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JUDAS ISCARIOT
(Study on the Twelve Apostles)
(MBC - Wednesday PM, September 6, 2023
The last disciple that we are going to study is the last name in the list. Who is he? _______ (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-16). Matthew 10:2-4 “These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him." Mark 3:16-19 “These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.” Luke 6:14-16 “Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.” The are lot of details or information about this disciple recorded in the Bible that we know more than other disciples except for the two apostles like Peter and John. This disciple who is the last list was guilty of awful and horrible and malevolent act which has been connected with his name throughout many centuries. What was that act that is terrible and has an malicious intention which the world always remembered regarding who he is? ____________ (Matthew 10:4)
Matthew 10:4 “and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.”
I – PROPER MEANING OF THE NAME We are convenient and happy to name our child with the name like John, Peter, James, Mark, Matthew, Emmanuel, Philip, and we feel good when others called our children by those names.
Do you have a friend, classmates, school mates, relatives who bear the name of Judas? ____________
There are few or may be its hard to find someone who wants their child bear the name Judas. People always reminded the terrible act and the wicked thing Judas done to the Lord Jesus Christ which is part of the world history.
Judas parents gave their bay boy a very good name. The name Judas is a Greek name which means Judah. One of the twelve sons of Jacob is Judah (Genesis 29:35).
Genesis 29:35 “And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.”
Through the line of Judas who is one of the twelve sons (12 tribes) Jacob (Israel), the Messiah could come. What is the name Judah means? ____________ (Genesis 29:35).
Genesis 29:35 “And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.”
The meaning of the name Judah is “may He (God) be praised.”
Indeed, Judas is a very good name because it is the Greek name which means Judah, and Judah means “God be praised” and Jesus Christ the Savior would come into the line of Judah. However, it so sad to know that a disciple whose named Judas was a servant of the devil, a traitor, a thief, and the one who betrayed His master.
The good name of Judas did not match his wicked life. The name Judas meant something wonderful and profitable. But Judas did not live up according to what his name means. Judas not only had betrayed the Lord but he also betrayed his name.
As follower of Christ are you called by the name Christian? How about you, does your life match your name Christian?
In case some people did not know and have no idea that you are a Christian, but because of what they see how you live and act as a believer in Christ, would they call you a Christian? Or would they say something bad about you?
Are you a believer of Christ? Do you live and act as a true believer of Christ? Did others know that you are a real believer? Are your living match your name as believer?
As we have learned, the proper meaning of the name Judas is praise to God or praise the Lord, but this very good name was polluted by his wicked, deceitful and sinful living which his life did not give glory and praise to God at all until his death.
How about the word “Iscariot.” The word “Iscariot” give us information where Judas came from. Judas came from a small town located in Judea. What is that small town in Judea that sounds like Iscariot? ___________ (Joshua 15:25)
Joshua 15:25 “And Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor,”
Judas was a man of Kerioth. It is very possible that the only disciple among the twelve that came from Judea is Judas Iscariot. Probably, others disciples of Jesus Christ were from Galilee.
Read Mark 14:70, we will know that speech is one way to identify the Galileans disciples.
Mark 14:70 “And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.”
II – PERSONAL VIOLATION OF ALLEGIANCE Judas was a traitor. Traitor is one who violates his allegiance.
Read Luke 6:16 and complete the missing word.
Luke 6:16 “And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the __________.”
Judas was called the traitor. A traitor is a person who violates his allegiance and betrays his country or his ruler or his friend or his master. In the Bible, traitors are those who betray any trust or are false to any person to whom they are obliged.
Example of Traitor in history: Benedict Arnold
In American history during the revolutionary war, Benedict Arnold was honored American General until he betrayed his country and sided with the British.
Example of traitor in the Bible: Judas Iscariot
Judas appeared to be a follower of Jesus Christ after he joined the band of disciples of Jesus Christ, but Judas it is sad that he turned out to Christ enemy and did terrible and malicious act.
Being the disciple of Christ, Judas should be working for God and for the cause of God, but contrary to what should be expected, but for whom Judas ended up working for? ___________ (John 13:2, 27)
John 13:2, 27 “And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; 27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.”
Read John 13:28 and answer several questions:
John 13:28 “I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.”
