Spy Wednesday

Matthew 26:14-16

Why did Judas betray Jesus? Christians have pondered this for centuries, and many wise men and women have ideas, but the simple truth is that the Bible does not make it explicitly clear. Scripture gives us some insights (the various gospel authors hint that Judas did not view Jesus in the same high regard that the other disciples did, and Luke and John indicate that there was demonic influence involved, money is exchanged for His betrayal, ect), but for whatever reason, the authors did not see it important to lay out his personal motives as explicitly as we modern readers might like. 

The Bible does make it clear, though, what his motive was not: that they weren’t close. For a long time, I assumed Judas was just some evil guy who somehow made the cut in Jesus’ 12. But a heartbreaking detail is revealed in how Jesus responds to Judas’ betrayal in verse 50: “Friend, do what you came to do.” Jesus was not betrayed primarily by the crowds, or by a stranger, but by his friend.

Perhaps the question we should be asking is this: why did we betray Jesus? We, God’s beloved, chose to go our own way. Though God had blessed with everything good, we chose to seek blessing on our own terms, ensnaring ourselves in the sin curse and ultimately killing Jesus. But take heart: John 13 says that knowing Judas would betray Him, Jesus washes his feet, and Romans 5 tells us that while we were sinning against Jesus, He died for us.

Prayer:

God, help me feel a healthy sorrow for how I’ve sinned against you—but let that godly sorrow also lead to repentance and rejoicing that my debt has been paid in Jesus.

Question to consider:

Though we may know “on paper” that Jesus loves us and has our best in mind, we constantly sin against him. Why do you think that is?