Tag Archives: Judas

What Happened to Judas?

I am reading in Matthew 27 today, and it is the story of the crucifixion of Jesus.  At the beginning of the chapter, we see the end of Judas’ life.  The story flows like this:

3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.

4 ”I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”
“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”

5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

 

I am always fascinated with how Judas can have spent so much time with Jesus and still missed it.  I always have a hope that I will find some place in the story where Judas turns.  I just don’t want him to miss out on a chance at joy.  But I still haven’t found that part of the story.  It just doesn’t seem to be there.  When I read in verse three that he is filled with remorse, that is as close as I can find.

Unfortunately, there is huge gap between us being sorry for making a mistake and us trusting Jesus as our savior.  If Judas had turned his heart at this point, he would have trusted Jesus, not committed suicide.  He was just a few hours from the resurrection, and he took his own life.  He never made it.

Just a few hours from the resurrection.

So close.

It just breaks my heart to read this story.  But it pushes me to constantly evaluate what is driving me in my decisions.  When I make decisions based on guilt and regret, usually it works out poorly.  They are decisions without hope; desperate and grasping.

When I make decisions based on Jesus being my living King, it’s a whole different type of decision.  It’s one based on an impossible hope created by the loving, powerful son of God.

What message are we sending those we lead and love?  It’s more than remorse.  It’s faith.  It’s more than being sorry for sin.  It’s trusting in the living one.

I’m so glad.  Hope is the best way to live by far.

Abandoned by All. Trusted by a Few.

Ever made a decision that you knew was bad, but you did it anyway?  And then, when the decision is carried out, you’re hit with total heart break over it?  Yeah?  Well, Judas did too.  He sold Jesus out for money, and then regretted it.

The problem is, He still didn’t understand Jesus, even in his sadness and guilt.

Peter denied Jesus three times, but later Jesus offers him the chance to be forgiven, and he goes on to lead the church.

Judas would have been offered the same forgiveness, had he been willing to face the pain.  But he took the quick way out, and missed out on redemption.  His shortcut ended any chance of forgiveness and joy.

So, what will you and I do today?  We will make mistakes.  We always do.  But what we do after those mistakes is the crucial part.  Do we run from them, create shortcuts, deny God, and ultimately let our mistakes destroy us and kill us?  Or, like Peter, will we be broken by our mistakes, and give God the chance to redeem us and offer us forgiveness?

Mistakes are universal.  We all blow it.  We all wander off on our own, sell God out, and deny Him at times.  It’s called sin.  It is going to happen to each of us today, at some point.  But how we respond is what tells the world Who we belong to.  Judas was sad for selling out Jesus, but He still didn’t trust Him.  Peter did.

When you blow it today, will you turn towards Jesus, or away from Him?  It makes all the difference between life and death.

I’ve Heard Some Bad Nicknames in My Time, But Geesh……..

As Matthew 26 opens, we are heading for the end of Jesus’ life.  The crucifixion is looming, and the scary oboe music from every drama is playing in the background.  You can just feel the coming storm.  At the beginning of the chapter, Jesus tells His disciples in plain language that in two days He will be arrested to be crucified.  In verses 14-16, Judas slinks off to sell Jesus for a few dollars, and sets in motion the wheels of deceit and destruction.

But wedged in the middle is an interesting story.  A woman comes and pours perfume on Jesus while He is in the home of Simon the Leper (what a horrible nickname). There is so much wrong in this picture.  It’s Passover week.  Every Jew in the country was working hard to keep themselves spiritually pure so they could celebrate Passover.  Jesus goes into a leper’s home (big no-no), eats dinner there (bigger no-no) and a woman is rather inappropriate in public with her affection (big, big no-no).  In John 12, he says the woman is Mary, Martha and Lazarus’ sister.  You have this contrast with the religious leaders threatened by Jesus, who want to kill Him; and Judas, who wants the money.  They both know Jesus, and reject Him.  Mary knows Jesus, and worships Him.  All in the same situation, the same setting.

What causes this canyon of a divide in their reactions?  A lot, to be honest.  The religious leader’s goals, as well as Judas, are advancement and self-preservation.  They want power, prestige, and money, and they want it on their terms.  Mary has abandoned those things, and just wants God.  One leads to murder, the other to a gift.  One leads to grabbing for all they can take, the other to giving a very expensive gift from very little.  One leads to bitterness and suicide, the other to worship and joy.

Today, you and I face the same choices.  Power or passion?  Self-advancement or self-sacrifice?  Lust or love?  One always leads to death, the other to life.  Which route do you want?

It’s Time to Get Down


Jesus does a simple act that forever changes the world in chapter 13 of John. In the first 17 verses, John paints a picture of Jesus showing the greatest form of love possible. John should know, because He was one of Jesus’ closest friends, and is referred to as the “one Jesus loved”. John gets this idea of love well. And he says that the story in chapter 13 is the greatest love Jesus could show.

What does He do? He washes their feet. It’s the act of the lowest servant. Every house of any worth would have servants. The least important servant would be charged with washing the guests feet. Jesus does it, dressed as a servant. Then He tells his guys that this is their example for how to live.

No servant is greater than their master. It’s true. And our master isn’t afraid to get dirty, sacrifice for people who didn’t get it, and give away love in dangerous amounts. Don’t miss the point that He knows what Judas is going to do. He knows Judas has already decided to betray Him. And Jesus serves him in the same way that He serves John.

Who are you avoiding serving today? Who is not important enough for you to help? Who has stabbed you in the back, and you won’t help them? Christ calls us to wash feet. Everyone’s feet. No servant is greater than their master. Are you?