"While I was with them, I kept them in your name the name you gave me. I
have guarded them, and none of them is lost except the son of perdition,
that the Scripture might be fulfilled."
I recently just finished reading Twelve Ordinary Men by John MacArthur. It really is worth reading, just to get a better, more wholesome understanding of the first followers of Jesus.
One thing that really broke my heart, was reading the final chapter: Judas Iscariot. Imagine you have spent all this time with a man, who has clearly demonstrated his divine attributes. A man who, without the shadow of a doubt, is who he claims to be: the Messiah, the son of God.
Why would you ever betray this man?
When I was 6 years old, my parents took me to see the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Jesus Christ Superstar. At that age, I didn't know what I was seeing. But the way that Judas is portrayed, allows the audience to empathise with him and his position. In hindsight, I can safely agree with those who call the story blasphemous, because the political motivations driving Judas are made up.
However, Judas still intrigues me. Why? Because we all sometimes make room for a little Judas in our hearts and minds. Personally, as a follower of Christ, I don't choose to betray Jesus consciously. But I do fight a daily battle with temptation.
From the start, Judas knew what he was doing. He may have been under the influence of evil spiritual powers, but he allowed himself to be manipulated by those powers. At the last supper, the disciples are shocked to hear that one of them is a traitor. John asks Jesus who it is and His answer seems pretty clear
If you knew that you'd lose your family because of Jesus, would you abandon Him?
If you knew that you'd die for following Jesus, would you still do it?
Many people today choose to be martyred. The disciples personally knew the son of man. They experienced the resurrected Jesus and that was enough to convince them that He was worth living and dying for. Judas had the same experience, but chose to go in the opposite direction. It cost him everything. Perhaps even his salvation.
In light of more and more Christian leaders leaving the faith, it's worth taking a look at Judas. Satan is real and he is the prince of lies and deceit. The Bible tells us that Jesus overcame, so that we can overcome (John 16:33). Before you decide to follow Christ, you ought to know this verse.
There will be troubles, but Jesus promises you that in Him there is peace. In Jesus, there is true comfort.
I wonder if Judas would have had a change of heart, had he heard Jesus' words in John 15:18-25. After all, Jesus warns His disciples and friends, so that they "will not fall away" (John 16:1).
Instead, we find this son of perdition in anguish and utter despair. We know that the prophecy needed to be fulfilled, so that Jesus would be crucified. But I wish Judas could have repented and used his life to follow the one he had betrayed, and somehow make it up.
Following Jesus will not spare you from trials. On the contrary! God will always give you an opportunity to choose Him above everything else. Even when you fail, and the enemy entices you with a Judas lie - that Jesus is not who He says He is - you always have the chance to return to the heavenly father.
Jesus died, so that there won't be anymore sons or daughters of perdition, but rather sons and daughters of the living king of kings. When you choose to follow Christ, you are a part of that royal family.
And He won't ever let you go.
- John 17:12 (CNT)
One thing that really broke my heart, was reading the final chapter: Judas Iscariot. Imagine you have spent all this time with a man, who has clearly demonstrated his divine attributes. A man who, without the shadow of a doubt, is who he claims to be: the Messiah, the son of God.
Why would you ever betray this man?
When I was 6 years old, my parents took me to see the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Jesus Christ Superstar. At that age, I didn't know what I was seeing. But the way that Judas is portrayed, allows the audience to empathise with him and his position. In hindsight, I can safely agree with those who call the story blasphemous, because the political motivations driving Judas are made up.
However, Judas still intrigues me. Why? Because we all sometimes make room for a little Judas in our hearts and minds. Personally, as a follower of Christ, I don't choose to betray Jesus consciously. But I do fight a daily battle with temptation.
From the start, Judas knew what he was doing. He may have been under the influence of evil spiritual powers, but he allowed himself to be manipulated by those powers. At the last supper, the disciples are shocked to hear that one of them is a traitor. John asks Jesus who it is and His answer seems pretty clear
“It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” (John 13:26-27)In the case of Judas, we can also see how money has corrupting powers. The true test of faith is whether you can keep it under all circumstances. If you were offered one billion euros (for real!), would you renounce your faith?
If you knew that you'd lose your family because of Jesus, would you abandon Him?
If you knew that you'd die for following Jesus, would you still do it?
Many people today choose to be martyred. The disciples personally knew the son of man. They experienced the resurrected Jesus and that was enough to convince them that He was worth living and dying for. Judas had the same experience, but chose to go in the opposite direction. It cost him everything. Perhaps even his salvation.
In light of more and more Christian leaders leaving the faith, it's worth taking a look at Judas. Satan is real and he is the prince of lies and deceit. The Bible tells us that Jesus overcame, so that we can overcome (John 16:33). Before you decide to follow Christ, you ought to know this verse.
There will be troubles, but Jesus promises you that in Him there is peace. In Jesus, there is true comfort.
I wonder if Judas would have had a change of heart, had he heard Jesus' words in John 15:18-25. After all, Jesus warns His disciples and friends, so that they "will not fall away" (John 16:1).
Instead, we find this son of perdition in anguish and utter despair. We know that the prophecy needed to be fulfilled, so that Jesus would be crucified. But I wish Judas could have repented and used his life to follow the one he had betrayed, and somehow make it up.
Following Jesus will not spare you from trials. On the contrary! God will always give you an opportunity to choose Him above everything else. Even when you fail, and the enemy entices you with a Judas lie - that Jesus is not who He says He is - you always have the chance to return to the heavenly father.
Jesus died, so that there won't be anymore sons or daughters of perdition, but rather sons and daughters of the living king of kings. When you choose to follow Christ, you are a part of that royal family.
And He won't ever let you go.
perdition
/pəˈdɪʃ(ə)n
noun
a state of eternal punishment and damnation into which a sinful and unrepentant person passes after death.
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