A Plan for Betrayal. Mark 14:10-11.
Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.
Dear Family,
Coming on the backdrop of the most touching expression of devotion by someone who may not even have been a member of Jesus’ inner circle of friends – the woman who anointed his head with perfume, is the story of Judas, one of the twelve and who does the most heinous crime against Jesus.
Insider (v. 10a).Judas (or Judah, Jude) was a common name at the time. To distinguish between the many, one’s trade or at times father, or village of origin was usually appended to one’s name. Iscariot means “one from Kerioth.” This was a town in Judea. It identifies Judas as the only one of the twelve to hail from Judea. The others were from Galilee. Of all people, he should have been the one most enthusiastic about the Messiah. We learn from Judas that close proximity to Jesus alone cannot transform.
Initiative (v. 10b).It must have been overtly evident that the chief priests wanted Jesus dead. But they did not approach Judas – he went to them. The preceding account of the woman who anointed Jesus may have been the last straw for Judas. In John’s account of the story, we learn that it was Judas who had made the comment about waste and that he was unhappy that he would not be able to steal some of the money that could have been generated from the sale of the perfume for himself (John 12:4-6). He probably had hoped for material gain when Jesus became king, but Jesus had snuffed that hope out by “failing to seize the opportunity” to be made king. Judas decided to try his luck elsewhere.
Incentive (v. 11a).Undoubtedly, Judas asked the chief priests for money and they were glad to part with some, so they made him a promise. Judas’ love of money made him a slave to it. Thirty pieces of silver for the man who could feed five thousand with one boy’s lunch is a raw deal. But the love of money keeps replaying the Judas saga over and over again. People sell their integrity daily for material gain.
Intention (v. 11b).Everyone can see that what Judas did was not only wicked – it also was not profitable for him. But failure to deal with sin results in the Judas syndrome, an unfortunate alliance with evil, against obvious good. Judas looked good on the outside and was satisfied with that. But he was evil inside and made no attempt to deal with it. What sin are you harboring in your heart? Beware the “Judas Syndrome.”
Your Loving Pastor Chris.