Choices and Consequences

Some of you are American Revolution buffs and might recognize this name—Simon Girty.  Do you remember what he is famous for doing?  He deserted the Continental Army and gathered about him a large number of Native Americans.  Then he led them in raiding parties against the colonists in an extremely brutal manner.  We, as well as most historians, would refer to him as a traitor.

There’s an even more infamous character that most everyone knows.  He was extremely upset at being passed over for promotion and needed some extra money, since he lived quite a luxurious life.  So, he offered the key to West Point to the British.  The British Major was en route to General Clinton with the information and was captured.  This exposed the traitor, who then deserted to the British and fought against his own country.  His name was . . . Benedict Arnold.  He actually died in exile in England, hated by both the English and the Americans.  

Today, we’ll be looking at one of the most well known traitors of all time.  His name, of course, is Judas.  We don’t know terribly much about Judas.  We know that he was the only one of the 12 who was not a Galilean.  Interestingly, if we look at every place the list is given for the apostles, his name is always listed last; except for Acts 1, where he’s not even listed.  All of the Gospel writers refer to him as the traitor who betrayed Jesus.  

We do know that he had been considered trustworthy since the group made him their treasurer.  Judas also did not abandon Jesus when the majority of other disciples left Jesus when His teachings became too difficult.  

Yet, being in the midst of Jesus’ closest disciples did not cause Judas to surrender himself totally to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  To get what he wanted, he was willing to become the most infamous traitor of all time. He may have thought he was making the right choice.  He may have thought he knew what was best.  But he was rebelling against God.  His choice took him out of the Light and into darkness for eternity.

Today, I want us to understand that:

We must present Jesus in such a way that others would choose Jesus.

Clarification - 13:18-21

“I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’  From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He.  Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”  When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.”

As we look at verse 18, we are reminded of the Sovereignty and Omniscience of Jesus.  Once again, we recognize that Jesus was not surprised by any of what was about to happen.  None of this was going to catch Him off guard.  Here, we read that He was basically informing His disciples what is going to happen. 

Many of us catch ourselves asking why would Jesus have even chosen Judas if He were not truly going to be a believer in Jesus.  As difficult as it is for us to try to understand, Jesus answers the question by reminding the disciples and us that this choice was made to fulfill Scripture. This was prophesied in 2 Samuel, the Psalms, and Zechariah.  All that Judas was going to do had been foreseen by God centuries before; actually before the beginning of time.  Yet, we do not let Judas off the hook.  He is without excuse.  He had ample opportunity to repent and to follow after Christ.  However, he chose to rebel against God.

Verse 19 gives some further insight, as the disciples may have wondered if Jesus truly was God if Judas was supposably able to pull a fast one over on Jesus.  Basically, Jesus was telling them what esd going to happen before it took place so they would understand that He truly is God.  This is also an encouragement to them and to us, for when times get really difficult along the way.  Warren Wiersbe shares:  The Christian who knows the Word will not be easily discouraged by the defeats that occur along the way.

Then in verse 20, Jesus assures them that what Judas was going to do did not eliminate God’s purpose for the disciples.  They were still going to go out with the Gospel message and it would be effective regardless of what Judas would do. 

That commission to go out and proclaim Jesus is just as valid today as it was in Jesus’ time.  If Jesus sends His people into the world, those who receive that message will be blessed.  You and I need to remember this for our day and age as well.  Just because people are trying to silence the church and the voices of Christians, does not make our message about Christ less powerful or less necessary.  Neither does it prevent the Holy Spirit from drawing people to salvation through Jesus Christ.  It may look as though the death knoll is being sounded for the true Church, but nothing can stand up against the power of Jesus Christ.  We represent, as ambassadors, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the only Savior, Jesus Christ!

Then we run into that troubling comment in verse 21.  It is almost as if Jesus suddenly becomes reflective in His spirit.  What exactly was it that troubled Jesus?  Remember that this word refers to severe mental, spirituaI and emotional turmoil.  Jesus knew that Satan was about to totally take over and control Judas, which would have brought immense turmoil to Jesus.  Then to think that Judas was making the choice of a lifetime to be forever tormented and tortured in hell itself must have grieved Jesus greatly.  You see, we do not see any place where God takes pleasure in anybody going to hell.

