Is there a Judas living in me?

July 1, 2015

Luke 22: 3-6

“Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.”

As I began to write on these three verses this question came into my mind; is there a Judas living in my earthsuit?   Wow, it is still early and I’ve not finished my first cup of coffee and that’s a lot to ponder over.  First, Judas is a follower of Christ, and he has been chosen by Jesus, he has been on mission trips and has seen God do great things through him. 

As you ponder on the question, “Is there a Judas living in my earthsuit?”  We need to ask more questions, Judas was a follower of Christ and so am I, Judas and I have this in common.  Judas was chosen by Jesus but the question remains did Jesus choose me?  We will find the answer to our question in John 15:16, "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”  Jesus also said these words through the lips of John in chapter 6 verse 44, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.”  So it looks like Judas and I have more in common than I would have ever considered, should I be concerned? 

There is still more, do you recall Jesus sending the twelve out in two’s, Dr. Luke gives us this insight in Luke 9:1-2, “And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.”  Dr. Luke gives this report in verse six, “And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.”  This is not going the way I thought it would, that dude and I have way too much in common, I’ve also gone on mission trips, and Judas and the twelve it seems were much more successful than what I experienced, should I be troubled?

And the answer is no and yes, no, in that Judas knew Jesus and even hung out with Him, he may have even believed Jesus was God, but Judas did not receive Jesus as his Lord, did not give up the rights to his life and ask Jesus Christ to become his life, Judas never experienced Pentecost, never had the Holy Spirit come to live in his life, but I have, and Jesus has given me eternal life, because He is the giver of life.  Now let’s deal with the yes, for I still have a free will, my flesh wants to be in control and each day I have the same battles as Judas, to want what I want more than to submit to the authority of Christ.  How are you doing with the Judas living in you?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice