In the upper room Christ prepared His disciples for Judas’ betrayal. Jesus would sandwich the revelation of Judas by commands to both love and serve one another. Jesus demonstrated His love for the disciples by washing their feet (including Judas’) and then He commanded them to love each other in the same manor.
Jesus warned all His disciples of their coming spiritual failures Peter’s denying and the rest of their scattering and instructed them to “watch and pray!” But one of the biggest announcements of that night was that, “one of you shall betray me!”
Judas infamous betrayal did not catch Jesus of guard. Jesus was mindful of Judas and wanted his disciples to be aware as well.
One of Christ’s own disciples betrayed Him. The disciples left everything to follow Christ. They were with the Son of God every day for three years. They laboured alongside of Jesus, heard Him preach and witnessed all the mighty miracles. Yet, forsaking this great spiritual privilege, Judas would betray his Friend.
And Jesus said unto him (Judas), Friend, wherefore art thou come? (Matthew 26:50)
Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. (Psalm 41:9)
Judas’s demise teaches us that it is possible to be in very close proximity to Christ and still be lost. It also shows us that not all professors of salvation are possessors of salvation. Not every disciple that starts with Christ will finish with Christ.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:22-23)
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. (I John 2:19)
Judas’s demise teaches us also that this betrayal will be a surprise. Judas was the disciples’ entrusted treasurer. No one expected Judas to throw in the towel. When Jesus told his disciples that “one of you will betray me,” they all said, “Lord is it I?” They questioned their own commitment to Christ before they questioned Judas’. When Christ announced the betrayal no one shouted, “It’s Judas!” They trusted Judas more than they trusted themselves his betrayal was astonishing to them.
And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? (Matthew 26:21-22)
Judas can surprise us, but his fall should not make us stumble. We should heed Christ’s warning and not get thrown off tract. Christ clearly knew all about Judas from Scripture and we should as well.
Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. (Psalm 55:12-14)
And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD. (Zech. 11:12-13)
Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. (John 6:70-71
Do not be bitter or angry over Judas. Jesus was, “wounded in the house of his friends” (Zech. 13:6), and at some point we will be as well. In Jesus church, Judas betrayed him, Peter denied him, Thomas doubted him, the rest scattered, but Jesus kept on loving, serving, and praying. He commanded us to do the same and we should obey His order!