(Mark 14:10-11 ESV)
- One of the twelve - a man originally chosen by the Lord Jesus, one who walked with him, talked with him, ate with him, slept near him.
- Went to the chief priests - the folks that were in opposition to Jesus, who disliked him from the beginning
- To betray Jesus to them - to turn against, to trick him, to expose him to danger
- When they heard it they were glad - they rejoiced in this news, this betrayal was what they had been waiting for
- They promised to give him money - payment for betrayal, payment for making their wishes come true
- He sought for an opportunity - an active looking, a figuring of a way to do it
These two lines tell us so much.
But they don't tell the whole story.
Judas Iscariot came when Jesus called. He spent months and months with him.
Did he ever really believe?
He was sent out two by two... did his ministry bear fruit?
What caused that seed to be formed? Was it the "wasting of perfume"? Was it not being the "disciple that Jesus loved"?
Scripture doesn't tell us what turned Judas' heart.
If one who spent so much time with the Lord, in deep conversation, and ministry with him right there with him, can turn aside from the Lord, why are we so surprised when people do it now?
It saddens my heart and causes me to pray for them, that they turn back to who the Lord is.
Reading this passage makes me think of my own frailty. My own tendency to feel distant from God and then I'll go to church and something pastor will say will remind me of my love for my Lord God. He'll point out a small thing that reminds me of my commitment to the Lord.
This past week he talked about how we NEED that fellowship of the saints and it's so true. One can't go it alone as a believer. We were made to be in communion with each other.
None of the passages I read in the bible speak to the surprise of the disciples at Judas' betrayal of the Lord. They don't speak of their lack of surprise either.. they seemed to just deal with their fear, and then their sorrow, and then ultimately with their joy at his new life and went on from there.
Makes me wonder if Judas was the odd man out who was part of the group but not really. Makes me wonder about our need to make sure that everyone is included... that we leave no one to be the odd one out. To keep those potentially wandering ones close to our fellowship, close to the heart of the Lord, to not let them contemplate betraying the Lord.
We need to show others the Heart of The Lord don't you think?