When the twelve disciples went about the country with the Lord Jesus, the money for their food and lodgings was kept in one bag that all should share alike. The disciple who carried the bag and had charge of the money was Judas. But he did not want to share the same as Jesus and the others; he wanted more for himself.
When the costly oil was put on the head and feet of Jesus to honor Him, Judas said it should have been sold and the money given to the poor. What he said about giving to the poor was deceit; he wanted the oil sold, then he could have the price of it in the bag, and steal a part for himself (John 12). So Judas was willing to do wrong, and to say what was not true to gain money.
Betrayal
It was known that the priests and chief men of Jerusalem hated Jesus so much that they wanted Him taken and put to death, but did not dare have Him arrested when the crowds of people would see it, because they knew the people believed Jesus to be the Messiah, and would not let Him be mistreated. The wicked thought came to Judas that he could lead the priests to Jesus secretly, and that they would pay him money to do so.
Judas did not refuse the wicked thought, and one more wicked than all urged him on: “Satan entered into” Judas, and he went to the priests and asked them if they would pay him money to bring Jesus to them when the people would not see or know it.
The priests were “glad” to promise money, and they agreed on a plan, which was soon carried out at night and outside the city where the people could not see their wicked deed.
To give a friend to his enemy to harm is to betray, a most dishonorable act; how dreadful for Judas to plan to do this to the Lord Jesus, who, he knew, had done good to all. Judas knew the Lord’s power to cure every sickness, and twice he had seen that Jesus could supply bread for several thousand people without money to buy it; he should have thought how much greater His power was than money.
Christ Not Money
Also all the words of the Lord taught Judas right and true ways; He had told them, “Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (money). But Judas made the awful choice. He wanted money more than he wanted the Lord. He may have seemed interested at first as all the disciples, but he never loved Jesus or he would not have been willing for Him to be mistreated.
Judas’ life shows it is not enough to know the greatness of the Lord and to hear His words; we must choose Him above all else and know our need of Him.
The wicked spirit, Satan, has always wanted harm to come to the Lord Jesus, (Luke 4:1212And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. (Luke 4:12)). It would seem he knew the wrong things Judas had already done for money and that he would do worse, when he helped him on in the evil plan. Satan is never for what is good, always for evil, (James 4:77Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)).
Further Meditation
2. Did the Lord Jesus know what Judas would do? Why did He allow Judas to act like he did? Why does He allow us to “do our own thing” sometimes?
3. A good tract to share with people who have money as their God might be Happiness: Where Is It? The gospel tract discusses the emptiness of money, fame, power and more.