Tag Archives: Judas

MARK’S GOSPEL…THE KISS – 38

Bible Study, ,

Mark‬ ‭14‬:‭43‬-‭46‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him.”

‭

Who doesn’t remember Judas Iscariot for his betrayal of Jesus with a kiss? Why a kiss and what was the deeper significance of this act?

Google explains…

“The kiss was a common cultural greeting that expressed deep respect and friendship, but in this case, it was a deceitful act by Judas, who was a traitor feigning affection to betray his master and lead to Jesus’ arrest.”

How low did Judas sink to betray the one with whom he had lived in intimate friendship for several years…heard His teaching, witnessed His compassion, and participated in His ministry! 

Judas needed to get as close to Jesus as possible without arousing suspicion and indicating his intention, so that the arresting mob would know whom to grab. What better way than to greet his Master with that friendly, intimate and perfectly acceptable gesture?

Now let’s unpack Judas’ hypocrisy, wearing a mask to hide his real self. In all of Jesus’ dealings with people during His earthly life, He loathed hypocrisy, and He never held back from exposing this abominable attitude in the religious leaders who fooled the people with their feigned obedience to “the Law”. 

Hence the Pharisees hated Him because, secretly, they knew Jesus was right, but they refused to admit their guilt.  Jesus accurately diagnosed their problem. Even some of their fellow Pharisees who followed Jesus would not acknowledge Him because, like their colleagues…

“…they loved human praise more than praise from God.”

‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭43‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus was never afraid, publicly to shame them, to tell them the truth, and to warn His disciples not to follow their example. For example…

““And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Judas’ act of betrayal was the pinnacle of hypocrisy, his gesture of respect, honour, and friendship the exact opposite of his purpose and motive, to hand Jesus over to His enemies. 

“What really stands out in the mode of Judas’s betrayal is that Judas used such an intimate expression of love and respect to betray Jesus. Judas’s actions were hypocritical in the extreme—his actions said, “I respect and honor you,” at the exact time he was betraying Jesus to be murdered. Judas’s actions illustrate Proverbs 27:6, “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” Often, foes disguise themselves as friends. Evil often wears a mask to conceal its true purpose.”

(www.gotquestions.org – article “What is the significance of Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss?”)

It’s no wonder, then that, when the significance of his action hit him, there was no place in his heart for repentance. What he had done could never be undone. Did he watch while the soldiers drove nails through his erstwhile Master’s wrists and feet? Did he stop long enough to see the blood dripping from the dead body of Jesus? Did he realise that he could never make amends for what he had done?

Judas’ suicide was the terrible and final end to a life of pretense. For him, no hope of a “Well done, good and faithful servant!”, Judas, the only person ever born, the only man ever to have lived on planet earth, to bear this memorial…”the man who betrayed Jesus!”

With all his opportunities, Judas never repented of his unbelief, never received the grace of forgiveness, never felt the embrace of Jesus’ love. His heart was as hard as granite rock, as empty of life as a cold corpse, as lonely as a prisoner in solitary confinement. In the company of eleven of the most privileged men on earth, he carried his secret alone but carried it out before their eyes!

To the rest of humanity, Judas is known as, in the words of Jesus Himself…

“While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.”

‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

However, not only did Jesus give Judas his correct title, “the one doomed to destruction”, but He also put him, surprisingly enough, in the centre of the Father’s will, naming him as the one who would fulfil prophecy according to God’s plan prepared before time began.

So, as much as we pity Judas, and hate what he did, we marvel at the wisdom of God who chose Judas but, at the same time, gave him every opportunity to dodge his destiny. This is the mystery of God’s sovereignty. Only God knows how the intricacies of His sovereignty work!

LET THEM BE EVEN IN THIS

Christian Life, ,

LET THEM BE EVEN IN THIS

“No sooner were the words out of His mouth than a crowd showed up, Judas, the one from the Twelve, in the lead. He came right up to Jesus to kiss Him. Jesus said, ‘Judas, you would betray the Son of Man with a kiss?’

When those with Him saw what was happening, they said, ‘Master, shall we fight?’ One of them took a swing at the Chief Priest’s servant and cut off his right ear.

Jesus said, ‘Let them be. Even in this.’ Then touching the servant’s ear, He healed him.” Luke 22:47-51 (The Message).

Picture the scene. A mob, led by Judas, one of Jesus’ followers, moves menacingly towards Jesus, brandishing swords and clubs. Luke does not mention who was in charge. John tells us that there were soldiers and officials from among the crowd, sent by the chief priests to arrest Him.

Instead of slinking away into the darkness among the tress, Jesus steps forward to meet them. Judas has a pre-arranged signal – ‘the one I kiss’ – to identify Him. A gentle rebuke from Jesus, ‘Judas, you would betray the Son of Man with a kiss?’ does not even touch his hardened heart. How bizarre that Judas would choose a greeting of affection to show the soldiers whom to grab. This was surely an idea straight from Satan whom Luke said had taken possession of him.

