The experience of betrayal when people who you once close to and trusted, turn on you, oppose you, abandon you and who may even try to destroy you can cause great pain and lasting harm. Actually, it is one of the worst things that you can experience in life. This may have happened to you. And for sure this horrible experience happened to Jesus, even though he had done nothing to deserve it.
Betrayal is nothing new in history, but it is at epic levels in today’s world, whether in politics, business, in romantic relationships, in friendships, in families and even in churches. For example:
Countless men and women who thought they had good marriages have been shattered when they discover a partner has been unfaithful to them
So many children and young adults have been scarred and traumatised by abusers who should have been the very people protecting them
Families, even like the Royal family, have been rocked to their foundations because one angry son has demonised his father, stepmother, brother and sister-in-law before the whole world.
And so it goes on…businesses ruined and wealth lost because a supposedly loyal employee has disclosed or used confidential information. Governments undermined by leaks and hidden agendas. Good churches and leaders vilified by resentful and revengeful former members...
No wonder Proverbs 20:6 says: ‘many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?’
As Jesus discovered with Judas the greatest damage and pain comes from those who were once close to you. Judas, one of the supposed 12 disciples of Jesus, was in fact revealed to be a disciple of Satan. He was working for the other side. He was the ultimate traitor.
His life and death stand as an enduring warning against the evils of unfaithfulness. We should not quickly skip over this awful story (2 Timothy 3:16). Let’s consider some important lessons we can learn from the story of Judas.
1. Judas was given the best opportunity (Luke 10:1)
2. Judas was one thing in private and another thing in public (John 13:10-11; 1 Samuel 16:7; John 12:1-5; John 12:6; John 13:29; Matthew 26:14-16; 1 Timothy 6:10-11; Hebrews 13:5; John 13:2;27-30)
3. Judas went through a process of betrayal (Mark 14:10-11; Mark 14:11; John 18:1-3; Matthew 26:47; Matthew 26:48-50)
4. Judas never recovered from his actions (Matthew 27:3-5)
5. Judas was replaced (Acts 1:15-22; Psalm 51:10-11)
Apply
1. Judas was given the best opportunity. He was privileged to be invited to be part of the team of 12 of Jesus. Jesus had many followers and even had a specially commissioned extended team of 72 disciples (Luke 10:1). But Judas was in the core team of 12, along with Peter, James, John, Matthew and all the others that we have been learning about. That meant he was up close and personal to hear the amazing teachings of Jesus and to witness and be part of his miracles. For example, Judas was one of the disciples who picked up 12 baskets of bread after the feeding of the 5000. Judas had ready access to Jesus and remained with him even when Jesus and the disciples withdrew from the crowds for rest and time to fellowship together as a band of friends and brothers. But like many others in the Bible, he was chosen but he threw everything away. Esau was the first born but he despised his birthright and sold it to Jacob. Saul was the first king of Israel but he became proud and independent, and a shepherd boy called David replaced him. Solomon, David’s once wise son, had so many privileges, but he turned away from God and made disastrous decisions that brought lasting trouble for his people. Issues at work in the heart can later surface and result in people going far from God, His purpose and His people. That’s what happened to Judas and that’s why you should never be a Judas.
2. Judas was one thing in private and another thing in public. The disciples looked like they were all happily united. But on one historic evening when they were having a meal together with the Lord, Jesus came out with a startling statement that one of them would betray Him (John 13:10-11). Judas projected an image that he was part of the team of 12 but in his heart, he was far from Jesus and his fellow brothers (1 Samuel 16:7). We can see a number of negative things that were going on with Judas. Judas was:
- Critical: Judas had a judging heart and attitude. He even felt qualified to criticise Jesus (John 12:1-5). Now Judas sounded very righteous which is what critical people usually want to appear as. But his self-righteousness masked what was really going on in his heart (John 12:6).
- Money was an idol in his life: He was on the make for himself. Judas was the man who held the purse strings (John 13:29). Judas kept a close eye on what went in and what went out. And when Judas betrayed Jesus, he did it for money (Matthew 26:14-16). Money was a major unresolved root issue with Judas. And it is a root that leads to trouble (1 Timothy 6:10-11; Hebrews 13:5). Judas loved money more than Jesus. Jesus made it clear that you can’t serve God and money. So what’s most important to you when it comes down to it - money or the Lord?
