Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” And He answered, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” Matthew 26:22-24.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
The body and blood of My Son is the fulfillment and true substance of the Passover memorial. When He instituted it at the Passover seder (“seder” in Hebrew means “order,” and reflects the carefully planned order of the service to bring the events of the Passover before their eyes so they never forget their redemption so they never are enslaved again) the night He was betrayed, many things took place and Jesus shared many truths that are very important for you to know and understand to live a redeemed and blessed life. Please go carefully through all that was said and done at that seder and do not lose one treasure.
The primary theme of that night was love, divine love, and particularly the way you express that love. If you love Me and love what I have done for you in My Son you obey My Word as expressed to you through and in My Son, who is My Word dwelling among you and now in you. If you love Me, you keep My Word and then I make My dwelling with you and your joy will be full, complete, lacking in nothing. My Word, which is love, gives you joy all the day. A joy no one can take from you. And Jesus also gave you His peace, which is My peace. So I have given you His peace, His joy, and His righteousness which are really Mine but all things I have are your in Him. It has pleased Me to give you who follow Him as His little flock, the entire Kingdom.
Today I want to talk with you about the betrayal. What caused Judas, who started in such a glorious and chosen way as one of the twelve disciples, to fall away? Even worse, never to return but to go his own way. And his position was so important, that prophetic Scriptures penned years before under the inspiration of My Spirit impelled the remaining eleven to choose one to take the place of Judas.
And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles. Acts 1:24-26.
Judas did not go to My place, the lovely place and the beautiful reward I had planned for him, but to his own place. He did not follow THE WAY even though He was with Jesus for the years of His public ministry, but his own way. It grieved My Son, it grieved the other eleven disciples chosen by Jesus, and it grieved My Spirit and it grieved Me. I did not love Judas any less than I had from the creation of the world but I had to honor his choice. There comes a point when I must let you go your own way when you turn aside from My way to go to the place you have chosen.
Judas never confessed Jesus as Lord. While the other disciples called Jesus “Lord,” Judas continue to just speak to Him as “Rabbi.”
Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” And He answered, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good (honorable) for that man if he had not been born.” And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself.” Matthew 26:22-25.
At the Pesach seder the story of the first Passover is told in response to four questions. The first question has to do with why they dip at that meal and why there are two dippings. These two dippings both take place before the Passover meal. First, near the beginning of the seder, parsley is dipped into salt water, and just before the seder meal maror (bitter herbs) are dipped into charoset (a sweet fruit concoction). Both take place before the eating of the lamb, the blessing of the bread and the drinking of the third cup. They dip twice because the entire drama of the servitude and exodus from Egypt began with an act of dipping and concluded with an act of dipping. The Israelites made their way down to Egypt as a result of the fact that Joseph, the son of Jacob, was sold into Egyptian servitude by the betrayal and jealousy of his brothers. To explain Joseph’s mysterious disappearance, his brothers dipped his coat of striped colors, which his father had given him, in the blood of a slain goat. It was thus the sin of the brotherly strife and hatred which resulted in treacherous betrayal that was responsible for the enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt. The second dipping took place at the end of the Egyptian enslavement, and the beginning of the Hebrew emancipation. At this time, each Hebrew family slaughtered a lamb in preparation for their exodus: “You will then take a bunch of hyssop and dip it into the blood [of the lamb] which will be placed in a basin. Place some blood on the beam over the door and the two doorposts after you have dipped your finger in some of the blood in the basin. Not a single Israelite may go out of the door of his house until morning.” Exodus 12:22. Thus, the second act of dipping served as a tikkun, or repair, of the first: The sin of brotherly strife, hatred, and betrayal found its repentance in the form of brotherly unity. This explains both dippings at the seder.
When did Judas leave the supper room? After the first dipping which denoted brotherly strife and betrayal. Well before Jesus gave His disciples the bread of His body and the wine of His blood.
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.” 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?” Jesus then answered, “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel [psómion (ψωμίον): a fragment, 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. John 13:21-30.
This is a morsel, a fragment He gave Judas, it is not bread, which is the Greek word “artos (ἄρτος),” which means bread, it is the dipping vegetable, which are small morsels or fragments. Judas left after the dipping, which is only done at the Passover seder.
You may be wondering why Jesus chose Judas as one of the twelve if it ended in such unhappiness for him and My Son. It is because that was his assignment in life and he said “yes” to it willingly at first, but like Satan whom I created perfect and was doing his assignment in Eden perfectly, unrighteousness what found in him and he sinned. And he has led many to follow his example. For I created you all perfect and with a perfect assignment that you are well qualified to do. It is up to you whether you do it and whether you are faithful to it. But I give you every opportunity and the ability to do it. You have only to work with Me in working it out. But Judas turned to fight against Me.
What caused Judas to fall away? A lack of humility.
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love lovingkindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8.
And his pride, or lack of humility, whichever you want to label it, left uncontrolled by him caused his downfall in three ways:
(1) He took offense at correction and this made him unteachable and unreachable—impossible to change from a wrong course of action. It made him hate the one correcting him and made him seek retaliation. This is the mark of rebellion that is at work in the sons of disobedience.
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Ephesians 2:1-2.
