It was better to have no friend than to have one and betray him.”
–Charles A. Seltzer (The Boss of the Lazy Y)
“When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.'”
“When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.'”
–John 13:20 (NKJV)
———————————–
The Ides of March–the death of Julius Caesar. Death brought on by some of his friends, in particular, Brutus. I often wondered why he didn’t put up a fight in the Forum. Did he think it inevitable that he was going to die? Was he so wrought that one of his closest friends led in the stabbing?
For sure we cannot compare Caesar with Jesus. But both faced betrayal. In fact, Dante writes that in the deepest depths of Hell there are two men: Brutus and Judas. The lowest level is reserved for those who betray. When I first read of Judas’ name in the Gospels he is mentioned last with the added testimony–Matthew 10:4, “…Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him; Mark 3:19, “and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him; Luke 6:16, “…and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.” (NKJV) John almost always includes the word “betray” when referring to Judas.
Judas–the betrayer, but first, he was Judas–the disciple. It is interesting that in more recent years there has been a raised sympathy for Judas. People say that he was given “an unfair deal” and because of this he has received an “unfair press.” (Stott) A lawyer might say that Judas was a victim of circumstances, no, more than that, of fate. Jesus had to die, someone had to betray Him, so why blame Judas? “He was but the tool of providence, a victim of predestination.” (Stott) Jesus, without coming out and directly saying it, knew that it was Judas who would be the betrayer, that he is “son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” (John 17:12, NKJV) Why, today, in the liberal courts of our land he would probably be found innocent or at least not guilty of purposeful betrayal.
However, we cannot excuse or negate choices. He cannot be exonerated because he made a deliberate choice to betray Jesus. He must be held responsible. Like Adam from the beginning, Judas had free choice. Choose good or choose evil. Somewhere, for some reason, Judas opened himself up to Satan. We cannot forget that he was a disciple, that he went out with the others to preach, to heal, to cast out demons. He saw the truth, he proclaimed the truth, and he saw it in action. Yet…
One of our first glimpses of the “other side” of Judas is seen in John. Jesus was having His feet “anointed” with the perfumed oil and wiped with the hair of Mary. To this, Judas speaks, “‘Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denari and given to the poor?’ This he said, not that 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 12:5-6, NKJV) The Amplified says that he “pilfered” the money. He was a thief, and worse, he stole from his friends.
Somewhere in the midst of his travels with Jesus, Judas must have begun to listen to other voices. The voice of the deceiver, the one who tricked Eve in the Garden, must have begun to entice him. Somewhere along the way, he lost the true way and turned and opened himself to Satan. Luke states, “Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.” (Luke 22:3, NKJV) Before Satan could have entered him, he would have had to open himself to his advances. The next verse is so sad, “So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money.” (Luke 22:4-5, NKJV) Betrayed for money. He rejected Jesus, for the Lord was still speaking to him at the last supper. Here he was, eating with his Friend, when in reality he had already betrayed Him for money. Surely at the table, Jesus was thinking of the words of David, “Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” (Psalm 41:9, NKJV)
The betrayer comes to the Garden with soldiers and the priests. He must have seen the agony upon the face of Jesus who had been in prayer. And here is where we see a major difference between Brutus and Judas–Brutus stabbed Caesar, Judas kissed Jesus. Betrayed by a kiss from one of His dear friends. How it must have struck the Savior’s heart. We don’t know what dark passions Judas held in his heart. “John insists that it was monetary greed which finally overwhelmed him. Incensed by the waste of a year’s wages, he went and sold Jesus for barely a third that amount.” (John Stott)
There was so much emotion at that time. There was also confusion, the disciples didn’t yet understand the mission of Jesus. Why? What? Where? I don’t understand. Do we find ourselves in the same way? Perhaps some have opened the door for Satan to enter that they might betray the Lord. We tend to forget that Judas was one of those especially chosen by Jesus. He didn’t heed the teachings of the Master regarding serving two masters.
Whether or not Judas and Brutus are in the lower realms of Hell, we can be assured that they betrayed their “friend.” One whom they followed, one whom they once loved. Yes, my friend, beware of the Ides of March.
