Judas Iscariot
23. September 2008 by Bernice Davis.
Hello:
We are on our last disciple. You know what that means. Test is coming soon.
Here is our text that we have been studying with the list of the disciples in them.
Matthew 10:1 “He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.”
Our last disciple is the infamous Judas Iscariot. I think we are all very acquainted with this disciple. He goes down in our history books as the one who would betray Jesus. Let’s look at the details of this story.
We do know that Judas was purposely chosen by Jesus and that he was the son of a man by the name of Simon Iscariot. This text bellows gives us that information. This is the story when many of Jesus disciples walked away from him and only the twelve are left. At the height of Jesus’ ministry, he had acquired many more disciples than the original twelve.
John 6:66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67 ”You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)
Judas also was a thief yet he was the keeper of the money bag for Jesus. How fascinating is that. Judas was also the one that objected to the woman with the alabaster box of oil breaking it over Jesus and anointing him. Let’s look at the story.
John 12:1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 ”Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
The following scripture shows the beginning of Judas plot to betray Jesus.
Matthew 26:14 “Then one of the Twelve–the one called Judas Iscariot–went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.”
Our remote account of this same incidence is found in Luke and it teaches us that Satan entered the heart of Judas. Let’s look at the text.
Luke 22:1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. 3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6 He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.
The following text is the discussion at the “last supper” when Jesus acknowledges the betrayal plan.
Matthew 26:20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” 22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” 25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.”
The next text touches my heart every time I read it. This is the actual betrayal incident.
Matthew 26:45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” 47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50 Jesus replied, “Friend, do what you came for.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
The next story tells of the remorse felt by Judas after he heard that Jesus was condemned to death. This story too touches my heart. Some scholars argue that Judas might have been aligned with the zealot party and was trying to deliver Jesus into the hands of his enemy for him to start a revolt and begin a fight to overthrow the Roman government. Whatever his reason, for the scriptures are silent on this issue, we do know that he was very remorseful for his deeds. Let’s look at the text.
Matthew 27:3 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. 2 They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor. 3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. 4 ”I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” 5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. 6 The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. 8 That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him by the people of Israel, 10 and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”
Okay, that’s the twelve. Tomorrow, we will do a review and I will give you some instructions for the test, and on Thursday, we will take the test. (lol). I really am serious.
Stay encouraged!!!!
God Bless!!!!
Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.