Churchgoers ought to be nervous when they read the story of Judas. Proximity to Jesus was not guarantee of allegiance to Jesus or spiritual maturity. Judas was one of the inner circle of apostles. He spent around three years on the road with Jesus, witnessed his miracles in person and was personally discipled by Jesus and yet none of these things guaranteed his perseverance in the faith. Often Christians live as if their job is to simply turn up at church and it is the church’s job to make sure they grow spiritually. But the Judas paradox shows us that there is still an onus on us to play our part in our spiritual formation.
One detail of the Judas story that seems particularly pregnant with meaning is the fact that when Judas decided to betray Jesus he was given 30 pieces of silver, which is the exact amount of money that someone in the ancient Middle East would have been given if someone accidentally killed their slave. Jesus failed to measure up as a slave to Judas’ desires and agenda, and so Judas conspires to get him killed. It’s a cruel and bitter twist in the gospel story – a great wrong, done to a man who did not deserve it in any way.
Authentic Relationship with God, I see it that way.
Voice that resonates God’s heart: They have not rejected you as their leader but they have rejected me. 1 Samuel 8: 7,8 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.
Judas rejected Jesus as his King.
14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. Matthew 26: 14 – 16
21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”
22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”
23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”
Jesus answered, “You have said so.” Matthew 26: 21 – 26
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”[d]
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
Matthew 26: 46 – 50.
The kiss of Judas, also known (especially in art) as the Betrayal of Christ, is how Judas identified Jesus to the multitude with swords and clubs who had come from the chief priests and elders of the people to arrest him, according to the Synoptic Gospels.
What could be the reason people hated Jesus?
Truth: Jesus says I am the way the truth and the life. He said the truth, no matter what it took. He also said the truth will set you free. He showed compassion but at the same time he said to many, go sin no more or your sins are forgiven.
Addressing someone’s wrong is the most spiteful thing. People will love us as long as we appreciate them and boost their confidence but they will reject us if we show them their dark side.
Many times when God shows us the truth, it is not easily digested. We feel, this couldn’t be us. Definitely, it’s for my neighbour, spouse, children. Worse, scenarios we would misunderstand the person.
Truth hurts, it’s not always pleasant. Also, ironically, this is the very thing that sets us free. On the other hand, when we are on the receiving end, we hate the person who has told us the truth about ourselves.
It is up to us to decipher, definitely, but truth is something when spoken even as a joke, it can create a jolt.
Why should Jesus show this sin to anyone? His aim was to cleanse us from all wrong. Adam’s sin that was running within us, he wanted to eradicate that. The ultimate was the cross.
How can I build an authentic relationship with God?
Learning from Moses:
And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”
8 Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped. 9 “Lord,” he said, “if I have found favor in your eyes, then let the Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance.”
10 Then the Lord said: “I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in the entire world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the Lord, will do for you.
28 Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.
29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.
34 But whenever he entered the Lord’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35 they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord.
Knowing God
- Spending time : forty days and forty nights. What about us? Forty minutes
- Listening: How do we know that the Lord spoke? Because, Moses was listening.
- Reading the Word: Best key to understand God’s heart is to study the word of God. It’s studying not mere reading.
Communication
- Freedom of Speech: I may be bitter, therefore, bitter words come out of my heart. I may be childish and therefore, I may place my request in that manner. It is my heart communicating with God. He knows what I mean. He cherishes my words.
- Freedom to share my heart. I am free to share my hurts, my pain, and my concerns. I don’t have to hide anything from Him. There is so much freedom.
- Freedom to be silent (Gazing at his face). Like a weaned child I look unto you. Sometimes, it’s only silence that can assure us peace. When we look at His face, we get that peace and assurance, even in a turmoil.
Components of Relationship
- Trust: When I trust, the truth will not hurt. I will introspect, and reflect.
- Love: Loving God is not just chanting some words, but exploring, what makes Him feel loved. He understands our condition and continues to show His love but, what about us? How do we show our love towards him?
- Forgiveness: Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin
Sandra wife of Virjil . The New Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that New Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.
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