The disciples react in a typically human way. “Boys, let’s fight.” All their disciple training to be followers of Jesus and to wear the Rabbi’s yoke goes straight out of the window. What happened to “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” and, “Turn the other cheek”? They are in no apparent danger. The soldiers are only interested in Jesus.

One of the disciples, the ever-impulsive Peter, lashes out with his sword – slicing off the ear of the one nearest to him. It happens to be Malchus, a high-ranking servant of the high priest. Now there’s going to be trouble! That action immediately involves the disciples and puts them in danger of arrest along with Jesus.

In the midst of the tumult, Jesus keeps His cool and remains who He is, the Son of Man and the Son of God. He stands as God’s representative and does what His Father does – restores the man’s severed ear.

What would Malchus remember of that whole incident when he lay in bed that night? Would he ever forget the face of the man they arrested as a criminal, the man who reattached his ear and miraculously stopped the pain and bleeding, in the middle of His own crisis? Would he ever understand the words and attitude of Jesus – “‘Let them be. Even in this'”?Six simple words in a paraphrase version, but loaded with significance!

Jesus had once informed His opponents, ‘No one takes my life from me. I have the power to lay it down and I have the power to take it up again. This was given to me by my Father.’ In that statement He pulls the rug from under His enemies’ feet. They may think that they are in charge but they cannot do a thing to Him without His Father’s permission and His submission.  

His statement also clearly indicates who takes responsibility for His arrest, trial and crucifixion – all those who were implicated in the event. This is a perfect example of God’s sovereignty working together with man’s responsibility. Our little brains will never be able to work out how He did it.

It was God’s plan, devised before the foundation of the world, working perfectly to effect man’s salvation but implemented through man’s wickedness so that God’s glory – His disposition of compassion and mercy, could be put on display. Wow!

THE POWER OF “I AM”

Bible Study, ,

THE POWER OF “I AM”

“When He had finished praying, Jesus left with His disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and He and His disciples went into it.

“Now Judas, who betrayed Him, knew the place because Jesus had often met there with His disciples.  John 18:1-2.

Gethsemane! It was almost as though Jesus and Judas had arranged to meet there.

No doubt Jesus had not discussed His next move with His disciples. He gravitated to the olive grove after the Passover meal almost from habit. Perhaps He felt claustrophobic after sitting for hours in the smoky Upper Room. He felt the stuffy heat of the enclosed room and the events of the next few hours closing in on Him. He needed the space and the cool, refreshing night air of the garden.

Judas had made a calculated guess as to where Jesus would go. He had slipped away from the group around the supper table to buy supplies, so John thought, or even to pop something into the offering box for the poor. But why at this hour of the night? No one suspected that he had left to commit a deed so heinous that no one would credit a human being for doing it to a fellow human being, least of all to one’s own rabbi.

Judas’ real reason for leaving was to tip the high priest off about Jesus’ whereabouts. Perhaps he was lurking in the shadows when the little group made its way through the darkened streets towards the outskirts of the city. He may have followed at a distance until he was sure of Jesus’ intention and then hurried off to Caiaphas to offer his services as a guide for the arresting party.

“So Judas came into the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

“Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to Him, went out and asked them, ‘Who is it you want?’ ‘Jesus of Nazareth,’ they replied. ‘I am He,’ Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing with them). When Jesus said, ‘I am He,’ they drew back and fell to the ground.” John 18:3-6.

Only John recorded this remarkable incident. Why was it important to him? The purpose of his gospel was to present Jesus as the Son of God. During the course of His disputes with the religious leaders, Jesus had already made it clear to them that it was He who had interacted with His people during the Old Testament era, revealing Himself to Abraham on many occasions and to Moses at the burning bush as the “I AM” and claiming the title, “I AM” in His “I Am” sayings.

But, according to John, He not only claimed the title but He also showed His enemies the power of that name. He was not merely saying, ‘I am the one you are looking for,’ but “I AM”, Yahweh, the God of Israel.’ This was important because Jesus had made it clear that His crucifixion was not the choice of the religious hierarchy or the Roman government but a voluntary sacrifice planned by both the Father and the Son before the foundation of the world.

“‘I AM the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me — just as the Father knows me and I know the Father — and I lay down my life for the sheep… The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life — only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.'” John 10:14, 17-18.

Not only were His enemies to know who they were dealing with but also that they had no power to arrest Him. He would voluntarily hand Himself over to them and submit to everything they did to Him because He chose to submit, not because they had power over Him.  He could free Himself from their clutches at any time, but He didn’t because He chose to lay down His life for His sheep.

The utterance of His divine and eternal name sent them spinning to the ground. Did they not understand who this man was whom they were so determinedly arresting? Only by the Father’s sovereign permission could they carry out their dastardly deed.

