Judas Betrayed Jesus
I have always wondered why God allowed Satan to possess Judas and make him betray our Lord. In Luke 22, the scripture states, “Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.” I recall earlier and later Bible verses in which Jesus discussed the person to whom His betrayal will occur, as well as the Lord’s wrath upon that person. If Jesus came to save us all, why did He allow Judas to betray Him and face the wrath of God?
Satan had been at work since his fall to destroy man. Judas was called to serve as the Lord’s disciple because Jesus saw something in him. Like Peter who denied Jesus three times, and Thomas who doubted His resurrection, these men were just men who were susceptible to follow their human inclinations. Whether it was Judas or not, Jesus knew that Satan was going to look for a weak link to get into His circle and break it. All the other disciples were there, but Judas was the weak link.
Why was Judas the weak link? All the other disciples were amazed by Jesus and believed in Him. When Jesus asked them who He was, Peter referred to Him as the Messiah. John and James went with their mother to beg Jesus to place them at the Father’s right hand, while all the disciples were looking at the glory above, the salvation that was to come, Judas was focused on the treasury and how much he could steal from it. Despite being with the Lord, his heart was set on earthly gains rather than the hope of eternity that Jesus had promised His disciples.
It is clear that Jesus was the only person filled with the Holy Spirit, with this, He never demanded righteousness from His disciples, because He was there to make them righteous; all He asked was that they faith and believe in Him. Judas’ faith was in money, and when Satan entered Him, he only did so through the same channel as his treasure; greed.
“Satan can only tempt us through the channels of our desires.”
Assume Judas had similar desires as Peter, James and John, assume his treasure was fixed in the kingdom, Satan would have tried, but he would not have gotten him. Judas opened the door to allow Satan to get to him.
Judas wanted to make money by any means necessary, whether it was legal, stealing from the purse, or collecting bribes from the High Priests to betray Jesus; he did not mind, as long as he counted some quids.
It was prophesied that Jesus was to be betrayed for His purpose to be fulfilled, and Judas Iscariot availed himself to be in that position. Mind you, it could have been anybody, even Peter. Jesus said this to Peter; “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32 NIV)
How many of us continue to betray Jesus today? We call him “Lord, Lord,” go to church, and sing in the choir, but do not forget that Judas served, dined, travelled, and ate alongside Jesus. Worship has never been about the service of the flesh, but that of the spirit. Have you surrendered your flesh to the Lord, Jesus Christ? Do you worship Him in spirit, and truth? Are your desires in line with His kingdom’s interests, or are your treasures stored in earthly gains?
We are only free to the depth of our knowledge of the truth that is Jesus Christ, and our actions as manifestations of the truth.
Lips service? Judas did it. It will be a shame to serve the Lord and be condemned to His wrath when there is indeed no condemnation in Him. Sit up, pray for the Holy Spirit of God to help you serve Him and the interest of His kingdom.