Judas … the fallen disciple
Does anyone here know a person called Judas?
It doesn’t have to be a friend or relative ... just anyone. Someone you have met?
I doubt we would have. In fact to test my theory I used the internet to look up the popularity of this name. This is the response of one web search.
Wow! Judas is an uncommon name! One website has over 26,500 baby names in our database of international names popularity, but Judas was not one of those names.
I don’t think many of us would be surprised by that fact. What parent would want their child to be connected to such a character?
Judas. The very mention of his name conjures all sorts of stereotypes.
He’s shifty and untrustworthy.
He’s calculating and double-minded.
He’s the shadowy fringe member of the group.
That’s the picture which comes to our mind when we think about Judas, isn’t it.
Here are some passages from the Bible which reinforce that idea:-
One of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand Jesus over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand Him over.
Matthew 26:14-16
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.
John 13:2
While Jesus 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, but Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"
Luke 22:47-48
Judas – going to the enemies of Jesus and offering them a way to get even. Judas – making a pact with the devil so that he could earn 30 pieces of silver. Judas – using a sign of affection as a means of betrayal. No-one would name their son after a person like that.
That’s how we see it, don’t we. But that is not how the other disciples saw him.
Judas, like the rest, was part of the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples.
Judas witnessed amazing events. Jesus walking on the water. Thousands fed on a hillside from a little boy’s lunch. Judas had seen Jesus throw back His head and roar with laughter sitting around a campfire. They had sat together on many occasions and prayed. Judas was a road companion, an intimate friend.
Judas, like the rest, participated in disciple ministry
Luke 9:1-2 says When Jesus had called the Twelve together, He gave them power and authority to drive out demons and to cure diseases, and He sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. We never read that Judas failed – in all areas Judas enjoyed ministry success like everyone else.
Judas, like the rest, had special responsibilities.
When you’ve got a group of at least 13 people moving around from place to place, you need to have someone responsible handling the money. Judas Iscariot was that man … the official "keeper of the bag". He was given that task because he had the best business mind and the other disciples trusted his decisions.
What all of this demonstrates is that none of the disciples had any reason to suspect Judas. In fact, even on the very last day before the crucifixion, the other disciples were completely unaware of Judas’ dark side.
When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, He said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray Me." They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?"
Matthew 26:20-22
If there had been any suspicion one of them would have been able to stand up and say, “I knew something was happening and Judas I’ve been suspecting you for some time”. Instead each one of the disciples – and this is incredible, each one of the disciples is open to the suggestion that they might be the one. Later in that same evening the disciples ... including Judas ... celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him, but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since 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.
John 13:27-29
As far as the rest of the disciples are concerned Judas is just an ordinary man getting on with the job of ministry … he doesn’t stand out as being any different from the other 11 disciples.
When you stop for a moment and think about Judas you can’t help but be struck by an unsettling realisation. There are a lot of similarities between us and Judas.
Isn’t it true that we are part of the inner circle? Jesus calls us His brothers and sisters. Jesus calls us His friends. We have looked to the crucifixion and seen Him who is full of compassion, mercy and forgiveness. We have felt His touch in our hearts. Every time we open the Bible, or have fellowship together, or come to church we feel His presence … we grow closer in our relationship with Him. Like Judas, we are part of the inner circle.
Isn’t it also true that we have participated in disciple ministry?
We have been there when we have seen people come to faith. That is disciple ministry.
We have see sinners growing, changing, working against ungodly habits and characteristics. That is disciple ministry.
We have been involved in spreading the Word of God. That is disciple ministry.
Like Judas, we have participated in ministry.
Isn’t it also true that we have been given special responsibilities? We have different gifts and abilities. We work in different areas. As members of God’s family we are called to use our gifts for the glory of God … and we do. We, as the body of Christ, work together to build the kingdom of God. Like Judas, we have been given special responsibilities.
In many ways there is not much difference between us and Judas. That is a fact which ought to make us sit up and take a little bit of notice about what it takes to be a part of God’s family.
I’m sure most of us have seen a baby eating – and we are equally familiar with the “eating by absorption method”. That’s where all the food ends up on the face and hands and none goes into the mouth – for some reason the child thinks that the nutrition of the food will absorb through their skin and keep them feed. But we know they don’t get nourished that way – the food needs to go into the mouth.
Let’s take the same analogy and apply it to Judas. If ever there was a man who had a prime opportunity to become a saint, that man would be Judas.
Three and a half years of exposure to Jesus.
Hands-on participation in healings and miracles.
Esteemed by the 11 as the one most capable of looking after their money and the physical needs of the group.
An intimate companion of Jesus.
He had prime opportunity … but it just didn’t work out. That is because “salvation by absorption” is not the way people come to faith. You don’t become a believer by hanging around and watching other believers ... and that applies even when the other believer is Jesus.
Why is it important to realize that “salvation by absorption” does not lead to a faith that cuts deep into our hearts?
It will impact the way we seek to raise our children. All Christian parents have a responsibility to make sure that their home is a mission field. So we challenge and nurture our children in the faith. Bible reading … prayer … sitting together and talking about the Word … those opportunities we have to share our experiences and share how Jesus has worked through them.
But it doesn’t always turn out as we hoped.
Even the “best” … and I use that term very loosely … the “best” Christian homes have a family member – or several family members – who do not walk with the Lord.
