A Choice Till the End
30 pieces of silver. That was the price that turned Judas’ heart to betray Jesus and hand Him over to the religious leaders to eventually be crucified. It’s easy for us two thousand years later to look at Judas with a near scoff saying, “how could he do such a thing?” A fair question, but that aside, there is so much to be gleaned of the character of Jesus in how He loved Judas.
For near 30 years, Jesus lived in obscurity as a carpenter. It was when being baptized by John the Baptist that Jesus first tip-toed out of the normal and into His ministry. Even John, Jesus’ cousin, was surprised to find out that Jesus was the Messiah. For three decades, likely the only people who knew who He truly was were His parents.
He then began to gather His disciples. And after a time, he landed on 12 individuals – each called in unique ways from various professions. These 12 made up the inner-circle of Jesus’ people – they were his closest friends. One of which was a man by the name of Judas Iscariot.
Like any traveling group, roles were divided up. Judas’ role was that of treasurer. We see this explained in John’s Gospel, after an expensive flask of perfume was broken and used to wash Jesus’ feet, Judas protests not understanding why the bottle wasn’t sold with the proceeds given to the poor. John says, “He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it” (John 12:6).
Judas traveled with Jesus for at the very least a couple years. He witnessed Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount. He saw the miracles. He was part of the backroom discussions where Jesus explained His parables. And yet, even then, Jesus didn’t fit Judas’ idea of who he expected the Messiah to be.
And so, Judas finds himself one night in front of the chief priests asking a question that would begin a domino effect that changed history. Likely filled with greed, he asks, “’What will you give me if I deliver Him over to you?’ And they paid him thirty pieces of silver” (Matthew 26:15).
There are plenty of reasons as to why Judas may have betrayed Jesus. Did he think he was actually helping Jesus? Was he only blinded by money? Did Satan possess him? We’ll never fully know.
What we do know is how Jesus interacted with Judas. Jesus humbled Himself before His disciples and cleaned their feet – including Judas’. John chapter 13 gives us an interesting picture into that night. Judas’ feet have just been washed by His Rabbi – Jesus – and Jesus goes on to say, “Not all of you are clean … For He knew who was to betray Him” (John 13:11).
When breaking bread, Jesus says in front of the group, “one of you will betray me” (John 13:21). The whole group, confused, goes around and asks if it’s them who will be the one – including Judas. And Jesus says the betrayer is the one to whom He will give this piece of bread. And He gives it to Judas.
What I want to point out here is that Judas was never pushed away by Jesus. Jesus loved him all the way up to the moment Judas betrayed Him. It was Judas’ choice in following after his own heart that led him to his outcome.
Friend, God knows what and how we will choose and decide throughout our lives – He’s outside of time. But He never stops pursuing us and keeping the door open for us to repent and turn back to him. This was true of Judas, though he chose not to, and it’s true for you and I. I don’t know where these words are finding you today, but can I just say – you are not too far gone.
God’s grace and forgiveness is greater than even your worst decisions. And He will love you, yet in His kindness, He will not force you to accept Him. Jesus’ last interaction with Judas before he betrayed Jesus with a kiss in the garden, was taking a servant’s posture before him in washing his feet and breaking bread with him. Judas had a choice.
Friend, so do you. As Paul says, “Can’t you see that His kindness is intended to turn you from your sin” (Romans 2:4). Has something been highlighted in these past few minutes that you feel the need to repent of? Take the moment, even now, to prayerfully turn from that thing, accept God’s grace, and walk back towards the loving arms of our Savior.
