~
The Growth of Sin ~
Judas
Was ~ Judas was positioned wonderfully in this
life, but like many he squandered his situation because of sin. Consider two key aspects of great opportunity.
A
Member of the Twelve Apostles ~
“Now the names of the twelve apostles are these:
first, Simon, who is called Peter [1], and Andrew his brother [2]; James the
son of Zebedee [3], and John his brother [4]; Philip [5] and Bartholomew [6];
Thomas [7] and Matthew the tax collector [8]; James the son of Alphaeus [9],
and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus [10]; Simon the Cananite [11], and Judas Iscariot [12]…” (Matthew 10:2-4).
The
Treasurer of the Twelve Apostles ~ “But one of His disciples,
Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son… had the money box…” (John
12:4-6). “…some
thought, because Judas had the money box…”
(John 13:29).
A
Root Problem
~ The Bible warns about greed in
many places. Consider carefully the
following passage with as it pertains to the life of Judas.
A
Lover of Money ~
While we cannot know the various motives
which Judas possessed it seems clear from Scripture that one of his flaws was
his desire for wealth. “Those who desire to be rich
fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts
which drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is a root of
all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their
greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1
Timothy 6:9-10).
Judas
Became ~ His character flaws—from his sin nature—led
him down a path of destruction. He
became:
A
Thief ~ “But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son… he cared
for the poor, but because he was a thief,
and had the money box; and he used to
take what was put in it” (John 12:4-6).
A
Traitor ~ “Judas the son of James, and
Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor”
(Luke 6:16).
A
Betrayer ~ “Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, ‘Rabbi, is it I?’
He said to him, ‘You have said it’” (Matthew
26:25).
A
Hypocrite ~ “But Jesus said to him,
‘Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man
with a kiss?’” (Luke 22:48).
One
Whom Satan Entered ~ When
an enlightened individual continues a lifestyle of sin they make it possible
for Satan to take control. This is what
happened to Judas Iscariot. “Then Satan entered Judas,
surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve” (Luke
22:3). “And
supper being ended, the devil having
already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray
Him” (John 13:2). “Now after the piece of bread, Satan
entered him. Then Jesus said to him,
‘What you do, do quickly’” (John 13:27).
An
Apostate ~ Jesus prayed for His disciples. “While I was with them in
the world, I kept them in Your name.
Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the
Scripture might be fulfilled” (John 17:12). “To take part in this
ministry and apostleship from which Judas
by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place” (Acts
1:25).
Judas’
Result ~ “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:22). Sin always has consequences. Sin results in spiritual death and in Judas’
case it also caused his physical death.
Death
by Suicide ~ “Judas threw
down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:5).
Closing
Comment ~ Is it any wonder that in the lists of the apostles
we find in the Scriptures Judas is always listed last!
~
Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT
LIFE NOW
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