Judas? Is It You?

Holy week is a time when Christians reflect on the unconditional love of God, the substitutionary sacrificial suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the power and permeating presence of the Holy Spirit.  

Tomorrow night, many churches will commemorate the last supper Jesus shared with His disciples before his crucifixion.  That meal established the practice of Holy Communion, a sacred ordinance that perpetually places us at the table with Jesus and the disciples.

As we think about taking a seat at that Communion table, we would like to think that we would be one of Jesus' faithful disciples--perhaps along the lines of James or John.  But, have we ever considered how often we are most like the least-liked disciple of all--Judas?

Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. 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?" And he answered and said, "He that dippeth [his] hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me." (Matthew 26:20-23)

How often have we walked and talked with Jesus, communed and observed communion with Him, and yet betrayed Him?

Judas, the one who was to betray Jesus, had many devilish thoughts influencing his mind, one of which could have been jealousy.  Scripture recounts how Judas was enraged at Mary for "wasting" expensive perfume by lavishing it on Jesus--money he intended to steal.  He wanted everyone to think that he was passionate about investing the money in the poor and needy.  Perhaps he thought there would be a memorial to him some day touting his "great works" in the name of the Lord. Instead, Jesus defends this "lowly" woman and says:

"Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.

How often do we get upset when our works are not recognized, but someone else's is?  How hypocritical are we when we do big deeds with wrong, selfish motives and resent others for the simplicity and purity of their acts?  Matthew recounts how after Jesus finished touting the purity and potency of Mary's worship that "... one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?" And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him. (Matthew 26:13-16)

Was jealousy the final straw that broke the camel's back, driving Judas straight to Jesus' enemies?  Jealousy has a way of leading us places we never intended to go....

Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. (Matthew 26:48-49)

False praise and a deceptive kiss were Judas' weapons of choice.  What have we used to betray Jesus? All have sinned and come short, so we might as well face up to that fact and truly examine our lives.  This week is a good time for unedited reflection and repentance.  

Let's not feign ignorance as Judas did when he sat at the communion table and asked Jesus, "Is it I?"when Jesus declared that one would betray Him.  Judas' pseudo innocence was met with Jesus' solid truth as He, in essence, turned the phrase around to say, "Judas, it is you!" 

As we prepare our hearts to commemorate Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, let us consider that, had we been sitting at that table, Jesus could have turned to us and asked, "Judas--is it you?"

"Were you there when they crucified my Lord...Sometimes it causes me to tremble...."

BNcouraged