Judas. The very name elicits visions of a dark, evil man; a man who betrayed the only perfect One who walked on this earth. How could he do it?!
The scripture records that Judas was one of Jesus’s disciples (Luke 6:12-16); one of twelve men whom He had chosen to be part of a close knit group that He would teach and mentor in the ways of God.
Matthew 10 records Jesus giving all twelve disciples “authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.” This included Judas. They were told to “preach that the kingdom of God was at hand, heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, and drive out demons.” They had received freely from Him, and now they were to freely give to others.
Judas, who was later to betray Him, was empowered to do all these miraculous things! He also was to preach that “the kingdom of God was at hand.”
Did Judas go out and preach and heal like the others? We have no reason to doubt that he did. As he did all these miraculous deeds, did he enjoy the limelight? What did he think? How did he feel? Was he thinking, “Wow, look what we can do! We have power! We will soon overthrow Rome and be in control! Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Now is our time!”
Judas had been empowered by God for God’s purposes. Yet I think his heart may have been using God’s empowerment for his own desires, plans, and power. When Jesus didn’t acquiesce to his desired plan, Judas allowed Satan to enter his heart. Then he betrayed Him.
What happens when we are empowered to do something for God, or we have a plan we desire to implement (perhaps even for God) and it doesn’t work out when and how we want? Do we walk away from Him because He didn’t do things the way we thought He would, or the way we wanted them? Out of our disappointment, frustration, or bitterness, do we turn our back on God? Do we betray Him?
Look at some of the consequences of turning our back on God: anger, bitterness, guilt, spiritual death, and eternal separation from God! What a downward spiral of eternal consequences! Wouldn’t it be better to take our disappointment and bitterness to God and talk it out with Him? Then it is possible to receive His consolation, peace and direction. Wouldn’t it be better, like Peter and the rest of the disciples, to accept God’s way and will, and even though not understanding it, go through the difficulties and even agony of God’s plan and come out free of guilt, with vision, direction, purpose, and a proven assurance of God’s love, care and presence?
God asks us to trust Him; to trust His way and His plan. He is interested in our best – our maturity, – and the fulfillment of His plans. Let’s look at the long term goal and trust Him with the joys, disappointments, obstructions, pains, and unexpected changes in this journey. Jesus said “He who endures (trusts and follows God) to the end (of life) will be saved (Matthew 24:13).” Let’s trust our Lord and live forever with Him in heaven.