What is the description of Judas in this verse? _____________
Did you think that Judas was really a friend of Jesus since Judas ate with Christ as a friend? _____________
Was Judas an enemy that is against Christ or a really in the side of Christ? ___________
If an enemy soldier is in the side with his fellow enemy soldiers engaging in battle and wears the uniform of an enemy is quite different from the situation when an enemy soldier wears the uniform like of his opponents then sits among a band of his opponents’ loyal soldiers, and pretending he was a friend of his enemies. That was so deceitful and dangerous. That was a traitor dangerously described. As we have studied all of Christ’s eleven disciples, we have learned that they were loyal to Jesus. Although all these eleven like Peter and Thomas, failed their master the Lord Jesus, but they never become traitor toward their master. As soldiers of Christ, they were very poor at many of times in their lives but they never violate their allegiance to their master Jesus and took sides with the enemy and end up work for the enemy Satan. Judas did and become a traitor.
Read Matthew 12:30 and complete the verse, then decide whose side are you on.
Matthew 12:30 “He that is not _______ me is __________ me;”
Every person is either in Christ side or against Christ. You must decide if you are for Christ or against Christ. No one who is on his right mind sit on the fence, you cannot be neutral neither cannot be half for Satan and half for Jesus Christ.
III – PRETENDING ACTION Betrayal is when someone you trust breaks that trust by doing something that hurts you. This can take many forms,
1. A soldier working with the enemy. Helping an enemy such as a person who gives secret information to a country that is at war with his or her own.
2. one family member stealing from another.
3. A friend spreading rumors about another friend. When your friend told other people all your secrets.
4. If you start dating your best friend's girlfriend behind his back.
Betrayal means "an act of deliberate disloyalty," Betrayal has to do with destroying someone's trust, possibly by lying.
Being betrayed by a friend or a family member is one of the worst feelings ever. Sometimes the emotional pain is far worse than that of physical pain. The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies.
Betrayal is a common theme in literature, movies, and TV shows.
It is a universal human experience that can be felt by anyone regardless of their background or culture.
Some famous people who have experienced betrayal are:
Julius Caesar: He was betrayed by his friend Brutus and other senators who assassinated him in 44 BC
Anne Boleyn: She was betrayed by her husband King Henry VIII who accused her of adultery, incest, and treason. She was executed in 1536.
Nelson Mandela: He was betrayed by his wife Winnie Mandela who was convicted of kidnapping and accessory to assault in 1991.
Arnold Schwarzenegger: He was betrayed by his wife Maria Shriver who filed for divorce after he admitted to fathering a child with their housekeeper.
Kobe Bryant: He was betrayed by his teammate Shaquille O’Neal who criticized him publicly and accused him of being selfish. They won three NBA championships together before O’Neal was traded to the Miami Heat.
Mark Zuckerberg: He was betrayed by his friend Eduardo Saverin who sued him for diluting his shares in Facebook. They settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed amount.
The Bible contains several examples of betrayal, including: Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Jesus for money; David’s betrayal and murder of Uriah; Absalom’s killing of his half-brother Amnon, after Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar, Absalom’s sister.
The Bible teaches that betrayal is always is always the result when we refuse to God’s will and fight for our own.
The word betray appears 55 times throughout the books of the bible.
What does betrayal mean?
Betrayal's root is betray, which comes from the Middle English word bitrayen — meaning "mislead, deceive."
The Bible word “betray” comes from Greek “para” means “up” and “didomi” means “to give”. Literally means to hand over, to deliver over, to give over. In the case of Judas betraying Jesus, it does mean to deliver over treacherously by way of betrayal (Matthew 17:22) or by way of delivered (Matthew 26:16; John 6:64).
Matthew 17:22 “And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:?”
Matthew 26:14-16 “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.”
John 6:64 “But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.”
That is exactly what Judas did to Jesus, Judas handed over the Lord Jesus to the large group of men who had come to arrest Him. Judas betrayed His master (Matthew 26:47-56).
Matthew 26:47-56 “And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. 49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him. 51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear. 52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. 53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? 55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. 56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.”
Read Matthew 26:48-49 and give the right answer concerning how Judas betray the Lord.
( ) Judas pointed his right finger at the Lord
( ) Judas hit Jesus in the head with a rod
( ) Judas slapped the Lord in the face
( ) Judas spit in the Lord’s face
( ) Judas kissed the Lord
( ) Judas kicked Jesus
( ) Judas tied the hand of Jesus
( ) Judas took the 30 pieces of silver from Jesus
Matthew 26:48-49 “Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. 49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.”
