River Of Darkness, The Judas Iscariot Story

A River of Darkness, The Judas Iscariot Story. Who was Judas? Most people recognize Judas as the man who betrayed Jesus to the Sanhedrin. John 13:2, And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon ’s son, to betray him; To understand the son we must look at the father. Jesus said, “I do only that which I have seen my Father do.” Simon. Father of Judas Iscariot (Joh-6: 71; Joh-12: 4; Joh-13: 2; Joh-13: 26). Simon, the brother of Jesus. The only undoubted notice of this Simon occurs in Mat-13: 55; Mar-6: 3. Some writers have identified him, with Simon, the Canaanite, and, still more generally, with Symeon who became bishop of Jerusalem, after the death of James, A.D. 62. The former of these opinions rests on no evidence whatever, nor is the later without its difficulties.

Simon, the Canaanite, one of the twelve apostles, Mat-10: 4; Mar-3: 18, otherwise described as Simon Zelotes, Luk-6: 15; Act-1: 13. (A.D. 28). The latter term, which is peculiar to Luke, is the Greek equivalent for the Chaldee term preserved by Matthew and Mark.

Simon, Brother, i.e. cousin, of Jesus. A disciple, called also Niger Act-13: 1 (Mat-13: 55; Mar-6: 3). Probably the apostle Simeon Zelotes, "the zealot" (Luk-6: 15; Act-1: 13) for the honour of the law and the Israelite theocracy. Called "the Canaanite" (not the nation, but Kananaios, in Chaldee equivalent to the Greek Zeelotees; "zealot," Mat-10: 4; Mar-3: 18). Tenth among the twelve in Luke, but eleventh in Matthew and Mark. Eusebius from Hegesippus makes Simeon son of Clopas to succeed James in the bishopric of the Jerusalem church, which was removed to Pella. He was martyred in his 120th year, under Trajan, A.D. 107, as David’s descendant who might claim the throne and give trouble to the Romans. Simon belonged to the faction of the Zealots, who were conspicuous for their fierce advocacy of the Mosaic ritual. For the honor of the law (Mosaic) and the Israelite theocracy. (A government ruled by or subject to religious authority. Centering on God as the prime concern: a Theo centric cosmology.) So what we need to ask here, was Judas also taught this advocacy to the Mosaic ritual and if so was this part of his decision to betray Jesus, to maintain a Mosaic trust in Jerusalem? A part of that trust is that, “A man who has violated the Law of Moses dies without mercy at the testimony of two or three witnesses.” The trust we are concerned with here is the retention of all Mosaic Laws and rituals. Holding to the letter of the Law without change. Was this a guiding principle to the decision of Judas to betray Jesus? Remember that Satan can only inhabit a man, when the man is receptive to him, already willing to accept change contrary to what he has seen and believes. The Upbringing of Judas may have played a great part in the acceptance of Satan into His heart. Covetness could also have played a large part in the deception, for Judas was the money keeper, and so being, when he found out that Jesus was occasionally speaking of His death, Judas might have became angry, for to be the money keeper of a few disciples was far short of being the treasurer of a great kingdom that he thought Jesus was to set up in Jerusalem. Think about it. Lets look a little closer at the event itself.

(The devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot) The word (PUT) is the word we want to understand. [To throw or introduce suddenly, to incite; to instigate; to urge by influence the devil planted the seed, but the soil of his heart was ready.] The devil has no power except where there is preparation for him. The covetous disposition of Judas had prepared the way.

Incite, instigate, influence, This is what Satan did, but remember that Judas had already made his deal with the Sanhedrin before Satan entered into Him, this makes the idea that, Judas was willing and ready to be led by Satan probable. Judas was partaker of all the spiritual gifts, including casting out of demons, but he was so preoccupied with his anger, he didn’t realize that Satan’s spirit had entered into him. For this proof read the following verses; Mat 26:14-16 then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,

And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him. This action happened prior to Satan entering into Judas. Luke 22:3 then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.