Oct 31, 2021
Scripture Reading: John 13:10-30
The story of the life of Judas is one of the saddest stories in the Bible, indeed in all of human history. Judas had spiritual privileges beyond our wildest dreams. He lived with Jesus for three years, listening to His divine wisdom, beholding acts of omnipotent power. Yet in the presence of divinity in human form and in the face of divine perfections, Judas's heart remained unchanged and rebellious.
When Satan enticed Judas (Jn 13:2) and finally possessed him (Jn 13:27), we ought not imagine that this was a good man who had gone bad. Judas had been a thief all along (Jn 12:6) and Jesus had known that the heart of Judas was corrupt from the beginning (Jn 6:64,70,71).
Judas is fully responsible for his actions. He did exactly what he wanted to do and God held him accountable for his sinful actions. Luke 22:24 says ". . . woe to the man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would have been better for that man if he had not been born." This could only be true if Judas was punished by the penalty of hell.
In all the actions of Judas and the others in the death of Christ, God's plan was worked out exactly as He had determined it to be accomplished. "But the Scripture will be fulfilled, 'He who ate my bread has lifted his head against me'" (Jn 13:18). God's sovereignty rules even the sinful acts of wicked people and weaves them into His wise and holy tapestry for His everlasting glory.
We see in the life of Judas an example of someone who pretends to be a follower of Christ, but who, in reality is no follower at all. Judas looked like the other eleven disciples. He did the same things and said the same things. Judas represents all those who profess the Christian faith, but do not possess Christ.