———————————–
The Ides of March–the death of Julius Caesar. Death brought on by some of his friends, in particular, Brutus. I often wondered why he didn’t put up a fight in the Forum. Did he think it inevitable that he was going to die? Was he so wrought that one of his closest friends led in the stabbing?
For sure we cannot compare Caesar with Jesus. But both faced betrayal. In fact, Dante writes that in the deepest depths of Hell there are two men: Brutus and Judas. The lowest level is reserved for those who betray. When I first read of Judas’ name in the Gospels he is mentioned last with the added testimony–Matthew 10:4, “…Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him; Mark 3:19, “and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him; Luke 6:16, “…and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.” (NKJV) John almost always includes the word “betray” when referring to Judas.
Judas–the betrayer, but first, he was Judas–the disciple. It is interesting that in more recent years there has been a raised sympathy for Judas. People say that he was given “an unfair deal” and because of this he has received an “unfair press.” (Stott) A lawyer might say that Judas was a victim of circumstances, no, more than that, of fate. Jesus had to die, someone had to betray Him, so why blame Judas? “He was but the tool of providence, a victim of predestination.” (Stott) Jesus, without coming out and directly saying it, knew that it was Judas who would be the betrayer, that he is “son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” (John 17:12, NKJV) Why, today, in the liberal courts of our land he would probably be found innocent or at least not guilty of purposeful betrayal.
However, we cannot excuse or negate choices. He cannot be exonerated because he made a deliberate choice to betray Jesus. He must be held responsible. Like Adam from the beginning, Judas had free choice. Choose good or choose evil. Somewhere, for some reason, Judas opened himself up to Satan. We cannot forget that he was a disciple, that he went out with the others to preach, to heal, to cast out demons. He saw the truth, he proclaimed the truth, and he saw it in action. Yet…
One of our first glimpses of the “other side” of Judas is seen in John. Jesus was having His feet “anointed” with the perfumed oil and wiped with the hair of Mary. To this, Judas speaks, “‘Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denari and given to the poor?’ This he said, not that 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 12:5-6, NKJV) The Amplified says that he “pilfered” the money. He was a thief, and worse, he stole from his friends.
Somewhere in the midst of his travels with Jesus, Judas must have begun to listen to other voices. The voice of the deceiver, the one who tricked Eve in the Garden, must have begun to entice him. Somewhere along the way, he lost the true way and turned and opened himself to Satan. Luke states, “Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.” (Luke 22:3, NKJV) Before Satan could have entered him, he would have had to open himself to his advances. The next verse is so sad, “So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money.” (Luke 22:4-5, NKJV) Betrayed for money. He rejected Jesus, for the Lord was still speaking to him at the last supper. Here he was, eating with his Friend, when in reality he had already betrayed Him for money. Surely at the table, Jesus was thinking of the words of David, “Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” (Psalm 41:9, NKJV)
The betrayer comes to the Garden with soldiers and the priests. He must have seen the agony upon the face of Jesus who had been in prayer. And here is where we see a major difference between Brutus and Judas–Brutus stabbed Caesar, Judas kissed Jesus. Betrayed by a kiss from one of His dear friends. How it must have struck the Savior’s heart. We don’t know what dark passions Judas held in his heart. “John insists that it was monetary greed which finally overwhelmed him. Incensed by the waste of a year’s wages, he went and sold Jesus for barely a third that amount.” (John Stott)
There was so much emotion at that time. There was also confusion, the disciples didn’t yet understand the mission of Jesus. Why? What? Where? I don’t understand. Do we find ourselves in the same way? Perhaps some have opened the door for Satan to enter that they might betray the Lord. We tend to forget that Judas was one of those especially chosen by Jesus. He didn’t heed the teachings of the Master regarding serving two masters.
Whether or not Judas and Brutus are in the lower realms of Hell, we can be assured that they betrayed their “friend.” One whom they followed, one whom they once loved. Yes, my friend, beware of the Ides of March.