How Does Someone Turn from Being a Disciple to Being a Betrayer?
The Poor Example of Judas Iscariot
Through much of the gospel of John, Judas is portrayed in similar ways to the other eleven disciple who were also apostles. Except for the writer alerting readers to the future identity of Judas. So how did he turn from being a disciple to being a betrayer?
The first indication of something being awry was when Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive nard. Notice the betrayer,
But Judas Iscariot, one of the disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor? He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.
—John 12:4-6
Before he was a betrayer of Jesus, he was a thief. Stealing (especially from Jesus) is a serious offense, but it does not rank with betraying Jesus. At this point he might have been known as Judas the Thief. That’s not great, but it is better than Judas the Betrayer.
Beware of the lesser sins. If not dealt with (through repentance and faith in Jesus), it might lead to more serious sin.
Later in the evening Jesus was eating of the Passover meal with his disciples…including Judas. We are told,
During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him…
—John 13:2
By living with unconfessed and unrepented of sin, Judas opened himself up to the devil. And the devil took full advantage of the opening. He inserted into the heart of Judas the idea of betraying Jesus.
How often do we provide the devil a similar opening? We have sinned in ways we did not think possible because we provided the devil a way to influence us.
The final act on the road to betrayal (which was mere hours away) was when Jesus identified him as the betrayer (though the others did not get what Jesus had said). But as Jesus handed Judas a morsel of bread dipped in the oil, something happened.
Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him.
—John 13:27
Finally, Satan did not merely put an idea into Judas’ heart, but Satan himself entered into him. So the betrayal was both the work of Judas and the devil.
Once Satan gives us an idea, we must quickly respond with a refusal to entertain the idea. Perhaps like others have done, we might even speak truth about Jesus back to Satan. Don’t let the wicked one take of residency inside of you. Resist him and he will flee from you.
Defy Satan in times of despair. Say: “O cursed Satan, you choose a nice time to talk to me about doing and working when you know very well that I am in trouble over my sins. I will not listen to you. I will listen to Christ, who says that He came into the world to save sinners…Therefore I will not have you for my teacher, O Satan.”
—Martin Luther
Let us bear this in mind when the devil accuses our conscience. When that dragon accuses us of having done no good at all, but only evil, say to him: “You trouble me with the remembrance of my past sins; you remind me that I have done no good. But this does not bother me, because if I were to trust in my own good deeds, or despair because I have done no good deeds, Christ would profit me neither way. I am not going to make him unprofitable to me.
—Martin Luther
‘You are no saint,’ says the devil. Well, if I am not, I am a sinner, and Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.
—Charles Spurgeon
4 Questions for Obeying the First Commandment
by Kevin DeYoung
The first commandment, however, is unique in that it regulates a certain relationship between God and his people. Biblical morality is predicated upon the reality that there is only one God, and he must be worshiped to the exclusion of all others.
The Breakthrough Prayer
by Tim Challie’s
In those times when you feel the burden to address a long-standing area of weakness, in those moments when you feel the Spirit letting you know that today is the day to begin the battle against that sin, in those days when you know the right thing to do and decide this is the day to do it, you may well be experiencing the answer to somebody else’s prayer. What you think is your own resolve is actually the result of their resolve and their labor in prayer. The idea you may think originated in your heart actually originated on their knees, and they have been faithfully interceding on your behalf.
Thank you for this reminder, Frank!
"Be killing sin or sin will be killing you" - John Owen
A sobering lesson from Judas is that external association with Christ is no substitute for genuine faith. Judas loved himself and what he desired more than he loved Christ. (Matthew 6:21)