I can’t bring to mind a story in Scripture more tragic than the story of Judas Iscariot. Here is a man who spent real time with Jesus. He walked with Him. He dined with Him. He witnessed incredible miracles, and He heard challenging teaching. How could he do this? This morning, as I re-read these verses, I must confess I felt a stab of anger and revulsion. If anyone should have learned to trust Jesus, Judas should have.
But then my anger turned to a heaviness for people around me – people who have a similar story to Judas. No, they haven’t spent time with Jesus in the flesh, but they have spent time with Jesus. They have grown up in Church. They have witnessed miracles. Truly. They have seen first-hand incredible stories of changed lives. They have wrestled with challenging teaching, and then, turned away. So often, the reason is self. They respect Jesus, but they love themselves more. They insist that God adjust to them, and when He doesn’t, they walk away.
I do not know why Judas left Jesus, but I suspect it was for similar reasons. He probably had some great expectation for Jesus that Jesus refused to meet. Perhaps this was His way to changing the narrative. Perhaps he planned to return to Christ one day. No one on this side of Heaven knows. What I do know is that the story of Judas resonates in my heart as a cautionary tale. I must examine my heart and make sure Christ is in my heart (2 Cor. 13:5). And I need to pray for those around me – that we all have eyes to realize that Jesus Christ is on the throne ... and we are not.