If you are anything like me, you know when one of your children is going to lie to you before they do it. On occasion they can slip one past me, but most of the time I can hear the squabbles in the background that will lead to an eventual tattle tale and a coerced confession. In the same way I know my children, Jesus knew His disciples and the intentions of their hearts.
When I think about the story of Judas’ betrayal of Jesus, I often think about how Jesus was not surprised at all. Before Jesus even began a relationship with Judas as one of the twelve disciples, He knew the day would come when Judas would decide to trade Jesus’ whereabouts for thirty pieces of silver. And yet, Jesus still not only loved Judas, but invited him into what would be the closest circle of followers Jesus would ever have.
Matthew 26:14 records this moment of betrayal as, “Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.”
I have often asked myself why Judas would offer Jesus up to the guards looking to walk Him to His execution? While this behavior is baffling to me, I can see the reason shiny silver would appeal to him when I see the reasons my children try to hide their truth from me. Sometimes the shiny object we want, blinds our eyes from the goodness in front of us.
What I mean by this is that Judas was entranced by some money he could have now, when the person He was turning in was the very person who shows us in Haggai 2:8 that all “the silver is mine, and the gold is mine,” Judas chose thirty pieces of silver over the Man who owns all the silver there is to have.
And you know what Jesus’ response was to all of this? When Judas approached Him he said, “Friend, do what you came to do.” (Matthew 27:9) Even when Judas is approaching Jesus and Jesus knows what is happening, Jesus still refers to him as “Friend.”
I can’t even imagine how Jesus could do this; respond with love and affection when being approached by evil and hate. But in John 15:12-13 Jesus said to his disciples, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
I wonder if Judas remembered Jesus’ words and saw this as the ultimate display of love for someone. Jesus’ command was that we love as He has loved. Can you love those who have hurt you and/or are actively hurting you just as Jesus loved Judas?
Krystal Ribble is a freelance writer and author of The Church’s Orphans and Love Me in the Waiting. She aims to breathe new life into and bring a modern understanding to the stories we’ve read about in the Bible all our lives, showing readers how those stories are still relevant today. Her writing builds on experiences mentoring college-aged students and advocating for orphans and vulnerable children across the United States. Krystal earned a Bachelor of Science in Gerontology and Health Care Management from North Greenville University and Master of Arts in Christian Leadership from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and Graduate School. She now lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband, Jared, and their three boys.Find out more about Krystal at www.krystalribble.com and by following @krystalribble on Instagram.