But then, Jesus may have also been troubled by what was about to happen in His own life as a result of Judas’ betrayal.  He was about to experience the most horrific means of death known to man.  He was also about to take ownership and responsibility for the sins of the world, from the least to the most heinous sins of all humanity of all time.  Psychologically, this would have been impossible for anyone to carry, if even for just a few people.  Then there’s the matter of being separated from His Father which had never before taken place.  

In these verses, there are two choices presented.  The first is in relation to Judas.  Jesus knows exactly what is going to happen.  Yet, Judas is still faced with the choice of going through with his devious plot or repenting of it and choosing to follow Jesus.  Sadly, the choice will be choosing darkness instead of following the light.  The consequence will be eternal damnation in hell.

The disciples also are presented with a choice, though they won’t fully recognize it at the time.  Regardless of what negative opposition or attacks come their way, they can choose to become silent or to continue to proclaim Christ.  Jesus is encouraging them in these verses to continue on in the ministry to which He has called them.

These are the choices given to all humanity.  Choose darkness; experience eternal condemnation and separation from God.  Choose the Light of Christ; experience eternal life.  Then for those who choose Jesus, there is the choice to tell others and live for Christ, no matter how negative the situation may become.

That is quite a heavy bit of information and somewhat bewildering to the disciples.  How are they going to respond?  Let’s look and see.

Confusion - 13:22-25

The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking.  There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.  So Simon Peter gestured to him, and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.”  He, leaning back thus on Jesus’ bosom, said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”

The best description I can imagine is one of absolute confusion among the eleven disciples.  These guys had seen Jesus deal with everything head-on and with divine power.  What could He possibly be saying?  And who is the one of whom He is speaking?  And who or what could possibly overpower Jesus?  Every other time, He just walked through the crowds or disappeared or talked them into silence.  He calmed a storm with just a word.  He healed people.  He raised others from the dead.  What is this conversation they were having?

We might even wonder how dense and thick-headed they were not to notice that it was Judas.  Yet, Judas was a clever individual.  Like Satan, he knew well how to deceive.  In addition, there was never any indication that Jesus treated him any differently.  Jesus blessed and protected him just as He did the other disciples.  In Matthew 26.25, Judas remarks, Surely it is not I, Rabbi.  Talk about blatant hypocrisy and deception.  

Once again, Peter couldn’t keep quiet.  Except this time, he quietly got John’s attention.  He didn’t ask Jesus directly, but asked John if he knew instead.  Obviously, John didn’t know, so John then asks Jesus if it is himself.

What is the answer that they’re going to hear?  Let’s look at the last section of today’s passage.

Confirmation - 13:26-30

Jesus then answered, “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.” So when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.  After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”  Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him.  For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we have need of for the feast”; or else, that he should give something to the poor.  So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night. 

Here, we need to understand that if Jesus would have spoken loudly enough for all to hear, there probably would have been a bunch of grown men rushing to tackle Judas.  So, we can assume that since John spoke the question directly to Jesus in verse 25, that Jesus’ answer in verse 26 was directed to John.  Even then, John probably didn’t grasp what was happening.  The significance of the means of revealing Judas is quite amazing.  I am grateful to our Jewish Christian friends who have written some great explanations on this, which I will attempt to summarize.

The morsel is usually a piece of unleavened bread, or even meat.  This would be dipped into a mixture of bitter herbs, vinegar, water, salt, crushed dates, figs, and raisins. To be given the morsel by the host was to be singled out for special honor.  Once again, my mouth gapes in awe as I think of the amazing, unbelievable love Jesus showed to Judas.  Jesus offers honor and love all the way.  However, Judas’ heart had already been hardened and there would be no repentance.  No longer would salvation be an option for Judas.  We know this because John writes that Satan entered into him.  Several commentators state that Judas was handed over to Satan at that moment.  F.F. Bruce describes this scene for us:  Jesus’ action, in singling Judas out for a mark of special favour, may have been intended as a final appeal to him to abandon his treacherous plan and play the part of a true disciple. Up to that moment, the die had not been irrevocably cast. If Judas wavered for a second, it was only to steel himself to carry out his fatal resolution, to become the willing instrument of Satan whereas he might have been the free follower and messenger of his Master. Satan could not have entered into him had he not granted him admission. Had he been willing to say “No” to the adversary, all of his Master’s intercessory power was available to him there and then to strengthen him. But when a disciple’s will turns traitor, when the spiritual aid of Christ is refused, that person’s condition is desperate indeed. 