Being in a Christian home in and of itself is not enough … not for Judas … not for our children.
It will impact the way we seek to share the Gospel.
Jesus wants us to be His witnesses.
Sometimes we can fall into the trap of thinking that if our not-yet-believing friends hang around with us long enough that they will see how we live and be transformed.
But, as we see with Judas, this is not the case. The truth of Jesus needs to be explained and spoken if it is going to have any chance of being absorbed.
It will impact our evangelism efforts as a church. An evangelism trap is to think that we just need to provide the right environment … powerful youth programs … dynamic worship services … effective Gospel events … and so forth. Somehow this will make faith happen. It’s good to have these things. But just having people come to that environment isn’t necessarily going to generate faith.
As we look at Judas
… and our families,
… and those seeking answers,
… and ourselves,
as we look the truth is very clear. Spiritual privilege does not guarantee salvation. It just can’t work like that … there is something else at stake here. We see what it is by bringing our attention back to Judas. Obviously Judas missed something … something essential.
Why did Judas become the betrayer? Judas was unwilling to let go of those aspects of life which kept him secure in the past.
Judas was well educated.
He came from an area near Jerusalem – an area where the cream of society lived.
He had good business sense.
He knew how to get through life and look after himself.
Before becoming a disciple Judas was a practical man who was very secure. And even though he was privileged to be a disciple he didn’t change – he didn’t learn that Jesus’ ministry isn’t always practical.
Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honour. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray Him, objected, "Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages." He 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.
Judas did have ulterior motives, but you see the practical side of him come out. He demands a little common sense. The cost of the perfume was more than a year’s wages, and Judas saw it as an enormous waste, “I’m supposed to look after the motley crew and people are just throwing money around. This crazy lady decides to get extravagant and give Jesus a $50,000 bath! It’s just not practical”. That was Judas. For Judas the mission was fast becoming a ministry to be budgeted rather than a Saviour to be served
This Saviour didn’t always act in practical ways. In the eyes of many, including Judas, this was the time for the revolution – the time for Jesus to declare that He was King and that His rule was going to begin. But Jesus didn’t follow the plan.
Instead Jesus preferred to have dinner with an emotional money-wasting woman rather than have a revolution.
When Jesus should have been out rubbing shoulders with the power brokers and people who could make things happen Jesus instead spent the most important hours of His life with insignificant people in an insignificant village.
As far as Judas was concerned it just didn’t make sense. This is not the way to be secure. It just wasn’t practical.
Judas couldn’t let go of his old life, and that is how Satan got the toehold he needed. The more Judas thought about the impractical nature of the ministry – the more he was tempted to take care of himself and come away with some security.
He was appalled with waste and careless spending.
He started to build a little nest-egg … just a few coins for himself.
Eventually it came to the point where money was more important than everything else.
By the time of the last supper greed and Satan had so grasped his heart that Judas had chosen money – 30 pieces of silver – rather than his master. And we should learn from that.
We should learn that it’s possible to live very near Jesus Christ and yet fall away. It’s possible because we can be people who don’t allow Jesus to be our full security. For Judas the issue was money … for us it can be something else.
Our skills and talents … or the job we have.
Our ability to help others … or the success of our family.
Our self-success … or the esteem others give us.
Our looks and physical strength … or the faith we place in others.
We cannot look at the life of Judas without confronting the truth that there is the potential of Judas within us. There is something obsessively practical that keeps us from letting go of our securities and following Him completely.
Judas was the betrayer ... but he was also a fool. In the end he took his life because he didn’t think there was another way. He was wrong.
Judas wasn’t the only one to betray Jesus. In fact, all of the disciples ran for their lives. But only Judas ultimately forgot that Jesus’ very life was about restoration. For if the Gospel is true and if Jesus’ death on the Cross means anything, it means that even Judas could have found forgiveness for his sin.
The same Jesus who prayed for His murderers as they nailed Him to a cross, and the same Jesus who forgave the thief on the cross is the same Jesus who could have forgiven the man who had kissed Him into His enemies’ arms.
The crowning error of Judas’s life was not that he betrayed Jesus. The crowning error of Judas’s life was limiting the grace of God!
Even to the last possible moment, Jesus was extending His love to Judas.
Jesus washed the feet of Judas.
Jesus had the Lord’s Supper with Judas and offered fellowship.
But felt he had gone too far.
It was too hard to believe. It was too much to hope for. It just didn’t make sense!
And Judas was right. Jesus’ forgiveness doesn’t make sense. Jesus sees the traitor in you and me, and yet He continues to love us and offer us forgiveness. He washes our feet, He extends us fellowship, and He offers us another chance. That kind of love can change your life.
It doesn’t matter what you’ve done.
God can forgive you and make you whole again.
And the depth of His grace can loosen your grip on any securities that are holding you back.
Judas betrayed Jesus Christ. In the early hours of the morning the chief priests and the elders of the people came to a decision to put Jesus to death. The longest night in the history of the world is drawing to a close. The huge walls of Jerusalem and the pinnacles of the Temple are emerging from the shadows of the night.
If you strain to see, you can just make out a solitary figure coming down the winding road. It appears to be a man walking out of the city … he’s carrying something. The best you can tell, it’s a rope. He slips into the darkness and is gone. For Judas was a practical man.
Will you be practical too?
Prayer
