The contrast between human beings can be staggering.
Consider…
Jesus went to Jerusalem to give himself to pay the price for our debt.
Judas went to the chief priests to get paid for turning Jesus in.
Judas, one man, got paid, so that he could benefit, while Jesus, one man, would eventually pay for the sins of the whole world, so that all people could be saved.
When Judas went to the chief priests he wanted to receive something. What’s interesting here is that Judas, who has already received so much from Jesus, that he would turn in Jesus so he could receive something else, namely money.
Remember, money, along with power and lust, is part of the “unholy trinity” and makes folks do crazy, sometimes uncharacteristic things. While the Holy Trinity leads us to holiness, the unholy trinity leads us into…you guessed it, unholiness.
Judas embodies what Martin Luther referred to as homo incurvatus in se, “humanity curved in upon itself”. While Judas embodied it, you and I are not immune from this curving in upon ourselves.
The life of Judas shows us the danger of knowing a bunch of information about Jesus and even doing the stuff of Jesus but never allowing ourselves to be transformed. His life shows us the human proclivity to say to God, “my will” especially when things that glitter and shimmer and shine are in front of us.
This action of Judas shows us that just as we can walk with Jesus, we can walk away from Jesus. Back in Luke 9:1-2 we learn that “the twelve” which included Judas, didn’t just walk with Jesus, they were obedient to him! The 12 received power and authority from Jesus to go out and do “the stuff” like healing the sick and casting out demons! Judas did this! Judas proclaimed the kingdom and healed the sick in Jesus’ name.
Now, in Jerusalem, he isn’t using the name of Jesus to do the stuff of Jesus, he is saying to the chief priests, “what will you give me, if I turn the man named Jesus over to you?”
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Observation - you and I might have more Judas in us that we are comfortable to admit.
On this Spy Wednesday 2023, what if we approached the throne of grace with such boldness (Hebrews 4:16) that we said to Jesus, “Where is the Judas in me? Where are the situations or desires or plans where I’m more about me than you?”
Full transparency, it’s a terrifying prayer, but it’s also a prayer that shakes the gates of hell, it’s the type of prayer that can set prisoners free, it’s the type of prayer that gets the angels pumped, it’s the type of prayer that rids us of mess and muck and mire that can allow for love, joy and peace, but only if we listen and do something about it.
We own it, to disown it.
We learn the truth about ourselves that we might truly be free of self and abide in Jesus.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Luke is Pastor of Discipleship to the saints, in Christ, at Nashville Methodist.
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