Judas kiss to Jesus was a kiss of love from a heart of hate. If we literally present in that scene and we have no idea what is really happening, we would really presume that Judas was a true and real friend of Jesus. Judas acts maliciously and showed that he is a friend of his master, because normally people do not usually kiss their enemies. It is really misleading, deceiving.
Judas was a good pretending actor who wore a mask and expert in hiding what is really in his heart. Judas tried his best to keep secretly so people have no idea who is the real Judas. Is there any one who has the ability to see under the good mask the real Judas? _____________
Read Matthew 26:21 contains what Jesus said earlier that same evening when the twelve disciples were with Him, that tells us that Jesus knows well who will be the one shall betray Him. Put the missing words.
Matthew 26:21 “And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that _______ of you shall _________ me.”
Did the other eleven disciples know correctly that Jesus was referring to Judas? _________ (Matthew 26:22).
Matthew 26:22 “And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?”
According to this verse, did Judas have fooled his fellow disciples? __________
According to this verse, could the eleven disciples see through the good mask that Judas is pretending that Jesus is not genuine believer and will be the betrayer? _____
Jesus had a very good reason for what he said in Matthew 26:21, because the Lord giving Judas a chance to unmask and need to open up and humbly admit that he is the disciple Jesus is referring who will betray the Lord his master. In your opinion what should Judas have done and have said?
Judas should fell on his knees and have courage to tell the Lord that he is the one who is guilty of unfaithfulness and will betray the Lord and deliver over to the chief priests for 30 pieces of silver. He should ask the Lord to have mercy upon him and ask forgiveness of his sin and to save his soul, that he may serve the Lord and love the Lord in genuineness. Judas should express his desires not to pretend anymore and be the Lord’s real disciple.
Did Judas humbly and honestly confess and admit to Jesus that he is pretending and guilty to betray the Lord? Or remain hiding under his mask? ___________ (Matthew 26:25)
Matthew 26:25 “Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.”
Judas refused to remove his mask and refuse others see who is the real Judas.
Notice the phrase “Master, is it I?”, these words of Judas can be interpreted, “of course it is not me, right Master?” It seems Judas is waiting for positive answer from Jesus “Of yes, I want every one of them know that it is you whom I am talking about”. These pretending statements of Judas “Master, is it I?” were spoken under the mask.
Read Matthew 26:14-16 can you say that Judas know that he was the betrayer that Jesus is talking about? ________
Matthew 26:14-16 “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.”
No one can fool God, we too like Judas can fool others but not God. God’s eyes look right into the heart and knows who is the real you, mask cannot cover your real intention and pretension. Stop pretending. Fear God and be what you are!
IV – PREFERED CHOSEN Read Luke 6:13, then find out many how many disciples Jesus have chosen? _____________
Luke 6:13 “And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;”
Read Luke 6:12, what is the first right step Jesus made before He selected His disciples? ____________
Luke 6:12 “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”
Read Luke 6:16, when Jesus called His disciples and among them He chosen twelve apostles, was Judas Iscariot included? among them>
Luke 6:16 “And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.”
Can you give a reason why Jesus choose Judas Iscariot to be one of the twelve disciples? _______
Did you think that the Lord commits a mistake for choosing a traitor like Judas? ____________
Do you believe that the Lord Jesus had chosen the wrong man when He chosen Judas Iscariot? __________
Did Jesus know Judas was not a real friend and knows exactly that Judas would be the one who will betray Him? _______
Read 6:64, did Jesus from the beginning knew that Judas was not a believer? ____________
John 6:64 “But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.”
Read John 6:70 did Jesus choose Judas in spite that He knew that Judas was a servant of a devil? __________
John 6:70 “Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.”
The Lord Jesus was aware exactly who was Judas and what Judas would do to Him, so Jesus made no mistake and will never and ever commit mistake. Jesus’ decision is always on time and always right.
Jesus chosen Judas to be one of His twelve disciples because God wants us to learn something from Judas. We can learn a lessons from the tragedy happened in the life of Judas.
Read again John 6:64 did God knows from the beginning who among us the genuine believer and who is not? _________
Does God know what will be your life like 5 years, 15 years, 25 years or 50 years from now? ___________
Does God know what place in eternity you will go after you died? ________________
Does God know what will be your Christian life like from now, if you will backslide and when? God know if you will surrender your life into the ministry at coming years?
Does God know where will you from now in years to come, serving God faithfully in your church or living from worldliness? _
In spite Jesus knows exactly who Judas is and aware what Judas would do to Him, Jesus preferred to choose Judas.
