Judas Iscariot along with the other eleven disciples were with Jesus for almost three years. He walked with the Light of the world, heard Him, saw His love for people, saw miracles, saw lives transformed and, yet, Judas never believed in Jesus and was never cleansed of his sins. Let us look at the scripture to see the denouement of Judas’ descent into darkness. In Mark 14:10-11, shortly after Judas and the other disciples had berated Mary for using the expensive nard on Jesus’ feet, Judas went to the chief priests and offered to betray Jesus to them. They promised to give him 30 pieces of silver.
In John 13, Jesus washes the disciples’ feet, even Judas. In vs. 10-11 in response to Peter, Jesus said, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” The others did not know to whom He referred. In verses 21-30, Jesus gives a piece of bread dipped in the dish to Judas as a sign of friendship. Then probably the worst statement ever read “As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.” Satan himself, not a demon, but Satan entered him. “…he went out. And it was night.” Judas left the light to go into darkness, would collect his 30 pieces of silver, and betray Jesus with a kiss.
We are left with the question why and really have no answer. Perhaps it was his love of money, or that Jesus had not established a political kingdom, or perhaps he did not know this was Satan’s plan all along, but he became a willing pawn.
In John Eldredge’s book, Walking with God, he writes about epiphanies that we have on our journey of faith and one of them is realizing that Satan exists and is our enemy. Many followers of Christ are not awakened to this even though we are told in Revelation 12:17 “Then the dragon was enraged…and went off to make war against …those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” We are in a war, have an enemy, and are commanded “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
I Peter 5:8. We are also told in James 4:7 “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” And then “Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11 We are not engaged in some fantasy game but in a war and are part of His army. The devil cannot make us do anything. As believers, the evil one cannot enter into us, but we can be influenced by minions of bitterness, discouragement, despair, etc. If something like this occurs, pray to the One who can show you the source that you may know how to resist.
Prayer: Lord, remind me to put on the full armor of God every day so that I might resist the wiles of the evil one. Reveal to me the source of _______________ . May he be defeated and thwarted at any attempt to influence me or my family. I ask this in the name of my Savior, the Lord
Jesus Christ. Amen.
Francie Overstreet