As we have just passed through the Lenten season and celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter, I'm still struck by Jesus's relationship with Judas. Jesus knew that Judas would betray him. Yet, he continued to be in a relationship with him. Although he speaks the truth and lets people know what Judas will be doing to him at the Last Supper, he still chooses to wash his feet before that horrific event occurs.
I have difficulty understanding how Jesus could be so kind, loving, and patient with a man he knew would trade his life for a tiny bit of money. I’m not sure if I could have done the same. I don't know if I would have the strength, with the great love that Jesus has, to forgive someone who would do that to me. Although we choose to celebrate Jesus's resurrection mainly on Easter, the story of Jesus and Judas is one with many life lessons that can last all year long.
During Holy Week, I am always struck by the realization that I am more like Judas than I am like Jesus. Although we read the story and believe we would never sell out our savior for 30 shekels of silver, we have been known to betray Jesus for other things in our lives. Although Judas wanted money, Jesus taught us that there are more important things than money. Here's how I learned to be a little less like Judas and a little more like Jesus:
Jesus claimed he was the way, the truth, and the life. Therefore, if we want fullness of life, we must live in the light regarding our sins. We must choose it. Judas made this deal secretly behind Jesus's back. I can only imagine the heartbreak Jesus experienced when he understood that Judas would do this. While we all have been secretive and done sinful behaviors, it is especially wrong when we're doing it behind Jesus's back.
He is an omniscient God, understanding that everything we have done or will do is something that Jesus already died for. However, as Christians, we need to live in the light. If we want to live a whole life, we must confess our sins to God and live in the light in full realization of our sins. Additionally, we need to get accountability when it comes to keeping ourselves as righteous as possible.
Find an accountability partner with whom you can seek help. Although not everyone in your life will be safe to express yourself to, finding someone who can offer wise counsel when necessary is essential. These are people who you know who know the word of God, can help guide you in morally ambiguous situations, and help you live in the light when it comes to sins that mean near you, not living a life that Jesus has called you to.
Judas didn't worship Jesus. Instead, he worshipped the idol of money. An idol is anything that we go to for gratification, happiness, or contentment other than God. This was very common in Jesus' culture. If we're honest, the idea is also very prominent in our culture. People worship the almighty dollar and our ability to make ends meet.
We seek to live independently from God by making wealth and creating these lovely bubbles of wealth and opulence for ourselves. However, as with any natural disaster we have witnessed over the past year, we realized that God can give and take away. He blesses us with that he can also take away at any time.
Therefore, we must honor God with our money, give generously, and put Jesus before our money. This means that we need to trust God for our daily bread. We must ask God in our prayer time for his provision for what we need. Asking God for his provision requires total trust in God's ability to give us exactly what we need.
God may not always give us what we want, but he'll always give us what we need. God never leaves his kids without what they need. Therefore, we honor God as we do with anything else in our lives, put him first, and trust that God will make a way for all of us regarding his provision.
Although not much is recorded regarding Judas and Judas's relationship, I imagine Judas acted as if everything was OK. I'm sure he pretended regarding his secret intention to sell Jesus out. Jesus connected with God and understood this. However, he gave him grace, mercy, and an opportunity to change his ways. He even washed his feet as a gesture of love and kindness to him, even though he knew what he would do in the future.
Part of being authentic Christians is being honest and real about our lives. If we are having difficulty, we must share that with others so they can relate to us and walk through life together.
Being vulnerable with others regarding our sins helps level the playing field regarding people's pride and an ability to want to use their sins against them. Being authentic and vulnerable is key to being a man or a woman after God's heart. Although far from perfect, David cried out to God when necessary. He didn't allow pretense to rule his life. Even when his sin blinded him, he allowed Nathan's words to permeate his soul. Because of Nathan's courage, David turned his life back to God and repented. As a result, a nation was saved.
We need people who will speak openly and honestly about our sins and how we act. The more genuine and honest we are with people about our sins, the more people will relate to us and allow us to be there to help them walk in their own lives and be, in turn, the same people we need them to be for us.
One of the easiest ways to distinguish a Christian from a non-Christian is the way they display the fruit of the Spirit. The more love, gentleness, self-control, etc., we exhibit in our lives, the more God is glorified. Even if we mess up and don't do everything exactly how we should, the more we exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, the more we honor God, and the closer we become to Christ's character.
Understanding that we live more like Judas than we care to admit is a complex reality. It's easy to look at Judas as an example and think we will never be like him because we'll never sell Jesus out. However, Peter offers the same denial yet denies Jesus the minute his life is in danger.
Allow God and his goodness to restore us and allow us back into the fellowship of a loving God. We must live openly and honestly in our daily lives. Being authentic, living in the light, and destroying the idols in our lives are three great ways to stop living like Jesus Judas and be more like Jesus every day.
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