V - POLLUTED HEART In John 13:10 Jesus tells His twelve apostles that they are clean but not all of them. Can you identify the one disciple who was not clean according to Jesus? _______
John 13:11 “For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.”
Based on what Jesus said, did you think that Judas is a dirty man who never took a bath or did not ever wash himself? ___
Of course, Jesus is not referring to clean or dirty skin of a man, for Judas outward physical appearance is clean. What Jesus is talking about is a heart that was cleansed and forgiven.
John 15:3 “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”
Ephesians 5:26 “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,"
This shown Christ’s love for the church (believers) is shown in Christ’s work of sanctification. To sanctify means to set apart. In this passage, Paul is speaking primarily of what the theologians refer to as positional sanctification (past tense salvation, the point in time when we were justified or declared righteous when we place our faith in Christ substitutionary sacrifice on the cross. Positionally the church is already sanctified. Positional sanctification is a onetime event.
Jesus said to Nicodemus, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3), and according to God’s mercy has caused us to be born again through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (I Peter 1:3). We are born again not of seed that is perishable but imperishable that is the living and abiding Word of God (I Peter 1:22-23). God saved us not of works of righteousness that we have done but according to God’s mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”), poured out upon us richly though Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:6 “Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;” ), being justified by His grace we made heirs to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:7 “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”). So, Judas is not justified, saved or born again by the washing of the Word of God. Judas is not positionally sanctified of water by the Word, not justified or declared righteous because he do not place his faith in Christ’s as Savior.
The Progressive sanctification in which the justified believer is daily, more and more, gradually being set apart from the world and unto God. Practically the church (body of Christ, the believers) is being set apart day by day. Progressive sanctification is the idea inherent in other phrases such being conformed more and more into the image of God’s Son (Romans 8:29 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son” ), that is progressive transformation in (Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”) or being continually transformed from glory to glory by the Spirit (II Corinthians 3:18 “But we all,…are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”).
The process of sanctification is carried on by the “washing of water by the word”, simply means that the live of believers are cleansed as they hear the words of Christ and obey them. Progressive sanctification, today, Christ is cleansing His church through the ministry of His Word. That is why Jesus said to the disciples in John 15:3 “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” The Lord Jesus linked sanctification with the Word in His prayer in John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
Just as the blood of Christ cleanses once for all from the guilt and penalty of sin, so the Word of God cleanses continually from the defilement and pollution of sin. Therefore, the verse in Ephesians 5:26 “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,” teaches that the church is being bathed at the present time, not with literal water, but with the cleansing agent of the Word of God.
Outwardly Judas appeared quite clean as he lived, traveled, ate and associated with other chosen followers of Christ. Surely, Judas read the Scriptures, prayed before he eats his meal. There are many things done by Judas that seemed good and clean outwardly if judged by many people. However, Judas possessed a polluted heart. Judas has a filthy heart. Judas was of the devil. Judas was not born again or was not saved; he did not yet experience the washing of the Word through regeneration of the incorruptible seed Word of God.
Again, when the Lord Jesus said to Peter in John 13:10 “ye are clean, but not all.” On that very moment, Judas should take off his mask and humbly said to his Master, that he is the unclean one that Jesus is talking about. Judas should accept confess the truth that his heart is unclean and not right with his Master the Lord Jesus. Judas must humbly ask Jesus to save him and forgive him so that he might be clean on the inside. Judas also must confess to Jesus of his willingness to stop pretending to be what he is not. Sadly, Judas refuse to remove the mask of traitor and betrayer that he is wearing.
VI – PART OF THE TWELVE Read the given verses Matthew 26:14,47; Mark 14:10,20,43; Luke 22:47; John 6:71 and then put the missing words?
Matthew 26:14,47 “Then ______ ______ ______ ________, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, `______ _____ ____ _________, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.”
Mark 14:10,20,43 “And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. 20 And he answered and said unto them, It is ______ _____ _____ _________, that dippeth with me in the dish. 43 And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, ______ _____ ____ ________, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.”
Luke 22:47 “And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.”
John 6:71 “He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.”
What is the word that described Judas seven times in four gospels? ___________
According to these gospel records Judas was a part of the special band of disciples who were with Jesus in a special way. Judas had a wonderful privileges as Jesus’ disciple based on given passages.
