The Judas In Me

Scripture Invitation:

As we prepare our hearts for God's Word, I summon your senses and invite your intellect to the book of Matthew, chapter 26, verses 14 to 16.

It is there that the Holy Spirit has highlighted our context for our brief sermonic time together this morning.

Reading of the Bible Passage:

Matthew 26:14–16 CSB

Then one of the Twelve, the man called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So they weighed out thirty pieces of silver for him. And from that time he started looking for a good opportunity to betray him.

Context

In a dimly lit room, filled with the hushed whispers, Jesus knelt before his disciples, a towel draped over his arm and a basin of water at his feet, the room fell silent.

The flickering lamplight cast a warm glow over the scene, illuminating the faces of the twelve men gathered around the table.

Their eyes were filled with confusion and curiosity, unsure of what their beloved teacher was about to do.

Peter, ever impulsive and quick to speak, was the first to protest.

"Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

To him, the act of washing feet was one reserved for servants and lowly individuals, not for their revered teacher and leader.

But Jesus, with a gentle smile on his face and a look of unwavering love in his eyes, replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."

With those words, he dipped the towel into the basin and began to wash Peter's feet, his hands moving with a tenderness and care that belied his divine authority.

The disciples shifted uncomfortably in their seats, unsure of how to react to this unexpected display of humility and servitude.

As Jesus moved from one disciple to the next, washing their feet and drying them with the towel, a sense of reverence and awe filled the room.

Judas, too, felt the weight of Jesus' actions, a pang of guilt and shame gnawing at his conscience.

The images of silver coins and promises of power faded into the background as he watched his teacher humbly serve those who followed him.

In that moment, he was struck by the realization of his own greed and betrayal, the contrast between Jesus' selfless love and his own selfish desires glaringly apparent.

As Jesus finished washing the disciples' feet and took his place once more at the table, he spoke words that would forever echo in their hearts and minds, "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."

And with those words, the room was filled with a sense of reverence and humility, the disciples' hearts stirred by the profound act of love and servitude they had just witnessed.

As the disciples sat in contemplative silence, the weight of Jesus' words and actions lingered in the air.

As the evening wore on, a sense of tension and unease settled over the room.

Jesus spoke cryptically of betrayal and impending darkness, his words carrying a weight of sorrow.

The disciples glanced nervously at one another, their hearts filled with fear and uncertainty.

Judas felt a sense of dread begin to well up within him, a gnawing sense of guilt and shame that threatened to consume him.

The silver coins in his pocket felt like a heavy burden, a reminder of the path he had chosen and the betrayal that loomed on the horizon.

And then, in a moment that would forever change the course of history, after he had supped with the master Judas rose from his seat and quietly slipped out into the night.

Outside, under the light of the moon, Judas found himself face to face with the religious leaders, his heart heavy with the weight of his decision.

The betrayal was set in motion, the pieces falling into place with a chilling inevitability that sent shivers down his spine.

As he led the guards back to the garden of Gethsemane, the image of Jesus washing his feet burned brightly in his mind, a haunting reminder of the love and grace he had turned away from.

The kiss of betrayal weighed heavily on his mind as he approached his teacher, his heart torn between regret and the dark path he had chosen.

And with a heavy heart and a soul weighed down by guilt, Judas leaned in to kiss Jesus on the cheek, the bitter taste of betrayal souring his mouth.

The deed was done, the betrayal complete, and the course of history irrevocably altered by the actions of one man torn between love and greed.

Application

Imagine, my brothers and sisters, walking with Jesus for 3 years, witnessing His miracles, feeling His love, and yet, in a moment of weakness, betraying Him for personal vices.

Judas, one of Jesus' own disciples, experienced this heart-wrenching reality firsthand.

Despite being in the presence of the Son of God, witnessing His compassion and power, Judas allowed the lure of greed and selfish desires to lead him down a path of betrayal.

This experience serves as a powerful reminder for each of us.

How often do we find ourselves walking with Jesus, feeling His presence in our lives, and yet, in moments of weakness or temptation, choosing to betray Him for the fleeting pleasures of this world?

It is easy to be swayed by our vices, to prioritize our own desires over our relationship with Christ.

But just as Judas had the opportunity for redemption, so do we.

In the midst of our failures and shortcomings, we can turn to Jesus with repentant hearts and receive His grace and forgiveness.

We can allow His love to transform us, to guide us back on the path of righteousness and faithfulness.

We have to choose, everyday to defeat the Judas in us, the Judas that is consumed by our own desires and blinded to the love and truth of Christ.

Instead, we must walk closely with Jesus, witnessing His miracles, feeling His love, and allowing His grace to lead us in all that we do.

We must strive to remain faithful, even in moments of weakness, trusting in the power of God's redeeming love to restore us and bring us back into His presence.

The Issue & Closing

In this moment of preparation to partake in the Lord’s Supper, there is something powerful that we must learn.

The story of Judas and Jesus offers a powerful illustration of how proximity to divinity is no guarantee for eternity.

Judas walked closely with Jesus, witnessing His miracles, feeling His love, and yet, in a moment of weakness, he succumbed to greed and betrayal.

Despite being in the presence of the Son of God, Judas chose a path that led to his own destruction.

This serves as a sobering reminder for us in our walk with Christ.

We may attend church, read the Bible, and pray regularly, but if our hearts are not truly surrendered to God and our actions do not align with His will, our proximity to divinity does not guarantee our eternity.

Just like Judas, we can be close to Jesus outwardly but spiritually distant if our hearts are not fully devoted to Him.

The application for us is clear: our walk with Christ must be characterized by genuine faith, obedience, and a deepening relationship with Him.

It is not enough to be near to God; we must also strive to be transformed by His love and grace, allowing His truth to shape our thoughts, words, and actions.

As we prepare our hearts and minds for Holy Communion, let us examine our lives and hearts honestly, just as Judas had to confront his own betrayal.

Are we truly walking in intimacy with Christ, or are there areas of our lives where we have allowed sin or selfish desires to take hold?

Let us heed the warning that there is a Judas in all of us, and that proximity to divinity is no guarantee for eternity and seek to deepen our relationship with God, living in a way that honors Him and reflects His love to the world around us.