So here are two very clear evidences that all was not right in the heart of Jesus. He was judgmental and focussed on money. Maybe there were other things going on in his heart and mind that we don’t know about. Maybe he carried grudges. Judas was an outsider. His surname Iscariot means ‘Man of Kerioth’ which was a humble town in the south of Judea. He was the only disciple who didn’t come from Galilee up north. He did not share the close connections as brothers and friends that the other disciples had. AB Bruce in his classic book ‘The Training of the 12’ suggests that such ties of regional and personal networks may have caused Judas to feel that he would never be truly accepted by the other disciples (p374). Maybe he felt resentful and discriminated against and that embittered him and made him feel revengeful.
- The Devil took control of his heart: the apostle John highlights this twice (John 13:2;27-30). So how did it all come to this?
3. Judas went through a process of betrayal. Unfaithfulness rarely happens out of nowhere. Husbands and wives normally do not suddenly leave one another. People don’t leave their churches overnight. Usually there’s a lot been going on in the run up to betrayal. Foundations have been eroded over time (John MacArthur, Twelve Ordinary Men (p193): ‘Judas did not act in a moment of insanity. This was not a sudden impulse. This dark deed was deliberately planned and premeditated. He had been planning this for days, if not weeks or even months.’) Let’s look briefly at the descent of Judas:
- His negative attitudes continued: even though he heard the teachings of Jesus about humility, serving, forgiveness and putting God first. He looked to see what he could get out of his association with Jesus (Mark 14:10-11).
- He plotted to take out Jesus: He was just waiting for his moment to attack Jesus (Mark 14:11). That’s what unfaithful people do. They want to take you down. He worked with enemies of Jesus to remove Him. Judas allied himself to some very vicious and violent people. Such was his hardness of heart to Jesus he was prepared to do anything to bring down the one who had chosen him and helped him. So he used his private knowledge of the private places where Jesus and the disciples prayed to uncover Him and capture Him (John 18:1-3; Matthew 26:47). - Betrayed Jesus while still pretending to be his disciple: With a hypocritical act Judas betrayed his fellow disciples (Matthew 26:48-50). He betrayed the trust that had been placed in him. Above all he betrayed Jesus to the cruellest death of all: crucifixion. Yet as the events of the resurrection were to show it was not the end for Jesus, but it was for Judas.
4. Judas never recovered from his actions. When Judas who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders (Matthew 27:3-5). Judas came to a tragic end. Who would have thought it? He was one of the main leaders with Jesus. He’d been so close to everything that was going on. He had been given a great opportunity. But he blew everything. Judas had passed the point of no return. Don’t make the same mistake. God gives so many opportunities for people to return from their sins and to put things right before it is too late. But there comes a moment that if you harden your heart continually, there is no way back for you. That is why you need to hear the voice of God, repent of all your sins and reconcile with those you have betrayed.
5. Judas was replaced. After the resurrection and before Pentecost Peter faced into the whole issue of the betrayal of Judas (Acts 1:15-22). So that was the past, but they needed to move forward. So they chose a replacement. The 12 was completed and it was they who stood in unity together as the Holy Spirit was poured out in great power on the Day of Pentecost. Judas was history. Now a new group were going to make a new history. For all those of you who have experienced betrayal, there is a time to mourn and be comforted by God. But there is also a moment you must decide to move forward. And now that moment has arrived for you. It’s time to get up and go again. God has a new future for you. There are so many lessons from Judas’ life to stop you from ruining your life. Today examine the state of your heart, confess your sins and decide to never be a Judas. this is your opportunity to repent of unfaithfulness in your life: unfaithfulness in your thoughts, words, attitudes and action. It’s time to get real with God and others. It’s not too late to be blessed by God but you must repent and change now. No more hidden sin. No more betrayal. Today ask the Holy Spirit to come and help you (Psalm 51:10-11). Pray for healing and new beginnings. For those who have been betrayed, today ask the Holy Spirit to heal your heart. Start to believe the promises of God to give you a new life. Forgive those who have wounded you. Move on from them and step into a new future.
