Recently, I had the privilege of speaking at my church for communion. Not a very long speech, but you give your thoughts on something you have gleaned while preparing.
Let's talk today about Judas. He ranks twelfth on any person's list of favorite disciples. Thirteen if you're counting Paul. Fourteenth if you count Judas' replacement. Heck, he's behind the seventy-two Jesus sent out in Luke 10:1. Suffice to say, he's not the most popular guy in the Bible.
We all know how Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. After spending three years walking with Jesus and seeing all the miracles and teachings, he turns on him for that.
Jesus knew this would happen. Judas was part of His small circle. Saw what Jesus was doing. I'm sure that they had one-on-one time to chat about life in general. They got to know each other rather well.
If, in your circle of friends, you had one that you knew meant you harm - would you keep them around? Wouldn't you rather place them as far away from you as possible or do something that would prevent them from harming you? I know how my mind works and I would keep that person as far from me as possible. Would be sorely tempted to get them before they got me. There's no way that I wouldn't protect myself.
Now, I'm not going to tell you not to protect yourself from potential harm and let ferocious wolves into your lives. Or, stay in life threatening situations. Common sense must prevail.
But, it is interesting to see how Jesus deals with Judas and what that means about our relationship with Him. It really comes to a head during the Last Supper. We all know that story pretty much.
Jesus breaks the bread and shares the wine saying "my body and blood given for you". He doesn't say just the eleven of you that aren't betraying me. Judas is included in this promise from Jesus. The body and blood are not withheld from Judas. After which, Jesus mentions to the group that one of them will betray Him.
I never really thought about this before, but Jesus does not point out Judas when asked who the betrayer is. Would have been so easy to single out the wrongdoer to the rest of the group. Maybe, the other eleven would have taken care of that problem. That isn't the route that Jesus goes and, as such, gives us our hope.
First, Judas will not do anything to Jesus that Jesus will not allow. So, Jesus isn't afraid for Himself by Judas' actions. Second, He allows Judas to make his own decisions and commit sin. Doesn't mean Jesus likes it, but gives Judas every opportunity to repent and come back. Third, Jesus doesn't call Judas out in front of the others. He doesn't embarrass Judas and humiliate him in the eyes of the other disciples. He gives Judas every opportunity in his decision making. Even in our sin, Jesus will not humiliate us. He will not embarrass in front of others. Jesus works with us, revealing truth, fighting for us, and bringing us to repentance and reconciliation. Its not that Jesus wont call us on our sin - it just means He will not demean us.
The other hope we are given is that to Jesus, none of us are unredeemable or totally unlovable. No matter where we are in our lives, He continues to reach out to us. Never turning His back to us. Gives me hope that there is nothing which separates me from His love.
I believe when Judas made his choice, that Jesus was sadder for Judas and the impact that the decision would have on Judas as opposed to what it meant personally to Jesus. That, until the fateful end, Jesus wanted Judas to turn towards Him. Alas, Judas made his choice and did not.
We can learn a lot of lessons from this story. God honors us on our decisions by not embarrassing us, even when we are wrong. That, He is constantly fighting for us and chasing us no matter where we are in our lives. That we are never beyond redemption while we still breathe. There is hope.
Here, in the story of the worst ever disciple, we still find hope for our lives.
Let's talk today about Judas. He ranks twelfth on any person's list of favorite disciples. Thirteen if you're counting Paul. Fourteenth if you count Judas' replacement. Heck, he's behind the seventy-two Jesus sent out in Luke 10:1. Suffice to say, he's not the most popular guy in the Bible.
We all know how Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. After spending three years walking with Jesus and seeing all the miracles and teachings, he turns on him for that.
Jesus knew this would happen. Judas was part of His small circle. Saw what Jesus was doing. I'm sure that they had one-on-one time to chat about life in general. They got to know each other rather well.
If, in your circle of friends, you had one that you knew meant you harm - would you keep them around? Wouldn't you rather place them as far away from you as possible or do something that would prevent them from harming you? I know how my mind works and I would keep that person as far from me as possible. Would be sorely tempted to get them before they got me. There's no way that I wouldn't protect myself.
Now, I'm not going to tell you not to protect yourself from potential harm and let ferocious wolves into your lives. Or, stay in life threatening situations. Common sense must prevail.
But, it is interesting to see how Jesus deals with Judas and what that means about our relationship with Him. It really comes to a head during the Last Supper. We all know that story pretty much.
Jesus breaks the bread and shares the wine saying "my body and blood given for you". He doesn't say just the eleven of you that aren't betraying me. Judas is included in this promise from Jesus. The body and blood are not withheld from Judas. After which, Jesus mentions to the group that one of them will betray Him.
I never really thought about this before, but Jesus does not point out Judas when asked who the betrayer is. Would have been so easy to single out the wrongdoer to the rest of the group. Maybe, the other eleven would have taken care of that problem. That isn't the route that Jesus goes and, as such, gives us our hope.
First, Judas will not do anything to Jesus that Jesus will not allow. So, Jesus isn't afraid for Himself by Judas' actions. Second, He allows Judas to make his own decisions and commit sin. Doesn't mean Jesus likes it, but gives Judas every opportunity to repent and come back. Third, Jesus doesn't call Judas out in front of the others. He doesn't embarrass Judas and humiliate him in the eyes of the other disciples. He gives Judas every opportunity in his decision making. Even in our sin, Jesus will not humiliate us. He will not embarrass in front of others. Jesus works with us, revealing truth, fighting for us, and bringing us to repentance and reconciliation. Its not that Jesus wont call us on our sin - it just means He will not demean us.
The other hope we are given is that to Jesus, none of us are unredeemable or totally unlovable. No matter where we are in our lives, He continues to reach out to us. Never turning His back to us. Gives me hope that there is nothing which separates me from His love.
I believe when Judas made his choice, that Jesus was sadder for Judas and the impact that the decision would have on Judas as opposed to what it meant personally to Jesus. That, until the fateful end, Jesus wanted Judas to turn towards Him. Alas, Judas made his choice and did not.
We can learn a lot of lessons from this story. God honors us on our decisions by not embarrassing us, even when we are wrong. That, He is constantly fighting for us and chasing us no matter where we are in our lives. That we are never beyond redemption while we still breathe. There is hope.
Here, in the story of the worst ever disciple, we still find hope for our lives.
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