The start of the Betrayal

Verses: Luke 22 : 1 - 6

My thoughts about the verses:

There are two parts of this story that we have to understand.  There is one group that feared Jesus would destroy their way of life.  The second was a person that felt that Jesus wasn't doing everything that he thought he would do.  See the motivations were different in that the one group hated Jesus because they were afraid that the Romans would make their life harder.  The other feared that the fighting that he expected would not happen because of the way Jesus was.  

I will start with the Jewish leaders.  They were in a place of power that they did not want to lose. They were much better off that the average citizen financially.  They also were in, their eyes, the chosen leaders of the Jewish community.  Think about it how many people want to be lowered from a status that they feel is theirs.  Jesus was a threat to their very way of life.  He was telling the average Jews the story of God's fulfillment of prophesies.  

They felt the only way to stop their fall was to end Jesus's life.  They were only thinking about today not the future.  Many of us today are the same way.  We are happy where we are at and don't want things to change.  The only thing we wish for is more influence and more money to obtain better possessions.  There are so many in this world that is worried that they will lose what they have here on Earth and do not think about what they could gain in Heaven.

I really felt that the Jewish leaders were envious of Jesus.  Their jealousy had made them blinded to what would happen if their plan worked.  They didn't realize if they killed Jesus his death would lead to more power.  That his walking out of the tomb in three days would lead to many people understanding just exactly who the Messiah was.  Their jealousy led them to plot the death of Jesus so that they could just get back to their trivial day to day business.

Then you have to look at Judas.  I have said this many times there is a part of me that feels sad for Judas.  He has gone down as history as the betrayer.  He would forever be remembered as the one in which turned his friend in so that he would die.  I am pretty sure that he did not understand what would truly happen once the Jewish leaders got hold of Jesus.  In fact, I believe Judas thought it would lead to Jesus changing his way and inserting his Godly power.

You have to understand that not all Jews at the time were satisfied with the way things were going.  In fact, many were waiting for the great King to come so that they could reclaim "their land."  There were people that had been fighting the Romans in different ways for several years.  They were plotting to overthrow the tyranny wants the King arrived.

Judas was one of those people that thought that the movement would stop because Jesus did not want to be a worldly King.  He was doing miracles and teaching about love.  Where was the King that would free his people?  See many did not comprehend the true meaning of the prophecies.  Due to their understanding of the afterlife they were not prepared for someone to come and teach that there were better things to come in the next life.

I know in my heart that Judas loved Jesus.  Yet, he was chosen as a disciple so that he could be used as the instrument that led to the death of his friend.  I am not saying that he did not have a choice we all do.  Yet, Jesus knew his heart and knew that there would come a time when he would betray him.  Judas should not be looked at as the evil one that put an end to Jesus.  If you read on Judas learned to late that he had made a mistake.  His Earthly Spirit died that day.  Yet, his asking forgiveness gave him the everlasting life that he needed.  I really do not think Jesus was even mad at Judas.  I feel as if Jesus heart ached for him because he knew the outcome and I am sure that if there had been a different way Jesus would have done it.  

Prayer:

Dear Savior we thank you for everlasting life.  We thank you for the sacrifice that you made.  We thank you for being there for us even when we do not deserve it.  We ask that you help prepare our hearts so that we may accept your will in our life.  Help us when we do wrong.  Be with us as we help others.  In the name of the One Who Rose from the Grave.  Amen

Questions:

Are you willing to do what needs to be done to further the Realm of God?  Have you ever been in a situation that you wish you were not in?  Have you ever done something that you thought was right only to come to the realization that it hurt those you loved?  Have you asked God to forgive you for your trespasses and to enter your heart as your Savior?