Judas, the betrayer of Jesus, has gone down in history as the worst of scoundrels. Almost no one puts in a good word for Judas. Even non-Christians who know almost nothing about the Bible, still speak of a be­trayer as ‘being a Judas.’ On the other hand, there have also been efforts to rehabilitate Judas’ image at various times in church history. A few years ago, the so-called gospel of Judas was republished and hyped by the secular media as being an exciting alternative to the gospels in our Bibles. The so-called gospel of Judas is a Gnostic attempt to pretend Judas was the hero, releasing Jesus from the prison house of a physical body to the freedom of the spirit world. Catholic theologians have also tried to argue that Judas’ betrayal was so key to God’s plan of the cross, that we can be thankful someone did this thankless job. This is devilish logic.

Perhaps you will be surprised to learn that both self-righteous clucking of our tongues and unholy defending of the indefensible are misplaced. Both approaches keep us from looking at ourselves, and keep our fingers pointed elsewhere. Worst of all, both approaches keep our focus off Christ. For in all the sin displayed in this agonizing betrayal, Jesus Christ is still the central figure.

The Depths of Human Sin⤒🔗

First of all, Jesus betrayal shows us the depths of human sin. To see this, we need to understand who Judas was. Judas was not from Galilee like most of the other apostles, but from the south of Judea. Judas followed Jesus be­cause he thought that the kingdom of God would be restored to power and glory on earth. The Romans would be kicked out, and Jesus’ most devoted followers would be rewarded with positions of power, honour, and riches.

What drew Judas to Jesus? Jesus was the best preacher he ever heard. More importantly to Judas, He could do amazing miracles. Jesus clearly had the power to defeat Rome if He so desired. Judas saw Jesus say to the storm, peace be still. He saw Jesus raise the dead, heal lepers, the blind, and the deaf. Judas was even given power over unclean spirits and disease, according to Matthew 10:1. Judas was so much one of the twelve, that no one suspected him, even after Jesus announced there was a betrayer among them. Judas was the group treasurer, which was a position of responsibility and trust.

Where did Judas go wrong? It seems like such a small step. Judas was disappointed that Jesus refused to be crowned king after the feeding of the five thousand, and after the triumphal en­try into Jerusalem. This disappointment turned into bitterness, and John 12 tells us that he began to steal from the trea­sury. Finally, Judas bitterness turned to hatred when he realized that Jesus was not going to enrich him. When our idols are blocked, the response is hatred, for we worship our idols with all our heart. The blackest moment came when Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss and the brazen greeting of a supposed friend.

So how do we see the depths of the evil in the human heart here? We see here total depravity. People today of­ten argue that people are basically good, that they will do the right thing if you only give them the right example, the right instruction, the right opportunities. Judas had a perfect example for three years, heard only perfect in­struction from Jesus Christ’s own lips, and received only perfect love from Christ, even though Christ knew who he was. Judas had his feet washed by Jesus. None of it made any difference, and none of it kept him from the vilest act in history – betraying Christ with a kiss.

There is no place for finger pointing or shaking of our heads in shock. Judas was no different than you. Jesus drove home this very point by saying to His disciples that one of you will betray Me. He purposely left this vague, so that each one had to search his own heart. Jesus did not say, no, most of you don’t have to worry about this, because you wouldn’t do such a thing. So too when you read of Judas, you are looking in the mirror. You can­not say that if only you had had better instruction, ex­amples, or opportunities, you would be a better person. Your heart is depraved.

Judas’ kiss was unique in redemptive history, and yet the seeds of that sin are found in all of our hearts. It is seen when you use religion as a mask to serve your own lusts and pride. It is repeated when you ignore conviction of sin. You repeated it when you call Jesus Lord, without doing what He said. Judas went wrong ultimately be­cause whenever Jesus preached about sin and particularly about covetousness and love of money, Judas excused his greedy heart and thought, He must be thinking of someone else.