Acknowledgement

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

HIS LAST CHANCE

Bible Study, ,

HIS LAST CHANCE

“As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So, Jesus told him, ‘What you are about to do, do quickly.’ But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread he went out, and it was night.” John 13:17-30 NIV.

What was it about that little piece of bread that tipped Judas over the edge? Jesus’ gesture was packed with meaning.

It was Middle Eastern custom for the two most honoured guests to sit on the right and left of the host. John would have been seated on Jesus’ right because he described himself as leaning on Jesus; resting on his left elbow and reclining on Jesus, leaving his right arm free to eat his meal. Judas was probably reclining on Jesus’ left, the other place of honour, because Jesus would have dipped the morsel of bread into the common bowl of sauce and put it in Judas’ mouth. This gesture was the host’s way of expressing his greatest love and esteem for one of the guests at the table.

Why did Jesus choose Judas? Why not Peter; or John or one of the others? Did He love one disciple more than the others? I think Judas did not feel a part of the group. His guilty conscience alienated him from Jesus and from the other disciples. John knew that he was a thief; most probably so did the others. Jesus must surely have been aware of his dishonesty. 

Was Jesus being hypocritical or did He have an ulterior motive? Not likely because it would have been completely out of character for Him to act underhandedly. I believe that in true “Jesus” style, He was reassuring Judas of His love no matter what he was planning to do, and giving him an opportunity to change his mind, even at the last minute. In spite of the prophecies about him, they were not set in stone. 

Judas was as much a son as all the others in spite of his behaviour. It was up to him to come clean, confess his sinful attitude and behaviour, and become one of them again. By giving him the sop, Jesus was offering him the opportunity to reconnect with Him and with his fellow disciples.  How did Judas read the gesture? Would his hard heart be melted by it or hardened into a resolve to carry out his plan?

Jesus must have watched Judas’ face as He deliberately placed the bread in his mouth. There is no evidence that Judas refused it. This makes his action even more heinous. In that moment when he received Jesus’ act of pure love in spite of what he was planning to do, Satan clinched the deal by taking over his mind and his body. Judas had dabbled in the thoughts of the demonic realm for too long to back-pedal. In that final instant, Satan gave him no choice. He had him and he would not allow him to back out. The iron doors of his heard clanged shut and Satan was inside.

Jesus read the expression on his face – cold, hard and empty. ‘Okay, Judas, you’ve made your decision. Now get on and do it!’ Judas clearly read the grief in Jesus’ voice but he felt nothing. Pure love and pure hatred had collided at the table and Judas has chosen to side with hatred. His action would set in motion a chain of events in which the Son of God would receive and absorb in His own body the worst that humans could do to a fellow human.

Was Judas caught in a web of destiny from which he could not escape? Was he predestined to be a traitor? If that were so, God would be responsible for his sin. No, Judas had chosen his path and had walked on it from the first moments when he stepped off the trail to go his own way and make his own rules. Satan gently lured him on until he had him in his grip and could simply step in and take over.

This should be a warning to us to beware of those first thoughts of rebellion and disobedience. Like Judas, we might be followers of Jesus but that does not immunise us against the devil’s deception. When we foolishly take the first steps on the wrong path, we have no idea where those steps will take us. Our only safeguard is to stay close to our Master and to check every inclination of our hearts against the infallible truth of His Word.

Acknowledgement

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

THE GOSPEL OF MARK – ONLY JESUS!

Bible Study, ,

ONLY JESUS!

43 Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.
44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
48 “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” 50 Then everyone deserted him and fled.
51 A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, 52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind. Mark 14:43-52

God’s moment is always perfect. Once His decision had been made, Jesus didn’t have to hang around waiting. The gang of ruffians, led by Judas, emerged from the shadows. Recruited from the street by religious leaders, they were lured into doing the dirty work of the so-called “holy” ones.

Following Judas’ pre-arranged signal, they pounced on Jesus as though He were some dangerous criminal. Jesus protested but they ignored Him and “roughed” Him up just to warn Him not to try anything.

The disciples were stunned. What was all this about and what was Judas up to? They always knew there was something strange about him. He was never really one of them – always cagey, always aloof.

In a vain attempt to do something, Peter unsheathed his sword and took a swipe at the nearest guy, cleanly slicing off his ear. That didn’t work. The disciples, realising that any resistance was hopeless, took off and fled into the darkness, leaving Jesus at the mercy of ruthless men.

An anonymous young man got mixed up in this. Who was he? Most likely the one telling the story, otherwise why the detail?

One thing stands out clearly in this whole story; no other religious book relates the price the originator had to pay to provide the benefits of his life and death for those who follow him. Buddha? Mohammed? Sun Myung Moon? You can think of the religious system of any other initiator and you come up empty. They can tell you what to believe (on whose authority?) and what to do (to gain the god’s approval) but only Jesus, the Son of God, died for the benefit of the whole world to reconcile mankind to the Father!