stephen R Harrison

“Behind Closed Doors”

“And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.”

-Luke 22:4

Betrayal is a hurtful action. It typically involves deceit but is more than that. Deception can come from anyone, but betrayal can only happen from someone you trust. It is a bitter pill to swallow. When an enemy opposes you, you expect it. But when you don’t expect it from a loved one, it can wound you for many years. Jesus experienced betrayal. While that may not seem like much consolation initially, the more we think about his response, the more it can heal our lives. 

Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples, betrayed him for money (Luke 22:1-6). One might ask how he could do that after seeing Jesus heal, feed the 5000, raise Lazarus from the dead, perform multiple miracles, extend compassion to the poor, and hear his life-changing teaching. Sinful man has betrayed those he loves for a lot less. Judas waited about a day to betray Jesus. Sadly, I’ve done it sooner. Jesus’ enemies were worried about arresting him publicly and needed a way to do it privately. They feared the backlash of his followers. Scripture tells us “Satan entered Judas” (v. 3), and he went to the chief priests and officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus (v. 4). We tend to call Thomas “doubting Thomas”, so why don’t we call Judas “betraying Judas”? We do call those who betray us today a “Judas Iscariot”. The name has become synonymous with betrayal. Jesus said, “Woe to the man that betrays him” (v. 22). 

While Satan tempted Judas, Judas chose to betray Jesus. He made a deal with the devil and turned his back on Jesus. Satan is the prince of darkness who manipulates and deceives. Perhaps Judas was jealous of Jesus, mad at him, or just filled with greed. Matthew tells us Judas asked the chief priests, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” (26:15). They gave him thirty pieces of silver. Some estimate that was anywhere from $100-$400 today. He would then kiss him on the cheek in the Garden of Gethsemane as a sign to the Roman soldiers arresting him. What a turncoat! What betrayal! Would you sell Jesus out for a few hundred bucks? Most of us would adamantly say, “Not a chance”. Truth is, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). “Well, everyone sins,” you might say. Let this sink in: “While we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son” (Romans 5:10). We are all “Judas Iscariots”! 

Judas was not alone. Cain killed Abel. David killed Uriah and committed adultery. Moses killed a man and buried him in the desert. Saul killed Christians. We are as guilty of sin as they were. We may call Judas the worst, but the Apostle Paul said he was! He said, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst” (1 Timothy 1:15). There is a betrayer of Christ in all of us. Maybe Judas “sold Jesus out”, which led to his arrest and then to the cross, but it was everyone’s sins that hung him there! First Peter 2:24 may begin with “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross”, but it ends with great hope for us all: “So that we might die to sins and live for righteousness”!

Questions: 

How have you betrayed Jesus?

How has Jesus forgiven you?

Prayer:

Jesus, thank you for forgiveness. We were once your enemies, but now we are friends of God. We were the chiefs of sinners, but now we are sons and daughters of our Father. Thank you for forgiving us while we were still sinners. Keep us from the evil one. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

Read: 

Luke 22:1-6

Action Step:

Think about the “30 pieces of silver” moments if you can. It should be sobering to contemplate how little the compensation is for our sinfulness! Now, think about what we receive for choosing Christ as our Savior. Let the vast difference drive you to thankfulness and worship.