As for the proud one, his soul is not right in him. Why? He has permitted Satan to enter and has not shut him out but allowed him to stay and take him captive to do his will. I told Cain that sin was crouching at his door but that he could master it. How? Shut the door. Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Satan tried with Christ, but Jesus gave him no part in his heart. He was too full of the Holy Spirit.
One example of this is when the woman came with an alabaster vial of costly perfume and poured it on Jesus. Judas led the apostles into questioning this when he remarked, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?” John 12:5. He said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it. Therefore Jesus said, “Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.” John 12:6-7. Matthew 26:6-13.
It was immediately after this correction, that Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?” And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him. From then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus. Matthew 26:14-16. And after this incident is when the disciples inquired of Jesus where He wanted them to prepare to eat the Passover. Matthew 26:17.
For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. Hebrews 6:4-6.
(2) Envy of others whom he thought beneath him that seemed to have been promoted to more favorable positions. Judas was not of the same economic and educational class as Peter, James and John and thus was not pleased that they seemed to be favored above him. He was, however, entrusted with the common purse because of his skill and education. But when he was even reprimanded before the other disciples for making the point that the anointing of Jesus was a waste of funds for those with charitable intent for the poor was too much. He went to find favor from another source of prestige—the chief priests. Pride seeks recognition and not correction. He who seeks only himself brings himself to ruin.
(3) Greed and lust of the flesh (which also came from a fear of lack in the future for having given up prior means and sources to follow Jesus) caused him to sin by stealing funds from the common purse and by betraying Jesus for money. He did this deceitfully, thinking himself hidden, while he put on a gracious front. “Surely it is not I, Rabbi.” Even to the point of betraying Jesus with a pleasant greeting and a feigned kiss of friendship and peace. Proud, greedy, envious people hide behind flattery as they nurture bitter roots and hateful, malicious thoughts in their hearts, cursing others to benefit themselves. But finding out later the measure they measured out has returned to them in overflow.
And what is the result of all this? A hardened heart to repentance. Judas had true remorse for what he had done in the end but he did not repent. He went his own way.
Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears. Hebrews 12:14-17.
Esau could have been the one with the blessing of Abraham and the Patriarch of Israel, but he lost it for a bowl of beans because he despised his birthright and put no value on it. Judas could have had his name in the foundation stones of the heavenly city and sat on a throne with the 12 sons of Jacob and the 12 apostles, but he lost all that for some money from the common purse, 30 pieces of silver, and his pride that could not be corrected and made him not value Jesus as precious.
Jesus had offered Judas salvation. He had prayed with him and spoken My Words to him for three years. Judas lived with Jesus and Jesus served him and honored him to be with Him. Judas had seen the miracles Jesus performed. And yet Judas never received what Jesus was trying so hard to give him. He went into deceit, theft, and betrayal. Judas was careful to hide his true colors, but he thought he had the upper hand. He did not believe in My Son’s divinity. He thought he had discovered the way to increase, fame, and prosperity without getting it from Jesus, but on his own. Finally, it was time to let him go the way he was intent to go.
At the Last Supper Jesus confronted Peter and corrected him with respect to his boasting that he would never deny Jesus and Jesus prayed for him that his faith would never fail. And though Peter failed due to the weakness of the flesh, his faith did not fail. Why did Jesus not pray for Judas? Read and you will understand:
If any one may see his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and He shall give to him life to those sinning not unto death; there is sin to death, not concerning it do I speak that he may beseech; all unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not unto death. We have known that everyone who hath been begotten of God doth not sin, but he who was begotten of God doth keep himself, and the evil one doth not touch him. 1 John 5:16-18.
Judas started out well with Jesus. He did not finish well. He exemplifies the seed that fell on good soil but got choked off by thorns.
Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop . . . And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. Mark 4:7; 18-19.
Judas was a murderer. The chief priests had made it plain they wanted to kill Jesus, but they needed someone who would lead them to Him when He was not protected by the crowds that gathered around Him or in a holy place such as the Temple. And Judas offered to do that. He went from a disciple who was so outstanding among the many followers of Jesus that he qualified to be one of the twelve to a murderer of the One he had left all to follow. And eternal life does not abide in a murder’s heart. There is a sin unto death.
What am I telling you all this for? Watch yourselves. Stay teachable. I resist the proud (for they resist Me) and give grace to the humble. Judas sought only himself and destroyed himself, Peter lost himself and discovered who he was—fearless. What made the difference? Love. “Simon Peter do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Even if you have the faith to move mountains, if you do not have love, it means nothing. Love covers a multitude of sins. Love is humble. Love does not take offense. Love is not boastful. Love is not jealous. Love does not seek revenge. Love does not rejoice with lies but with the truth. Love looks to others’ interests. Love gives you peace. Love makes you beautiful. Love makes you thankful. Love makes you powerful. Love makes you untouchable by evil. But above all, love that is true for Me obeys My Words. Love makes you like Me. Come share My joy. Love gives you joy, joy that no man can take from you. Love, divine love, is eternal. And so are you.
“Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41.
Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. 1 Timothy 4:16.
Watch your thoughts and watch your words. It starts with little things in the dark but if you do not bring them out to the light they grow. And if the light in you be darkness, how deep that darkness will be. Let the light shine in. The entrance of My Word gives light.
I love you. Judas never came to know and believe in My love for him, but it was always there. How did he miss it? The same way Adam did. Too much self got in the way so that he could not find the way home. Love alone will bring you home.