Judas didn't just betray Jesus once in the end. He had betrayed His trust all along by living a double life; pretending to follow Jesus while his heart was not in it. He also repeatedly betrayed Jesus by stealing from the church treasury. This was all the result of not keeping his heart, letting human thoughts and emotions run astray.
When Mary anointed Jesus with expensive perfume (for His burial, according to Jesus' deeper insight), Judas objected. He complained in front of everyone that the perfume should have been sold and the money given to the poor. But John tells us, "He did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it" (Jn. 12:6).
Jesus rebuked Judas, but his correction was gentle and primarily for the sake of Mary who felt judged and misunderstood by Judas' self-serving comment. Christ could have taken the opportunity to expose Judas, but he knew that only love wins. Jesus even washed his feet in the Upper Room, hoping against hope that Judas would repent before it was too late. But he didn't. Jesus would have saved Judas to the last. Amazing patience; amazing grace!
Judas' betrayal began by living duplicitously--acting like a believer, but doubting everything; never truly surrendering his heart. Jesus disappointed his ambitious hopes, and eventually Judas began to pay himself back from church funds for his trouble.
Are you disappointed by the church, by unexplained troubles in your life? Does Jesus disappoint you? This story shows He is always there and that He always loves. He knows everything, and everything has a purpose.
We must beware of the little betrayals of our hearts and the excuses we make for them. Let Jesus' love conquer.
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