The Betrayal

Judas was chosen by Jesus as one of his twelve disciples. Those closest to Him, taught by Him, sent out to share the teachings, lay hands on the sick, and handle the money. Judas was the money handler in the group, he was greedy and a thief( he stole from the money he was handling) John 12:6. Satan had entered him after . He was in the inner circle. Yet, he betrayed Him- handed Jesus over to the Romans, set up the “plan”.

Realization of his wrongdoing-

Judas was unaware he was part of God’s plan. In Mark 14:10–11 “Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.”

Psalm 41:9 “Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.”

Jesus had told his disciples that one of them was going to betray Him. Matthew 26:21 “Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.””

Judas came to his senses once he realized that Jesus did not come to overthrow the Roman government as the Jews believed the Messiah came to do. I believe he thought about all he had seen and heard from Jesus in the three years he spent with him and came to himself. He may have thought that Jesus whom he witnessed performing miracle after miracle- He could save Himself!

One of the commentators stated,

“ In keeping with his patriotic zeal, Judas turned Jesus over to the authorities after realizing that his Master did not intend to overthrow the Roman order and establish a Jewish state. (2) Judas believed Jesus to be the Messiah and planned his arrest in hopes of urging Jesus to usher in his kingdom. (3) He was a scoundrel who plotted wickedness since the start of Jesus’ public ministry. (4) Prompted by a satanic impulse, Judas betrayed Jesus; however, after recognizing that he was deceived, out of remorse he took his own life. (5) With a damaged pride and a humiliated ego from Jesus’ caustic rebukes, Judas, originally a loyal disciple, turned against him. (6) Judas, moved by his own greed, yielded to his selfish instincts, not realizing that Jesus would consequently be tried and killed; upon learning the outcome of his betrayal, he repented in dispair and committed suicide.

2. Judas felt remorse but not repentance .

“I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.” “What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.”

Remorse is regret, sorry for what has happened.

What was the cause of his remorse? He felt guilty for his turning in an innocent man because he knew Jesus had done nothing wrong.

3. Repented/Returned to the wrong source-