Matthew 26:50
Jesus still called Judas friend even while he was betraying Him.
Would I have done that? Would you do that?
I don't think I would have. I don't know. If someone betrays me now can I honestly look at them and still call them Friend?
This passage really got me today. I think Judas was a schemer -- someone who deceived himself by telling himself what he was doing was for the good of everyone. He tried to connect the dots. He tried to make things happen, kind of be like God in life. He was a real manipulator.
I don't know what Judas was really like. And I've heard some preach from the angle of saying they think he was trying to force Jesus' hand, make Jesus become the powerful military Messiah they all expected Him to be.
There are reasons to argue this. Earlier at the passover meal Jesus tells His disciples one of them was going to betray Him that night.
Judas says, "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?" (in Matthew 26:25). Jesus responds to him, "You have said it yourself."
Maybe Judas had convinced himself that this wasn't a betrayal, that the end would justify the means. Maybe he had even told himself as Jesus rose up and showed His mighty power those 30 pieces of silver could be used for good. He'd put them in the treasury even. By forcing Jesus to rise up, Judas would be seen as a hero.....Oh, I can even hear someone thinking this kind of thing.
I am not really a full-blown schemer but are any of us any different?
I want to copy down what I wrote about myself in my journal this morning about this scheming thing. Here goes:
Judas had dillusions (have no idea how to spell that) of grandeur. I am no different. I think -- if I win Publisher's Clearing House I'll do this and this and this . . . I'll do great things for God. I'll help these people. I'll ...etc, etc, etc.
It's not about any of that! It's about our hearts and being in a real relationship with Jesus. It's not about money. It's not about getting and giving -- it's about Jesus -- living in Him and with Him.
You know, the only disciple that mentions that Judas was a thief was John (John 12:6). Jesus knew Judas took some for himself out of the treasury box. Jesus put him in charge of it. I can see John trying to tell Jesus too. Jesus didn't care. He just wanted Judas' heart. He wanted to show Judas something. And Judas never saw it -- not until he went through with his major scheme of betrayal. Then he felt such remorse he hanged himself (all that is in matthew).
This all makes me think about my own heart. Am I deceiving myself?
What about you?