Judas- A Wasted Life!
John 13:18-30
John 13-17 We enter the last day of Jesus earthly life before He was crucified.
John 13:2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him…
Understand…at this point in the story… Judas had already gone to the chief priests & agreed to betray Jesus for 30 pieces silver.
Judas Iscariot Simon’s son
Judas means praise! No doubt… Simon named Judas desiring that his son would bring God great praise!
In Jn. 6:70 we read Jesus chose the 12 including Judas!
John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain
There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus chose Judas to bear much fruit…
- Judas walked with Jesus for three years. He saw the greatest life ever lived up close and personal.
- You can’t have a better model of faith than Jesus or a better environment for forming faith than Judas had.
- He directly witnessed jesus’ miracles. When Jesus fed the 5,000, Judas was there. (He took the bread and distributed it along with the other disciples.)
- When Jesus calmed the storm, Judas was there. And he was there when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. You can’t have better evidence for faith than Judas had.
- Judas heard all the teaching of Jesus, too. He heard the Sermon on the Mount, so he knew there is a narrow road that leads to life and a broad road that leads to destruction.
- He heard the warnings Jesus spoke to the Pharisees, so he knew there was a hell to fear and a heaven to desire.
- He heard the parable of the prodigal son, so Judas knew God is a God …ready to welcome and forgive those who have wasted there lives in many sins.
- With Judas’s own eyes, he saw the clearest evidence.
- With his own ears, he heard the finest teaching.
- With his own feet, he followed the greatest example.
- And yet Judas chose to betray Jesus.
- The story of Judas contains tremendous encouragement for parents / leaders … whose children have chosen not tot follow the Lord.
- Judas teaches us that even with the the best leadership, the best example, the most compelling evidence, and the finest teaching—the ultimate environment .. each of us has to chose if we’re going to follow Jesus.
John 12:5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii & given to the poor?” 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, & had the money box; & he used to take what was put in it.
John 13:10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you. 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”
Judas’ faith was not a GENUINE faith. He hadn’t yet believed in Jesus in such a way that he was cleansed of his sin.
We learn from Judas…It’s POSSIBLE to be a follower of Jesus…chosen…a leader… even a preacher in the church & still NOT be cleansed of your sin!
Judas was living a lie! (Treasurer & devoted follower.) In reality he was a thief & betrayer of Jesus (30 pcs silver)
Can you imagine what it was like for Judas to have his feet washed by Jesus… No doubt Jesus was offering Judas cleansing… but Judas RESISTED!
Judas is a picture of how close someone can be to salvation and still be eternally lost…
John 13:18 “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’
Jesus us quoting… Psalm 41:9 Ahithophel / exonerate
19 Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He.
Judas’ betrayal of Jesus… would no doubt rock there faith!
20 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”
21 When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, (deeply troubled / distressed) and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”
Why deeply troubled? His concern for Judas! You!
22 Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke.
Matthew 26:22 And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?”
Jesus here is the ultimate example of humility.
Judas here is the ultimate example of hypocrisy.
23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke.
25 Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
Understand- This was a gesture of special friendship!
Judas tragically accepted Jesus’ bread but NOT His love. Instead of repenting Judas continued to RESIST.
Judas’ opportunity for REPENTANCE was almost passed!
It’s here we find Jesus AGAIN offering Judas forgiveness & friendship!
Judas’ RESISTANCE is what opened the way for Satan to take control of him…
27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”
So understand Satan didn’t just have the ability to enter Judas against his will…
- Judas opened the door to Satan as an unrepentant thief
- Judas opened the door to Satan when he took communion and but was unwilling to repent of his sin.
- Judas opened the door to Satan when he had his feet washed by Jesus & yet WOULD NOT receive cleansing
- Judas opened the door to Satan when he REFUSED Jesus offer of friendship (at the the supper)
It’s then… that Satan entered an UNREPENTANT, UNCLEAN, UNWILLING Judas!
28 But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. 29 For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.
30 Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.
This is both a literal and symbolic statement!
Judas was entering a night… that would know no morning!
Judas had chosen darkness over the Light of the world!
I wonder if when Judas went out … if he ever looked back …one last time at the light & love in the upper room.
It’s interesting… both Peter and Judas would betray Jesus on this dark night! (Judas betrayed Him. Peter denied Him)
Peter looked to the One who hung on the tree of Calvary in his place / as his substitute!
Judas never did…but committed suicide… hanging himself on a tree!
All the way to the very end Jesus kept reaching out…the hand of friendship… to Judas!
Ultimately Jesus would call Judas …
The Son of Perdition!
(Ruin,Waste, Destruction)
“It would have been better if he had never been born!”