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
