BaptistWay: Judas doing the unthinkable

• This BaptistWay lesson for Feb. 17 focuses on Mark 14:10-11, 17-21, 41-50.

 • Download a powerpoint resource for this lesson here.

Judas Iscariot was a prominent, important disciple among the Twelve. Think about the treasurer of your church. That is an important position. Likely, the treasurer is a person in whom there is great trust. In my congregation, the treasurer also sits on the finance team.  

Further indications of Judas’ prominence lie in his sitting position in our story. No doubt you’ve seen many artistic renderings of The Last Supper. The Bible says Jesus was reclining at the table. It is hard to imagine, because this is not our practice. You also recall a few parables Jesus told about where people sat around the table in his day. Honored guests had a special spot, probably the head of the table. Close to the “most important person” or the guests sat the other people who had special value in a group. John’s Gospel reports that John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was actually close enough to lean on Jesus during this special supper. Bottom line: The closer you sat to Jesus, the more prominent you were in the group.

In our story, you read Judas was close enough to Jesus to dip his bread with Jesus at the same time. It was a place of prominence in the group. Judas was trusted highly by the Twelve, although our Bible study also points out Judas was a thief.

Sitting at that table, Judas knew full well what he already had done. The promise of some new coins and how to spend them still were fresh on his mind. Yet when Jesus says one of the Twelve will betray him, Judas chimes in like the rest with a very important question. Mark reports: “They began to be distressed and to say to him one after the other, ‘Surely, not I?’”  

Matthew’s Gospel paints an even stronger picture about Judas: “Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, ‘Surely, not I, Rabbi?’” Judas looked Jesus right in the eyes and lied.  This man who walked, talked, listened, helped perform miracles and counted the money looked God right in the face and lied.

To my recollection, what I am about to tell you does not exist any place else in Scripture. You can double check for yourself. Luke and John both report, at some point during this supper, Satan himself “enters” Judas. I don’t recall that anywhere else in the entire Bible. Satan was using Judas for his own plans and purposes. So from this point forward, Judas wasn’t just demon possessed; he was Satan possessed.

Judas was delusional. He knew of his conversation with the Pharisees and rulers of the law, he knew of the promised silver, yet he looked Christ in the face and said, “Surely, not I?” He was lying to himself and to God.

My wife teaches school. She has for many years. Year after year, there is a recurring circumstance. A child will get in trouble for some reason, typically something rather bland, and the parents will say, “My child would never do that!” As if teachers have the time or desire to simply make things up about students. “Surely not my child!”

And so we look at our Heavenly Father and say, “Not I, Lord.”  

The musical Jekyll and Hyde begins with a song called “Facade.” It’s a rather horrible yet accurate description of the total depravity of man. One line proclaims, “There are preachers who lie; there are liars who preach!” Ouch! I just built a sermon around one phrase from the song: “Every day, people in their own sweet way, like to add a coat of paint and be what they ain’t.” 

That is so true. Like Judas, we might be able to “add a coat of paint” for our neighbors to see and be deceived, but that is impossible before our Heavenly Father. He knows all.

I’ve always found this to be curious. Would you punch out your attorney in the presence of the judge and jury? Would you pick the pocket of the judge in his courtroom and wave the money in his face? Of course, not! He would know the truth and has the ability to hand down a sentence. Then why in the world do we lie and try to hide our sins from our Heavenly Father? He is Judge, Juror and Jailer.  

“Surely, not I, Lord?” “I could never do that, Lord.” “You have me confused with someone else.”

We very well may pretend to be in Jesus’ inner circle before others. We also might have a very important role in the body of Christ, just like Judas had with the Twelve. But in this delusional way, I’m afraid there might be some Judas in us all.  

It’s really horrible to lie to yourself. It’s perhaps even more horrible to lie to God. But when you combine the two, wow! No counselor can fix that, I fear.  Yet it seems to be a part of my daily existence. And I’m a pastor. I tell myself I’m not replaceable. That’s a lie before God and myself. I try to convince myself my pride issue magically has disappeared. That’s a lie to myself and a lie before God, too.

And what about you? About what personal issue are you saying, “Surely, not I, Lord?”

One of the marks of a healthy believer is the difference between Adam and David. When Adam sinned, he ran and hid from God, as if God couldn’t find him. In contrast, when David’s sin with Bathsheba was exposed, he didn’t run. Rather, he cried out to God in honesty about sex, lies and murder.

“Surely, not I, Lord?” There is danger in that phrase. Don’t use it, lest the attack of Satan be close at hand.