Scripture says that after Jesus threw the moneychangers out of the temple when he entered Jerusalem for the last time, Satan entered Judas. This brings questions but also provides answers that may have lingered for years. Who exactly was Judas and what caused him to betray Christ?
Scripture tells us that Judas was the one who carried the funds for the disciples should they need money. But he also embezzled from those funds. (John 12:6) He was the most outspoken of those who witnessed the anointing of Jesus by Mary with an expensive appointment. He only called him Rabbi and nothing more. It was his ambition the Jesus be an earthly Messiah delivering his people from Roman rule. Perhaps he hoped to have a significant position in that new kingdom.
It probably troubled him the Christ refused to accept becoming an earthly king. The final and biggest disappointment was that Jesus made a clear declaration that he was going to God. This brought an end to his hopes and plans. His only alternative was to put Jesus in a position that he had to work another miracle, so the Christ had no option but to become an earthly king. It was never his desire to see Jesus crucified. He simply wanted to trap Jesus into becoming what he wanted according to popular theology.
Jesus knew what he was actually doing when he chose Judas to become a disciple. Even so, he treated him with equal compassion and care as all the other disciples. He witnessed the miracles and the casting out of demons, but they had no effect on him since he assumed the earthly king from God could do the same. Jesus even washed his feet as he did the other disciples at the Last Supper. However, Jesus said, “You are clean, but not all.” (John 13:10) Jesus warned him without calling his name that though he was chosen he was in danger. Christ said, “have I not chosen you 12, and one of you is a devil?” (John 6:67-70) Judas is an example of the effects of sin in the life of the unsaved who refuses God’s saving grace.
The question may arise how can Judas be condemned since he was already predicted in the Old Testament that foretold of him? This is an example of God’s foreknowledge. Judas acted out of his own free will and that God knew ahead of time what that would be. We might say God’s foreknowledge became his foreordination of the actions of Judas. Since God knew of Judas’ intentions, he let him act according to his fallen nature. This is no different than any unbeliever today acting as unbelievers.
When Judas realized what he had done and that his plan backfired, he was remorseful going to the chief priests and elders to confess his crime because he said he betrayed innocent blood. Since there was no hope from his own religion and no place for him in the kingdom of Christ, Judas committed suicide by hanging himself. He might have thought that he could free the deluded Jesus from his plans. He might have thought that he was trying to rescue Jesus from misguided understandings of the Old Testament. All of these things are not possible! Judas freely made his decisions as any other person could. He was not under the curse of predestination any more than anyone else would be. In his regret, Judas did not turn from his ways as part of his repentance. All are predestined to salvation, but not all will be saved because they do not turn from their sinful ways and declare Jesus as the son of God, Savior. Psalm 109 was written by David but many of the words are close to what Jesus would say at his crucifixion and the week before. During the same week that Jesus was entering into his passion week and ultimate victory through the crucifixion and resurrection, Satan entered Judas for the ultimate betrayal. Does this not say to us that during the grand working of God Satan is still active against us?
Christian Writer 