Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus.

How did Judas go from follower to betrayer?

• Judas followed Jesus.
• Judas was the keeper of the $$ box.
• Judas pilfered money from the $$ box.
• Judas erupted when Mary wasted costly perfume.
• Judas lied about what he loved, pretending to love the poor while loving $$.
• Judas designed his plan of betrayal for $$.
• Judas became a traitor.

Judas loved $$.  It started small. He pilfered.  It grew stronger and he began to see all of life through the lens of $$.

It all came to a head on the night of the Passover meal before the crucifixion. Jesus confronted the traitor.  With a gesture of special friendship, Jesus offered Judas the dipped morsel. With this act, Jesus was giving Judas a choice.  Choose me or choose $$.  Judas chose $$.

So after receiving the morsel, Judas went out immediately; and it was night.  John 13:30

Judas went to Jesus and kissed Him.  Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come to do.”  Matthew 27:49-50

But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.  I Timothy 6:9-10

Sadly, Judas is a prime example of one who wants to get rich.  His love of $$ led to all sorts of evil, made him susceptible to Satan’s temptation, and caused him to wander away from the faith and pierce himself with much grief. His love of $$ was his ruin.  He committed suicide, falling headlong into the field purchased with blood $$.

What do you love?

TODAY, are you content with what you have?

Guard your heart!

Luke 6:12-16, John 12 1-8, John 13:21-30, Matthew 27:3-10