The deception Channel

John 13:21-30

Has there been a time in your life that you knew, yes, you knew it was the wrong thing to do, but you believed by doing it you might make things better for yourself?  For me it began as a small child whose parents taught right and wrong, and yet I often reasoned that if I got by with it, whatever it was, and it brought me pleasure, and no one got hurt.  Looking back on that mindset it was controlled by the devil, it was all about self, and it was reflected in my poor performance in school and much later in my married life.  What the enemy of our souls does not reveal is that Jesus tells the truth, and the Bible is clear about what we do comes back to us.  We are told in Galatians, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”  (Galatians 6:6-8 ESV) 

When that voice that sounds just like me says; your entitled, you deserve better, and no one will ever know, that’s the deception channel, or channel 1.  But the truth, channel 2 is also speaking, and it is never about that self deserves anything, but to show love to those you come in contact with.  Galatians 6, also tells us about channel 2, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:9-10 ESV)  Channel 2 is often not heard because it is not what our flesh wants, and so the enemy of our soul has come up with a plan to block it, and it is called noise.  But Jesus and our Helper (Holy Spirit) are broadcasting and the message goes something like the message in Matthew 7, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

(Matthew 7:12 ESV),

John 13:21-30, is the account of Jesus telling the disciples that one of them is going to betray him, and in that John was close to Jesus at the table Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking.  So when John asks, “It is he whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.”  So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas the son of Simon Iscariot.  Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him.  Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” (John 13: 26-27)  It seems clear that Jesus pointed out to John who the traitor was, but that was not God’s plan, and the Bible does not give us a clear picture of why Judas sold Jesus to the Jews.

For sure his life was tuned to channel 1, and it is reported in Scripture that Judas often stole money, we can each speculate on the why, but it is clear Judas saw the signs and miracles but never bowed his knee to the will of God.  Do you recall when Jesus had washed His disciples feet, He said, “Not all of you are clean.”  Jesus was referring to Judas.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice