What a statement in these four words. Judas, who had followed with the Lord for three years or so, now chooses to go his own way, for that is the sense of the verse. We think of scriptures like: "The way of transgressors is hard." Pray. 13:15. "The way of Cain." Jude 1111Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. (Jude 11). This is the way that is opposite to the way of God. It is a way of self-pleasing, a way of self-indulgence, a way that ends in sorrow and death, a way of separation from light and love.
The Lord was on His way to the cross. His disciples were with Him and enjoying His company for the last time before He died. Judas leaves this happy scene to go his own way. Money was the attraction— that force that would pull him away from the source of eternal riches. O, that we might beware. Does our way take us away from His presence? Do we ask ourselves the question, "If I take this way will the Lord be with me or will I leave Him behind?" It says in John 13:3030He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night. (John 13:30) of Judas that "he went immediately out: and it was night." Physically, of course, it was night. But spiritually, too, he went out into the night and stayed there. The light was gone left behind. He deliberately turned his back on that true Light from heaven and was in darkness from that moment on.
There is one word extra in this phrase compared to the one in Luke 22, the word "on." The Ethiopian continued in the way that he began. That was his quest to find the truth. Philip was used to bring the truth of the gospel to this searching soul. As a result the eunuch believed, was baptized, and went on his way rejoicing.
What a difference from Judas. Here is one whose heart is filled with the Lord, one who can go back to his home knowing that what he went searching for he had found, one who had passed out of "darkness into His marvelous light;" one who was rejoicing. Judas eventually went out and hanged himself—death is the end of choosing one's own way. The Ethiopian went on his way rejoicing. Going in His way (the Lord's way) brings joy. Going in our own way brings sadness, loneliness, regret, and, with Judas, remorse and death.
The Lord watches every step we take, every way in which we go. Does the smile of His approval shine on our way? May it be our earnest striving to keep in His way for the little while that remains.
“He knoweth the way that I take." Job
23:10 "As for God, His way is perfect."
P. Pascoe