Total Inability and Misery←⤒🔗

We see more of the depths of our sin. Ju­das also reveals total inability. In this case this means that Judas was powerless to undo or change his own sin. Judas’ conscience suddenly kicks in, and he tries to give back the thirty pieces of sil­ver he was paid. But the priests don’t care. Judas is suddenly full of remorse or we could say, regret. He tries it all: confession, restitution, self condemnation, the fran­tic attempt to do better, but none of it takes away the burden of his guilt. In the end he takes his own life in a last desperate attempt to get rid of his burden. Do you realize your total inability to deal with your guilt?

We also see Judas’ total misery. After using him, Sa­tan abandons him. The calloused answer of the priests, “what is that to us, see thou to that,” shows the wages of sin. Sin promises rich rewards but in the end pays only horror and terror. It betrays you ultimately to the wrath of God in hell. The words Jesus spoke to Judas are some of the most solemn in Scripture: “It had been good for that man if he had never been born.”

Jesus’ Response←⤒🔗

If Judas makes us look in the mirror, the only relief is found by what we also see here of Jesus Christ. First, we see that Jesus Christ is the spotless Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. This kiss of betrayal was an extremely painful aspect of Jesus’ suffering, but He did not respond to it sinfully. In fact, even Judas has to admit he has betrayed innocent blood. If Judas could find even one sin in Jesus, he could have tried to make himself feel better about his betrayal, but even Judas could not find one sin. Without this purity, Jesus could not have died for others!

Someone, feeling the weight of conviction from the mir­ror of Judas’ life may ask, will God receive me then? Well, notice how Jesus’ com­passion and patience is revealed in the betrayal. Jesus does not expose Judas by name to all the disciples. Jesus goes to meet the soldiers, so that Judas does not have to identify Him with a kiss. He even says, “Friend, wherefore art thou come?” That one word, friend, reminds Judas of all the kindness shown to him for three years, and reveals that Jesus Christ is still concerned for the soul of the very man who has done this unspeakable thing to Him.

How did Judas dare kiss Christ? The sinfulness of his heart is one reason, but more importantly, Judas is un­willingly forced to glorify the gentleness, compassion, and love of Jesus. Judas would not have dared to do this if Jesus had not been unspeakably kind to him so many times. If Jesus could be concerned even about Judas, then you too share in His concern. You may not use this as an excuse for sin, but as reason to trust in and obey Him!

We also see how able Jesus is to show compassion to the betrayed. He has felt the kiss of the traitor, and He is able to give you grace and mercy to deal with being be­trayed yourself. If you ask, where was God when I was being abused or mistreated, the answer is, He prepared a sympathetic High Priest who has experienced all that you have, and is well qualified to help you.

“Is it I?”←⤒🔗

We also see in Jesus’ betrayal how well qualified He is to judge the living and the dead. People think they can shrug off God’s judgment by saying He does not know what it is like to live in this world. They say, let Him feel what it was to live in this world, let Him be the victim of racism, misunderstood by His family, slandered, be­trayed, abandoned, denied, and tortured. But to everyone on that day it will be clear that the One who sits on the throne has endured all these things. He has shown that no one in such a situation has to sin, and therefore He will judge those who have sinned.

Someone may want to ask, but if I can’t trust in my upbringing, my privileges in the gospel, what I have done to serve others, what then can I find confidence in? Only sovereign grace. Here is the dif­ference between Peter and Judas. Jesus prayed for Peter, Jesus sought out Peter, Jesus restored Peter. Jesus did not deny Peter. Sovereign triumphant grace is enough! This is all you can count on, but it is enough! If you ask Lord, “is it I,” as you read this passage, and de­liver yourself over to the Lord as a sinner capable of this very thing, then you too will find deliverance at the foot of the cross. For Jesus was betrayed by Judas to drive us to Him and to give people like us every confidence in Him! The wonder of this detail of Jesus’ suffering is not human sin, but Christ’s glory and grace!