Again, we see in verse 27 that Jesus is in control, telling Judas to go do what it is he is planning to do.  Interestingly, Judas is gone when Jesus is about to share the beginning of the Lord’s Supper, as we call it today.  There is no way in which Satan or any of his lackeys or servants can be a participant in this event.  Jesus also had a tradition that they would go out to the Garden of Gethsemane after the meal event was concluded.  Judas knew that would be the moment and the place for everything to fall into place according to the plan which had been hatched by those following Satan.  

I find it interesting, as John is often using light and darkness to describe things in a spiritual manner, that John comments that it was night.  Not only is he referring to the time of day, but I think there is reference to the deeds of darkness that are associated with night, and the darkness upon Judas’ soul.  

Reflections

What can we learn from this passage today?

A person can read the Bible, go to church, be baptized, listen to Christian radio, yet if they don’t turn their lives over to Jesus Christ, surrendering totally to him, that person will still go to hell.  I believe that in our nation, which has been blessed with so much and its people who have been given so much, that a large multitude will be spending eternity in hell because of the opportunity that has been given, yet so many have rejected in favor of worldly pleasures.  You cannot have had greater opportunity than Judas.  Instead of repenting and accepting Christ’s free gift, he threw it all away.

We see briefly here, but later on more clearly, that Judas had a great love for money.  When the perfumed oil was being poured out on Jesus feet and the container broken, Judas made a big deal about the financial waste, as if he really cared.  His focus on finances was not God-honoring; rather, it was greedy.  Remember what Paul said to Timothy?  The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.   We also know that one cannot love or serve both God and money.  You will love one and hate the other.  We must be extremely careful that we do not make a priority about money.  It is a tool.  It belongs to God.  Use it wisely, but don’t obsess over it.  This can happen in churches or individuals.  There are many who have the financial Judas syndrome.  It may sound logical and pious and responsible.  Most often, it’s a covering for needing to control and has nothing to do with Jesus’ and His Kingdom.

I see also how easy it is to think everything is okay because you’re with the right crowd.  Judas was pretending to be something he was not.  That is hypocrisy in its purest form.  It would be healthy for all of us to pray along with King David, Search my heart; try me, test me.  See if there be any wickedness within me.  Elsewhere David states:  Create in me a pure heart, O God.

I also am amazed at Christ’s incredible patience and steadfast love.  Even to the end, Jesus reached out to Judas.  I am so thankful that Jesus showed that with me and is still showing that.  You and I need to be encouraged by this as we connect with those who are unsaved.  Jesus is merciful and full of compassion and tender love. 

One of the things which surprises me is that this was going on right in the midst of this group of men who were extremely close, yet nobody really saw it.  I take this as a bit of a caution that we understand that Satan will always be working, even and especially, in the midst of God’s people.  If great things are happening for the glory of God, then Satan wants to do all he can to disrupt or destroy that.  Be aware of Satan’s wicked schemes.

Another thing which we can learn from this is that Satan is a liar and a deceiver.  Those who are not followers of Christ, are able to be used by Satan and become as he is.  Hypocrisy oftentimes looks very spiritual.  Remember it is cloaked to look like something which it is not.  This requires self-evaluation and also a gentle reminder to others to be careful.  Sometimes it may mean calling someone out and letting God expose them.

Finally, we can gather that even though Satan and Judas thought they had it all figured out, Jesus was still in control.  As R.C. Sproul states:  If God is not sovereign, God is not God.  There is nothing in heaven or on earth that can destroy God’s plans.  I am so grateful for that.  We need to be reminded of this, especially in light of the times in which we are living.  God is still in control.  Even when it looked as if the end was near, God would be glorified.  

Everyone has choices. With all choices, come consequences.  Knowing this—We must present Jesus in such a way that others would choose Jesus.