John 13:27-30

John 13:27-30 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. “What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him, but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night

And it was night. Such a bitter indictment of a soul gone astray, a heart in darkness, fallen from the source of all goodness, mercy, and light. How dark the human soul becomes, how far mankind falls when we walk away from the Lord of Light to engage in the pleasures of sin for a season to feed our greedy impulses, to seek all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, that which we know is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1 John 2:16 KJV) To embrace fully the ways of the world or to set our hearts to follow the pathway of sin is to abide in darkness. A self-absorbed, inconsiderate, and wayward life is a betrayal of God's plan for those He died to set at liberty. In Genesis God asks, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from? Adam and Eve rebelled, questioning God's authority and overstepping his lordship by partaking of the Tree of Knowledge, allowing darkness to overcome the light in their souls. They left God no alternative but banishment from the Garden, separation became their only possible reality. God placed them in a garden with freedom to eat from any tree in the garden, but they quickly lost focus when Satan planted the seed of doubt: Did God really say, "You must not eat from any tree in the garden?" God gave them the same choice He gave mankind throughout the ages, the choice He gives to us each day: "Obey, serve me, and live abundantly in my presence in the light of my light and love. Reject my ways, and the wages of sin is death both now and forevermore."

Judas sought the affection and approval of others and the wealth and power of the world when he betrayed Christ for money with no eternal or lasting value. He thought his decision to abandon Christ would capture security, peace of mind, and lasting happiness; yet the exact opposite occurred. Just as the God banished Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden to work the soil from which they were taken and set a flaming sword to block the entrance, darkness entered the soul of Judas: Satan entered into him. He cut himself off from God, and he found himself no longer in intimate relationship with God the Father through Christ the Son. The weight of his sins alienated him more than at any other time in his life. He had closed the door to peace, hope, and freedom, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12) When the weight of his horrific deed caused Judas to take his own life, the praise and acceptance of the religious elite who tempted him and led him to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver meant nothing to him, offered him no hope. In today's economy, those coins would be worth thousands of dollars, but he realized too late that they could never buy back what He had lost: the meaning of life, the essence of his existence, his reason for being. The Good Shepherd had called his name and made him his own, yet Judas followed the deceiver's voice. If we reject God's best and final plan, there is no Plan B: Jesus is the only Way!

Judas walked along the roads of Galilee with Jesus: he ate with him; slept near his side; absorbed his teaching; touched his face, hands, and feet. Yet in the end, Judas rejected his loving and faithful Lord, the One who called him, served him, and promised never to leave or to forsake him and was willing to suffer and to die for him and to give his life freely. Judas left Jesus' side to betray him: turned aside from the straight and narrow path in an attempt to rid Christ from his life, basically saying, "I do not know this man; I am not one of his." His betrayal of the One who took him under his wing meant certain death for Jesus. Judas understood this when he agreed to play his part in the capture and the death of Christ. Judas probably tried to convince himself he was doing good by helping destroy this false prophet, this impostor, but we know he could not have known any peace in his heart.

The Word is clear: It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. (Hebrews 6:4-6) Judas may have thought he could eradicate Christ by sending him to the cross and continue to prosper as a human being. He was wrong. When people openly renounce Christ by turning their backs on him, wanting no part of him and having no place for him in their lives; this decision to crucify Jesus twice brings sudden darkness and destruction to the heart and the soul. Thankfully for those who believe, Paul goes on to say, Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case — things that accompany salvation. God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. (verses 10-11) Yes, far better things are reserved by grace through Christ for every child of God who endures to the end, who runs the race with courage and fights the good fight through faith in Christ our risen Lord. He is the Lamb, worthy of all honor and praise! Bless you dear ones.