The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Judas

  • Choose Christ

    “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

    John 20:31

    Jesus will be the final judge for each and every person (see John 5:22 and Revelation 1:18). Jesus gave us the terms of salvation. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24. See also John 6:40). The eternity of each individual is determined by what they do with Jesus: whether or not one receives Christ as their Saviour is the deciding factor. Once one hears of Jesus, a decision must be made. That decision determines one’s destination: heaven or hell.

    Jesus told us His judgment of two people while He was still here on the earth. Most people remember the thief on the cross. “42. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42-43). Jesus declared this man’s eternal fate at that time. He would be with Jesus; for this man chose Jesus.

    The other man was Judas Iscariot. He is worth considering.

    In the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, many followed Jesus. Consider that Judas must have been one and heard Jesus’ teachings for he was called to follow Jesus. Judas walked with Jesus for about three years listening to Jesus teach. He saw Jesus heal many and saw Jesus for who He really is: the Son of God. “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:31). Judas had just as much opportunity as the other disciples to fully commit his heart and life to Jesus. Remember the privilege he had as he walked with Jesus as the chosen twelve. “14. And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, 15. And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils” (Mark 3:14-15). Even with this, Judas needed to commit his own heart and life to Jesus. When Jesus asked His disciples a life-changing question, remember the answer given. “69. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. 70. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?71. He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve” (John 6:69-71). Jesus knew their hearts, and He knew that Judas had not truly believed. With this information, Judas still had to make the choice for himself: believe in Jesus or reject Him. This was a perfect time for Judas to change his heart. Instead he choose to be a thief. “This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he (Judas) was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein” (John 12:6). Judas stole money from Jesus’ ministry. He decided to make money betraying Jesus to the religious leaders (see Matthew 26:14-16). “And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him” (John 13:2). The devil put betrayal into his heart. But recognize that Jesus still offered him a chance to change his mind by letting Judas know that He knew Judas’ plans. Judas still had a choice. “Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dippedit. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon” (John 13:26). Jesus knew Judas’ heart. Judas could have chosen Christ, asking forgiveness right then. However, when Judas did not repent (change his heart and mind), remember what happened. “And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him,That thou doest, do quickly” (John 13:27). Satan had opportunity to enter Judas. Judas then betrayed Jesus.

    Remember part of Jesus’ prayer in the garden that night before He was crucified. “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled” (John 17:12). Jesus knew that one of the twelve disciples would reject Him. “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me” (Psalm 41:9; see also John 1:18). Yet Jesus called Judas to be one of His twelve disciples, ultimately leaving Judas the choice.

    “3. 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, 4. Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood…” (Matthew 27:3-4a). Afterward, Judas was sorry; for he saw that he was condemned. But it was too late. His choice had been made. Jesus declared that Judas was lost (the “son of perdition” see John 17:12).

    Many church goers appear to be in the same condition as Judas. Some have joined the choir. Others have a great part of service in their churches. They hear the Word of God preached and many sermons on redemption of what is required for salvation. Yet they continue in the same path, never choosing Christ. Just as Judas. For some, like Judas, they may wait until it is too late.

    Have you chosen to reject the sin of this world and accept Christ as your Saviour, choosing to walk with Him?

    How to be saved.

  • Betrayals

    “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

    2 Corinthians 7:10

    Have you ever experienced the betrayal of a friend? Did you understand the reasoning behind that betrayal? I believe it hurts the most when one is betrayed by a trusted friend. In instances such as this, one must learn to trust God. Consider the thoughts recorded in Psalm chapter forty-one from which we should learn much.

    Most people recognize enemies; those who speak evil against them, often without cause. “5. Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish? 6. And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it. 7. All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt” (Psalm 41:5-7). Matters are even worse when those “enemies” gather other people to join with them in “whispering” against a specific individual. It hurts all the more when they gather against you.

    However, there is something even worse. “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me” (Psalm 41:9). It always hurts the most when it is a close friend, one that you trusted, comes against you. Understanding that this is a Psalm of David, one cannot help but if he had his friend Ahithophel in mind as he wrote it. Ahithophel had been David’s friend, one of the trusted men in his kingdom in whom he relied upon when it came to dealing with his enemies. This man was one whom David had most likely eaten with often. Yet we find Ahithophel chose to side with David’s son, Absalom, when Absalom tried to steal the kingdom from his father (see 2 Samuel 15:12, 31). So how did David handle this situation? “10. But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them. 11. By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me” (Psalm 41:10-11). David prayed. David understood the importance of not stooping to their level by trying to get even. More than that, David trusted God knew what Ahithophel had done, and that God would deal with Ahithophel in His own timing. Remember another thing David wrote; something that he had learned long before. “In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me” (Psalm 56:11). Remember that Ahithophel betrayed David in order to help bring Absalom to the throne.

    These are interesting verses to learn, and even more interesting is the example we find in the New Testament. When Jesus was spending His last evening with his twelve disciples, He made an interesting statement. “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” (John 13:18). Jesus had just washed their feet and was teaching them. He quoted David from Psalm 41:9 as He taught them. Jesus knew the entire time that Judas would be the one to betray Him. Yet knowing this, Jesus loved Judas and taught him just as He did the other disciples. Shortly before this, Jesus had told them the following: “Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to washhisfeet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all” (John 13:13). Jesus had often disclosed to His disciples that He would be “delivered into the hands of men” (see Mark 9:31 and Luke 9:44). Because Jesus knew Judas’ heart, He knew Judas was a traitor. He was now revealing that one of them was going to lift up his heel against Jesus – if only they had had ears to hear what Jesus was teaching them. Remember that Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.

    Consider: Ahithophel was close to David, yet he betrayed David. Ahithophel chose to help a new man become the ruler.

    Also consider: Judas was close to Jesus (one of his closest followers, closer than Jesus’ family, and was one who was involved in some of Jesus’ most intimate teachings and conversations). Yet Judas chose to betray Jesus. Judas chose money over Jesus – the only One who could give him everything.

    Ahithophel went out and hanged himself when his counsel was overruled. “And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father” (2 Samuel 17:23). Instead of repenting, he ended his life.

    Judas went out and hanged himself after he betrayed Jesus. “And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:5). Instead of repenting, he ended his life.

    “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death” (2 Corinthians 7:10). Because of God’s grace and mercy, anyone can be forgiven if true repentance is offered. However, sorrow of the world worketh death.

    Have you ever been betrayed by a close friend?

    Have you ever chosen things of this world and betrayed Jesus?