Faithful on Fridays Blog

Part Thirteen

I can’t imagine how the other disciples felt about their ‘brother’ Judas, who followed Jesus alongside them for three years. Distinguishing him from Judas of James he’s appropriately from Kerioth (Iscariot) meaning assassin or dagger-man; his kiss of death was his weapon. It’s located in Judea, not Galilee like the other disciples, indicating he already felt like an outsider; he didn’t really belong.

Zechariah 11:12-13 and Psalm 41:9 both prophesy a coming betrayer, who’s also a friend, and Judas, Jesus’ choice, fit perfectly not because of his ‘disciple’s heart’, but as a contrast, and more importantly, to fulfill prophecy.

Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him.” John 6:70

Interestingly, Luke 4:13 ends Jesus’ temptation by the devil with the phrase, ‘he departed from Him until a more opportune time’: that opportunity presented itself in Judas. It didn’t happen overnight, but he slowly, progressively, and deliberately grew into his role as traitor.

Being the ministry’s CFO gave him plenty of opportunities to commit fraud and lead the others to believe he cared about the poor. That was a lie; he didn’t have the heart of a disciple; he was a devil.

So he agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest Him when the crowds weren’t around. Luke 22:3-6 NLT

Fast-forwarding to the Last Supper, the devil’s plan was already in Judas’ heart (John 13:2), but now, as the final blow, he became possessed,

When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” John 13:27

It’s interesting that the chosen signal of Jesus’ identity from Judas to the squad of Temple soldiers was an intimate act, a face-to-face encounter: a kiss. He called Him Rabbi (teacher), not Lord, because he hadn’t experienced that kind of relationship with the Savior so a kiss must’ve seemed odd. Even Jesus questioned his choice of betrayal,

But Jesus said, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” Luke 22:48 NLT

I detect a note of grief in Jesus’ question even though He already knew Judas’ destiny as He prayed,

“While I was with them, I kept them in Your name, which You have given Me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” John 17:12b 

Judas Iscariot felt remorse, but didn’t ask the priests or Jesus for forgiveness. His rebellious, unrepentant, Satan-filled heart led him to suicide and eternal damnation. What a contrast to the heart of a disciple, one who recognizes Jesus as the Messiah and who’s filled with honesty, compassion, and care for others, and finally eternal life with Him. That’s our destiny as a Christ-follower.