Another Judas

Many people who watch the television shows before Easter do not check the facts in the Bible and probably believe that Judas really did not want to accept money for his betrayal. In Matthew 26:15 Judas said "What are you willing to give me to deliver Him to you?" The lesson given in the Bible for mankind about Judas was left out and replaced with pity for Judas and hatred for a cruel God who forced Judas to betray Jesus.

I wrote this article to set the story right with scriptures left out in the television shows. I pray that my article will help people to know that man has a choice.

Please take time to read all of this article. The last page hits home for many people. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Ann Sullivan

Another Judas

By

Ann Sullivan

The television movies just before Easter portrayed Judas as a loving young man who was forced to betray Jesus. The Judas in the Bible said, "What are ye willing to give me, and I will deliver Jesus unto you? And they weighed unto him thirty pieces of silver and from that time he sought opportunity to deliver him unto them." (Matthew 26:14-16). When Mary anointed the feet of Jesus Judas said, "Why was not the ointment sold for three hundred denari and given to poor people? Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it" (John 12:4-6). The controlling force behind Judas was Satan, "Then entered Satan into Judas..." (Luke 22:3).

The Judas on television was described as innocent and filled with love for Jesus. Jesus said, "Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?... He spoke of Judas Iscariot..." (John 6:70-71). "For he knew him that should betray Him, therefore said he, ye are not all clean." (John 13:11). Jesus gave Judas every opportunity to change his ways. Judas was made a treasurer of the money and Jesus treated Judas as one of his own.

Judas may have wanted fortune and fame but Jesus did not conform to popular Messianic expectations. Jesus offered a belief that lead to faith and a different way of life. Jesus was speaking of Judas when He said, "But there are some of you who do not believe" (John 6:64). He that searcheth the hearts of man knows who seeks money and power above all else. The Bible says that Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. It was man's sin that crucified Jesus and God's ultimate purpose to be the savior of mankind. God's ultimate purpose will be done, but it does not interfere with man's freedom of choice. Jesus had hundreds of followers. Had Judas changed his mind another would have betrayed Jesus. "For the Son of man goeth even as it is written of him: but woe unto that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! Good were it for that man if he had never been born" (Mark 14:21). Judas was sorry for what he had done. Unlike Peter who had denied Jesus, Judas chose not to live for Christ. Where there is no hope or faith there is death. When Judas repented it was not the repentance of faith in the Jesus who forgives sins. The Amplified version says: "When Judas, His betrayer saw that Jesus was condemned, he was afflicted in mind and troubled for his former folly; and with remorse that is, an after care and little more than a selfish dread of the consequences he brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders." (Matthew 27:3). Judas chose the easy way out; he hung himself. "Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place." (Acts 1:25) Judas missed the mark of living for Jesus.

The television version leaves out the lesson to be learned from Judas. Under the Christian name some people use church contacts for personal profit. They are good people as long as it serves them well to do so. If being a member of the church meant being a suffering servant under persecution, they had rather hang themselves.

THE OPEN BIBLE, by Thomas Nelson, publisher page 1196 says:

Reformation is a change brought about by the efforts of man for self-glory. It is a turning away from sin, or giving up a bad habit, or trying to overhaul the old nature, or turning over a new leaf, or making restitution. Judas reformed, but it did not save him.

(1) "Sorry that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation" (2 Cor. 7: 9-10). Godly sorrow is a guilty feeling that leads to repentance, but it is not repentance.

(2) Penance is an act on the part of the guilty to render payment for sin. It is to make an effort, in some way, to atone for wrongs done against God or man.

Repentance causes a change of mind, a change of heart, and a change of will.

The Open Bible. by Thomas Nelson, Publishers, Nashville, Camden, New York The Lockman Foundation 1960