If there is one character in the Bible that most people don't want to become, it is Judas Iscariot, the man that betrayed Christ. Yet, even though people know about him, most people don't really know what the Bible says about him.
Judas was one of the 12 disciples that followed Christ everywhere. To be considered an apostle, he would have had to meet two qualifications listed in Acts 1- he had to begin his journey at the baptism of John the Baptist and been with Christ all the way through the ascension.
He never made it that far. But it is interesting to note that he did everything up until the crucifixion in the same manner as all the other disciples. He was at John's Baptism, he performed miracles when Christ sent the disciples out two-by-two, and he witnessed every work of Jesus that the other disciples witnessed.
Mark 3:14-19- And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: And Simon he surnamed Peter; And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.
So, when did it become evident that he wasn't an actual "good guy"?
John 6:70- Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
It seems that Jesus knew all along. He understood the evil in Judas' heart, probably long before Judas even knew it was there!
Romans 7:21- I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Christ came to fulfill the law. However, Christ had no sin nature because He was the Son of God. So for the law that "evil has to be present" to be fulfilled, Jesus had to have someone evil with him continually. This is where Judas came in.
John 12:4-6- Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
Judas could play the religious card just as well as everyone else, but deep down he was a thief. His interest wasn't in people, but in money!
Luke 22:1-6- Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people. Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
It's interesting to note that Satan entered into him. This man became the vessel for the greatest source of evil. And all it took was a little greed.
Matthew 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.
Now you may remember the verse that states, "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." I Timothy 6:10. This verse was incarnate in Judas Iscariot. We will see exactly that he not only erred from the faith, but was also pierced with sorrow of his own making.
Christ knew what was going to happen and yet He still washed Judas' feet. He still ate dinner with him. He even tried to warn the disciples.
John 13:18-19, 21- I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
None of the disciples could see the evil festering inside of Judas. It was a complete shock to them.
John 13:23-29- Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
Even after all that was said, they still thought that Judas' was an upstanding fellow who was doing Jesus' bidding, when he was actually doing the devil's bidding.
John 13:2- And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;
Judas comes back later with a small army to apprehend Jesus when He wasn't surrounded by a multitude of people. The religious leaders absolutely hated Jesus, but they feared the repercussions of the mob who followed Him.
Matthew 26:46-49- Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
He kissed heaven's door and still went to hell! And he realized way too late.
Matthew 27:3-5- Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
This is the end of that previous verse. The "pierced themselves through with many sorrows" is a guarantee. Your conscience isn't going to let you get away with anything. You may be able to dull it, but you can't completely silence it.
Judas lost his apostleship. He lost his chance to sit on a throne and judge Israel with Christ (Matthew 19:28). He lost his soul!
Acts 1:16-20- Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
Can you imagine what must have gone through the religious leader's heads each time they heard the field referred to as the "field of blood"?
Matthew 27:6-10- And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.
This was prophesied was back before the Babylonian captivity of Israel. All they had to do was read the Scriptures with an open mind without any preconceived ideas, but they couldn't get past their traditions. This was why Jesus was always asking them, "Have ye never read?"
Don't think that you would be any different. The Bible says there's coming a time when many will be deceived by Satan.
II Thessalonians 2:8-12- And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Judas was damned even though he walked with Truth incarnate. All it takes is loving something more than you love Jesus.
