Money Doesn’t Cover the Blood!

He had always loved excitement and had always loved his nation.  He was a patriot from the word “go.” throughout his life.  As a Jew, he was proud of the nation of Israel and resented the Romans being in power.  His dream, along with other loyal Jews, was to drive Rome out – and that could all take place when the Messiah came.¹

Then the Messiah did come.  He performed miracles, healed the lame, the blind, the deaf, the palsied, and even cast out demons.  He gathered crowds as they came to listen to Him.  This truly was the Messiah!  Judas followed him faithfully day after day.

Then came the life-changing critical day.  Jesus chose twelve apostles – and Judas Iscariot was one of them. He was sent out by Jesus with the other twelve to preach, heal, raise the dead, and cast out demons.  This could be the start of a great revolution that would drive the Romans out.  Judas was proud to be part of this group.

Jesus made Judas the treasurer of the twelve.

But then Jesus seemed to change.  He told them that as he came to be a servant, all of us should aspire to be servants (Matthew 20:25-28). He started telling us that He was going to be put to death – by His own people. But He would rise again from the dead.  None of the disciples understood that.  What did he mean?

After a while, it became apparent.  Jesus was not here to lead a revolution against the Romans. He was here as the light of the world, to free people, not from Rome, but from the slavery of sin. He even said we should pay taxes to Rome. (Matthew 22:21).

As Judas’ perception of Jesus changed, he started to change sides – from Jesus to the side of the Pharisees and his other enemies.  He worked hard and successfully to conceal his true feelings from the other disciples.

Then the opportunity came.  He met with the chief priests, and they offered him thirty pieces of silver (maybe about 120 days wages) to betray Jesus.  He took it. In his greed, he thought this was a good deal. And he had no idea of the heartache that he had bargained for.

There was the tension of looking for the right opportunity to betray Jesus and the stress of hiding his true feelings from the other disciples.  There was emotional havoc in his soul.  He didn’t hate Jesus.  He had just given up any hope of Jesus being the king to deliver the Jews. The political cause was more important to him now than any other considerations.

The evening after the Last Supper was the ideal time. He knew where Jesus would go that night at the special place in the Garden where they had often gathered before. At the supper, Jesus had revealed to the other eleven that Judas would betray him.  No time to change his mind. He must act now.

Judas met the chief priests and Pharisees and received a band of men and officers to take Jesus captive.  They approached the garden with lanterns, torches, and weapons just as if they were about to catch a common criminal. Judas thought that Jesus would try to escape the arresting army, but instead, Jesus approached them first.  “Whom seek ye?” Jesus asked. They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I am he.”  As soon as he answered that, they all fell backward to the ground. (John 18).When this happened, Judas began to feel some apprehension over his part in this plot.  Nevertheless, he went ahead with the agreed-upon plan.  He kissed Jesus and then heard Jesus say, “Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48) Those words burned into his mind and soul like a sword wound to his heart.

He watched as they bound Jesus and led him away for questioning.  Judas followed and witnessed the trial before the religious leaders during the night. He saw Jesus condemned with no evidence.  He watched as they led Jesus away to Pilate for the death sentence.  A horror of remorse spread over him as he reviewed his part in this awful night.  What had he done? Even though Jesus had not met his political aspirations, He was an innocent man, and Judas had enabled the execution of a guiltless man. Over and over, it replayed in his mind how he had betrayed Jesus with a kiss.  After that kiss, Jesus had still called him “friend.” (Matthew 26:50)

Judas should have been a friend to Jesus.  He had walked with Jesus, talked with him, listened to his messages, seen him heal the sick, and raise the dead. He had helped Jesus in distributing the food to the 5,000 and then the 4,000. He had witnessed Jesus continually doing good, helping everyone.

How could he have done this? The betrayal had seemed like a good, patriotic thing to do! But now he saw through the folly of his thoughts and actions.

In his remorse, but not repentance, he went back to the chief priests and elders.  “I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.”  And they didn’t care.  But Judas knew that money doesn’t cover the blood. He threw the thirty pieces of silver down on the floor and left.  But he didn’t leave to make things right with the Savior.  He went and hung himself.

Judas followed Jesus for all the wrong reasons.  At first, it was political, then, in the beginning, Jesus was very popular.   A financial motive was added as he became the treasurer.  Because Jesus didn’t turn out to be a political leader, his popularity faded with some people. Judas looked for something different.  At the end, Judas saw the possibility to leave Jesus’ inner circle and make some money at the same time. He would betray Jesus – for a price. But that turned sour too!

What is your reason for following Jesus or for joining the religious church crowd?  For popularity? At this present time, with the popularity of Turning Point, it may seem like the “in” thing to do.  For patriotism and politics?  That didn’t work for Judas.  For money? Not too many prospects there.  Money, for Judas, turned out to be a very disappointing outcome.

None of the wrong reasons or motives will work. What will work is well expressed in the old hymn lyrics called “The Way of the Cross Leads Home” by Jesse B Pounds, 1906.

1. I must needs go home by the way of the cross,
There’s no other way but this;
I shall ne’er get sight of the Gates of Light,
If the way of the cross I miss.

Refrain:
The way of the cross leads home,
The way of the cross leads home;
It is sweet to know, as I onward go,
The way of the cross leads home.

2. I must needs go on in the blood-sprinkled way,
The path that the Savior trod,
If I ever climb to the heights sublime,
Where the soul is at home with God.

3. Then I bid farewell to the way of the world,
To walk in it nevermore;
For my Lord says, “Come,” and I seek my home,
Where He waits at the open door.

Look at the following Scriptures carefully!

Jesus loves you.  (John 3:16). You can’t earn your own way to heaven (Ephesians 2:8-9). He died on the cross to pay for your sins. (1 Peter 2:24). Make the decision today to trust Him as your Lord and Savior. (Romans 10:9,10,13).

What will your decision be?

¹the Bible doesn’t tell Judas’ thoughts or motives. So, those parts of this story are historical fiction.