##DailyDevotion Will You Betray You LORD & Savior Jesus?

Mark 14: ¹⁰Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the ruling priests to betray Jesus to them. ¹¹They were delighted to hear it and promised to give him money. So he was looking for a chance to betray Him…¹⁸While they were still reclining and eating, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray Me, one who is eating with Me!” ¹⁹They felt hurt and asked Him one after another, “You don’t mean me?” ²⁰“One of the twelve,” He told them, “one who is dipping into the bowl with Me. ²¹The Son of Man is going away as it is written about Him, but woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for that man if he had never been born…” ⁴³Just then, while Jesus was still talking, Judas, one of the twelve, came with a crowd of men with swords and clubs from the ruling priests, the Bible scholars, and the elders. ⁴⁴The traitor had given them a signal. “The One I kiss is the Man,” he said. “Grab Him, take Him away, and don’t let Him escape.” ⁴⁵When he came there, he quickly stepped up to Jesus and said, “Master!” and kissed Him. ⁴⁶Then the men took hold of Jesus and arrested Him.

What was Judas thinking or was he not? What would have moved Judas to rebel against Jesus and to betray him? What did he think would happen? It would appear on reading the several Gospel accounts he either didn’t think they would condemn Jesus to death or he wanted Jesus to be condemned just for a little while. Well such things never work out that way. Perhaps he was spured on by Jesus’ reply him and the other apostles when they were rebuked for what they said about what Mary did with the expensive bottle of ointment. Not in Mark’s Gospel but in the others he asks the rulers what would they give him to betray Jesus and the offer him 30 pieces of silver, thus fulfilling the prophecy about the cost of his betrayal. Mankind often sins much for the gain of money. Once he received the money, he was looking for a chance to betray Jesus.

Jesus however is not fooled by Judas’ duplicity and his treachery. He lets the disciples know one of them would betray him. One by one they ask if it is they who would do it. Jesus’ response about the one dipping in the bowl isn’t helpful since in this communal meal, everyone would have dipped in the bowl with him. They felt hurt Jesus would have said this. In Matthew’s Gospel when Judas asks Jesus, Jesus lets him know that he knows it is him. We see in Luke and John’s Gospels Satan enters Judas as he does his dastardly deed. But like Pharaoh who hardened his heart first before the LORD does it, Judas had already planned to betray Jesus first. It must have be a boiterous Passover meal for in John’s Gospel Jesus tells them it is the one to who he hand a morsel of bread to and it is Judas, because no one seems to notice at the moment.

Well things will not end well for Judas. Jesus tells them it would be better for the one betraying him if they had never been born than to betray him. As it says in Psalm 55, “¹² If it were the enemy who insulted me —that I could bear; if it were one that hated me who attacked me —I could hide from him. ¹³ But it’s you, a man who is my equal; my friend and one I knew so well! ¹⁴ We talked in sweet fellowship and walked with a crowd into God’s house. ¹⁵ May death take them suddenly;may they go down alive to the grave because wickedness is in their hearts.” Again in Psalm 109 it is written, “ ⁵They give me evil for good and hate for my love. ⁶Appoint a wicked man over him; let one stand at his right to accuse him. ⁷When he’s tried, may he come away guilty;let his prayer become a sin. 8 May his days be few, and another take over his office!” May we remain faithful to our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father, as we contemplate Judas’s betrayal, give us your Holy Spirit so we may always remain faithful to Jesus to enter his eternal kingdom. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.