“There is always a Judas among us.”
I will never forget these words from a very good friend when I was struggling with someone betraying me and breaking my trust.
He said there is always one in every group, every workplace, every church, every institution, and, unfortunately, even in our own families.
He said, “Judas still walks among us.”
At times it is a person who loves God but simply loves themselves more or their selfish intent.
Or it can be worse, the betrayer himself.
“In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.” Luke 22
Even my close friend whom I trusted, he who shared meals with me, has turned against me. Psalm 41:9
And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate, the governor. Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.” Matthew 27:2-6
He was not a believer. He listened to Christ, he heard about Christ and heaven and salvation and Calvary—but he never placed his total trust in Christ. Matthew 27:2-6
1. Some may have walked and talked and fellowshipped like other believers.
2. Some may have heard the gospel and even told others about Christ.
3. No one would have known, no one would have suspected, and no one would have accused them of being unchristian because of the way they lived and looked and sounded like all the rest of us.
Is there a Judas among you?
Maybe it is someone who would betray his friends? Maybe it is someone who is jealous over money, looks, or position. But more importantly, I’m talking about someone who for years has been living “real close” to God and religion and Christianity—but has never been cleansed from their sins. They have never placed their total trust in Jesus Christ to be the only way you get into heaven. They are just close enough to the light to feel its glow, but they are still outside looking in.
Judas was close, but he was not a believer.
Look hard for the Judas among you.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Holy Beautiful Life
Featured Image by Francesco Alberti on Unsplash
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