In the upper room, Christ prepared His disciples for Judas’ betrayal. Jesus sandwiched the revelation of Judas with commands to 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 manner.
Jesus warned all His disciples of their imminent spiritual failures: Peter’s denying, their scattering, and failure to “watch and pray!” But one of the most significant announcements of that night was that “one of you shall betray me!” Jesus did not want Judas’ infamous betrayal to catch them off guard. “Beware of Judas!”
The disciples left everything to follow Christ. They were with the Son of God every day for three years. They labored alongside Jesus, heard Him preach, and witnessed mighty miracles. Yet, forsaking spiritual privilege, Judas would betray his Friend, Jesus. And Jesus said unto him (Judas), “ Friend, wherefore art thou come? “ (Matthew 26:50) Yea, mine own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. (Psalm 41:9)
Judas’ demise teaches us that it is possible to be in close proximity to Christ and still be lost. Not all professors of salvation are possessors. Not every disciple that you start with will finish with Christ. Judas is a spiritual reality!
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)
Betrayal always comes as a surprise. Judas was the disciples’ entrusted treasurer. No one expected Judas to throw in the towel. When Jesus told his disciples, “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. Christ 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)
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
Don’t be bitter or angry about 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, and the rest scattered, but Jesus continued to love, serve, and pray for them. Then He commanded them and us: “Love one another as I have loved you!”