February 22nd
PEOPLE JESUS MET
Profile: He was the only one of the 12 that was a non-Galilean - from the same royal tribe from which Jesus descended. He was entrusted with caring for the finances but became inexcusably corrupt. A year before the crucifixion, Jesus said:
“One of you is a slanderer [Gr, di·aʹbo·los].” (John 6:64-71; Ps 41:9). Five days before Jesus’ death, when Mary anointed Jesus with very expensive oil, Judas strongly objected because he was a greedy, practising thief. Nisan 12, he went to the chief priests to see how much they would pay him to betray Jesus. Thirty pieces of silver the price of a slave was offered (Zech 11:12-13). Hypocritical Judas allowed Jesus to wash his feet at the Passover, then left to betray him. Later that night in Gethsemane, Judas “kissed him very tenderly,” thus identifying Jesus. In the morning he attempted to return the money, but the chief priests refused. Judas threw the money into the temple and hanged himself.
PEOPLE JESUS MET
JUDAS – The Masquerader
JUDAS – The Masquerader
Then a diabolical plan came into the mind of Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve.
Luke 22:3, J.B. Phillips New Testament
Luke 22:3, J.B. Phillips New Testament
Profile: He was the only one of the 12 that was a non-Galilean - from the same royal tribe from which Jesus descended. He was entrusted with caring for the finances but became inexcusably corrupt. A year before the crucifixion, Jesus said:
“One of you is a slanderer [Gr, di·aʹbo·los].” (John 6:64-71; Ps 41:9). Five days before Jesus’ death, when Mary anointed Jesus with very expensive oil, Judas strongly objected because he was a greedy, practising thief. Nisan 12, he went to the chief priests to see how much they would pay him to betray Jesus. Thirty pieces of silver the price of a slave was offered (Zech 11:12-13). Hypocritical Judas allowed Jesus to wash his feet at the Passover, then left to betray him. Later that night in Gethsemane, Judas “kissed him very tenderly,” thus identifying Jesus. In the morning he attempted to return the money, but the chief priests refused. Judas threw the money into the temple and hanged himself.
Lessons:
- Judas was actively involved in ministry: chosen as treasurer over experienced Matthew, a preacher with the gift of healing and authority over demons (Luke 9:1-2). Active involvement in ministry is not, in itself, a guarantee of spiritual life.
- We may grieve over someone we love and we taught but who has abandoned their faith. Judas spent 3 years in the company of Jesus himself yet turned away from him. Satan made a relentless assault on Judas’s soul; greed was the opening (Luke 22:2-4; John 13:2,27).
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Never prize anything higher than Jesus.
Never prize anything higher than Jesus.