Judas was closer to Jesus than any other disciples. Often, Judas enjoyed traveled, ate, talked with Jesus. Judas also repeatedly listened to Jesus preaching and thus heard the gospel of salvation from the Savior Himself time and time again. Every opportunity and advantage to be saved is given to Judas.
Judas witnessed all the miracles performed by Jesus Christ. Probably, Judas himself have also performed some miracles was given power against unclean spirits and heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons and even was sent forth by Jesus to preach about the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 10:1,4,5-8 “And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. 4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. 5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”
Judas received a lot of blessings. Similar to Esau, Judas disregarded the rich spiritual blessings that he offered for the sake of earthly goods that were of very little value. Read Matthew 26:24 then complete the missing word on what Jesus said.
Matthew 26:24 “woe _____ that man”
What Jesus wants to point out here is that Judas was not blessed, he was cursed!
Judas has all opportunities and privileges but Judas terribly do not take advantage of these wonderful things.
Did you not take advantage of the opportunities and privileges you have?
Did you take advantage of the Bible truths your parents teaching you?
Are you taking advantage of the opportunities to read the Bible daily?
Are you taking advantage of the opportunities to attend a Bible-centered church regularly?
Did you take advantage of the privilege of having a Pastor and Sunday school teacher who show you the Gospel of Salvation?
Are you making most of all these opportunities, privileges and advantages in your life?
Are you concern and giving much attention on these wonderful things as if they were very important in your life?
Like Judas, “woe unto you”, if you reject all those opportunities, privileges, advantages, and all that God is doing for your sake and for good of people around you.
VII – PERSONEL SERVANT OF SATAN Read John 6:70 then put the missing words to know what is the very strong words used by the Lord Jesus to describe Judas.
John 6:70 “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you ____________, and ________ of you is a ____________?”
Jesus wants to say is that one of His disciples was a servant of the devil. Jesus reveals that one of them is devil’s man. Judas was on the side of the devil and not on the side of God. Judas wear a mask and appear pretentiously a servant of Christ but in reality he was a servant of Satan. Judas was not a real friend of God, but an enemy of God. Anyone cannot be neutral. How about you which side are you?
There will come a day when the devil would enter into the heart of this man and will use and work evil through this disciple to terribly become traitor and betray his dear Master, his own Creator.
John 13:2, 27 “And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; 27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.”
Now, can you find a devil’s man today? Do you know one and where? Anyone can go to church and still be on the devil’s side. Anyone can read the Bible and sing praises and pour a long prayer and still be on the side of the devil. Anyone can know how to be saved and can share the gospel of salvation to others unsaved souls and still be on the side of the devil. Judas was a disciple of the Lord Jesus who preaches about the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 10: 5-7 “These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Anyone can be very close to the sacred things of God like the Bible, the church, parents who are Christians, playing instruments in the worship place, in God’s ministry but still be lost forever be cast out unto hell with everlasting torment.
May the life of Judas can provide us a warning lesson. Remove your mask and put away your pretending Christianity. May we have a solid determination to have a genuine Christianity, having a true and honest relationship with Jesus Christ. Avoid making fake Christianity by making others believe that you are a real disciple but God knows you are servant of the devil.
- - - - - TO BE CONTINUED - - - - - VIII – PROFESSIONAL THIEF Read John 12:1-3 to see that the feet of Jesus were anointed with a very costly perfume by a woman named Mary of Bethany.
John 12:1-6 “Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. 3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. 4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.”
Was Judas like the way Mary shown her love to Jesus by anointing the very costly ointment to the feet of Jesus? (v.4-5) ____
Would you identify the beautiful and attractive kind of mask that Judas wore? (v.4-5) ________________________________
What was the dirty and ugly thing that was found under the mask of Judas? (v.6) ____________________________________
All other disciples trusted Judas because he was the treasurer of the group. Judas was called a traitor in Luke 6:16, find out what was another description of Judas? _________________ (v.6)
Since Judas was a thief and was only pretending but did not really care for the poor, did the other disciples know this? _____
How about you, when it comes to money, are you honest and trusted? _____________
Have you ever attempted to take money that is not yours? _______________________
Have you ever robbed the money that belong to God and should be given to God’s work? ___________________
Possibly, no one knows your dishonesty and you may not have been caught on the act when you have taken the money that is not yours. You may convince others and fool everyone to believe you, but do not forget that the True and Living God who is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresence sees and knows your heart, thought and what are you doing. God knows if you are hiding in your mask of false Christianity. There is no professional thief that can hide anywhere he goes in the eyes of God. IX – PROFESSING FRIEND Read Matthew 26:50 about when Judas came up and betrayed his Master the Lord Jesus then answer the question.
