“ONE OF YOU WILL BETRAY ME!”

 John 13:21-30                                          (ESV)

“[21] After saying these things, JESUS was troubled in HIS spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, “ONE OF YOU WILL BETRAY ME”.” [22] The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom HE spoke. [23] One of HIS disciples, whom JESUS loved, was reclining at table at JESUS’ side, [24] so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask JESUS of whom HE was speaking. [25] So that disciple, leaning back against JESUS, said to HIM, “LORD, who is it?” [26] JESUS answered, “It is he to 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. [27] Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. JESUS said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” [28] Now no one at the table knew why HE said this to him. [29] Some thought that, because JUDAS HAD THE MONEYBAG, JESUS was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. [30] So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.”

In my self righteous mindset, I have always thought that JESUS should have never allowed Judas to be CHOSEN, for Judas was the one the enemy used to guide the enemy to find JESUS to be captured.  Anger usually is the first emotion when I think of Judas, but it was part of GODS PLAN that had to be fulfilled for our salvation.  

Let’s think about this a little deeper.  Simon Peter denied JESUS three times before the Crucifixion.  None of the other disciples stood up and said the chief priest and scribes had the wrong person.  Had I been there, I would have been just as silent as the disciples were when JESUS was SACRIFICED for all.  While on the cross, JESUS even cried out to GOD ALMIGHTY “MY GOD, MY GOD, why have YOU forsaken ME?” (Matthew 27:46)!  

JESUS was sent from Heaven to be abandoned by HEAVEN!  HIS SACRIFICE caused the sun to be dark from noon until 3:00PM on that day.  THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD was ATTEMPTED to be killed by the enemy, but he failed!  Because the PLAN OF GOD was for JESUS TO DEFEAT the enemy AFTER HE had paid the price for our sins.  Judas fulfilling his role in the crucifixion was just as integral as Pharaoh fulfilling his role at the Red Sea.  IT HAD TO BE DONE!

JUDAS HAD THE MONEYBAG is also no coincidence.  The one who held THE MONEY, which is of this world, is the one chosen to be “ONE OF YOU WILL BETRAY ME”!  Scripture doesn’t say that money is the root of evil.  However it DOES say in 1 Timothy 6:10 that “The LOVE of money is the ROOT of all kinds of evil”!  Choosing between THE LOVE OF MONEY and the LOVE OF JESUS is easy for we who have very little money.  But will we be “ONE OF YOU WILL BETRAY ME” if we start losing what little money we have?  My prayer is that I will never be “ONE OF YOU WILL BETRAY ME”, whether rich or poor and I will fulfill HIS PURPOSE for my life!!!