.
1. Judas was a member of the elite.
2. He was an disciple
3. He was a member of the greatest organization there ever was.
4. He was constantly in the presence of holiness and righteousness and goodness with Jesus.
5. But Judas died a lost man.
6. He went to the place where all lost people go: HELL!
H. Your position in life now doesn’t alter your position in eternity.
1. You may be a member of a church.
2. You may be in a leadership position.
3. You may hang out with good Christian people.
4. You may be associated with the ministry of the church.
5. But without believing in Jesus and accepting His finished work of the cross, you will go to the place where all lost people go: HELL!