Matthew 26:50 “And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him.”
If we are the Lord Jesus, we may say to Judas something like this “You are not a trusted friend but a wicked enemy, you are a bad man, a traitor, you are a betrayer, and you will be cast into a like of fire and suffer for eternity.” But Jesus did not say anything like that. In fact, Jesus allowed Judas to kiss Him and even He called Judas “friend.” God loves Judas even though Judas don’t have love for God. The little word “friend” hurt Judas so much that no words can equally hurt him.
The Lord returned good for evil. Read Romans 12:19-21 “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
If you are not sure 100% when you die you will go to heaven, the question is why are you not sure of your salvation? It is not because God does not want you to be saved, it is you that you do not want to come and believe Jesus Christ to be saved and have eternal life.
John 5:40 “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”
Judas have no reason to say that Jesus never loved him and never wanted him to be saved. Judas will never be able to say that he do not have any opportunity to be saved and his sins will never be forgiven. Any man who ever lived has many opportunities to be eternally saved, but it’s a man’s choice to throw opportunity away and lost the chance to be saved and be condemned because he believed not the only begotten Son of God (John 3:18 “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”).
After Judas kissed Jesus before the Lord was arrested and crucified, Judas the unsaved and Jesus the Savior were separated eternally forever. If God has given every man many opportunities to be saved, what are you doing with that great opportunity that has given you? Believe the Son to have everlasting life or believe not the Son to be condemned (John 3:18).
Read John 18:3-6 identify who fell down with all men who had lanterns, torches and weapons that fell down? (v.5) ______
John 18:3-6 “Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? 5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. 6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.”
Since Judas obviously standing together with the enemies of the Lord Jesus, therefore everyone could now identify that Judas was the traitor. Judas wearing of mask was over, because the real Judas could be clearly and easily revealed and confirmed.
Five, ten, or fifteen years from, where are you going? are you going to be with those who love the Lord and trust God’s Word or will you be with the enemies of Christ and those who does not care God’s Word? and are you going to enjoy standing with Satan’s crowd or with the people of God?
Read Psalm 119:63 who are the companions that God want us to be with? _______________________________
Psalm 119:63 “I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.”
X – PERSON OF PERDITION Read Matthew 26:24 and fill up the missing word to prove that Judas most miserable over all men.
Matthew 26:24 “The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been ____________.”
The answer: “born”.
Read John 17:12 as Jesus prayed to the Father, put the word on the blank space to know the title Jesus described Judas.
John 17:12 “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of ______________; that the scripture might be fulfilled.”
The answer: “perdition”
Read II Thessalonians 2:3-4 who is the one who exalted himself above God and wants to show he is God, that is called by the same title that Jesus called Judas? _________________
II Thessalonians 2:3-4 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”
The answer: “antichrist”
Read John 3:16 and I Corinthians 1:18 it seems that whenever we read the word perdition what comes into our mind is the word perish.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
I Corinthians 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”
So, it is clear since Judas was called the son of perdition, the Bible says, Judas will perish forever.
Judas is an unsaved man and a disciple who heard the gospel and preach the kingdom of heaven but eternally lost.
The word “lost” is the best word to describe Judas.
Read John 6:39; John 10:28; John 17:12 then answer the question, if a person who truly repent from sins and believe that Jesus Christ died for his sins, buried and third day risen from the dead need to fear being lost or perishing? __________
John 6:39 “And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.”
John 10:28 “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
John 17:12 “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.”
Jesus firmly said that those who believe in Him as their Savior, will God keep forever and never be lost.
In the case of Judas, he did not lose his salvation, because Judas never had salvation. Any person cannot lose something that he does not have.
Read Matthew 27:3-5; Acts 1:18 to see the tragic end of the life of Judas.
Matthew 27:3-5 “Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.”
Acts 1:18 “Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.”
Judas died and left his existence in this earth but began his existence in eternity that is he was separated from God in hell suffering of eternal torment forever. May the pretending life and false Christianity of Judas become a fearful warning to anyone who only assume or pretend to be a saved person but in reality, is lost and is bound to hell forever. Anyone can not get to heaven unless with a clean heart. It is only Jesus who can clean the heart of a person. Only Jesus can clean and forgive anyone who come to God and repent from sins. If your heart needs to be cleansed and forgiven, come to Jesus right now.
Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
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