SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1230

“The Feet of Judas”

The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. – Matthew 10:2-4

Judas Iscariot is a name that lives in infamy. It is a name we use to deride someone who proclaims to be a friend yet cannot be trusted. However, upon reflection, who are we to ‘cast the first stone’ at Judas? Are we any better and what can we learn from the feet of Judas?

The feet of Judas walked with Jesus for three years.

And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal… And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. – Luke 9:1-6

Judas was among the twelve that were given power and authority over demons and to heal the sick. He walked the walk and talked the talk of a disciple of Christ, yet his heart was not fully committed to Jesus. How many of us wear the ‘Christian veneer’ for others to see, yet the Lord sees the hypocrisy of our heart?

On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ – Matthew 7:22-23

The feet of Judas served as Jesus’ treasurer.

Judas was entrusted with the Lord’s finances – to go and purchase what they needed to minister and to meet their needs and the needs of others.

“Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. – John 12:5-6

How is our performance as the steward of the Lord’s financial and material provision for us? Do we withhold our tithe? Do we tithe on the net pay rather than the gross, giving first preference to the government over the Lord? Do we view the Lord’s provision as ours to use or as all His and our role simply to faithfully administer it as He directs?

The Feet of Judas were washed by Jesus.

…During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. – John 13:1-5

Jesus set an example for us as He took the position of the lowest servant of the day and washed the feet of His disciples, even the one He knew would betray Him.

For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. – John 13:15

Judas’ feet were washed by Jesus, yet his heart remained hardened. By Jesus’ death and resurrection, He cleansed His church from the stain of sin.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:7-9

Are we willing to accept the free gift of cleansing salvation through Jesus’ death and resurrection or will our hearts remain hardened by unbelief?

The feet of Judas took him to negotiate the betrayal of Jesus.

Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him. – Matthew 26:14-16

Judas did not agree with or accept Jesus’ mission. He saw an opportunity for personal profit and gain by going with the momentum of the ‘Jesus movement’ of the day. He saw that opportunity dwindle as Jesus proclaimed that He must suffer and die.

But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. – Mark 14:6-10

What do we hope to gain by being a Christian follower of Jesus? Do we follow Him because we love Him and worship Him and desire a personal relationship with Him? Or do we follow Him for what we think we can get from Him? Will our feet be quick to betray Him when the going gets rough or not the way we want them to go?

The feet of Judas took him to betray Jesus.

…So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly” …; Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.”- John 13:25-29; Matthew 26:48

A greeting with a kiss on both cheeks was a common sign of deep respect, honor, and brotherly love in the culture of the day. Are we any less hypocritical as Judas when we worship the Lord in church on Sunday and then live like the devil the remainder of the week? Are we any less hypocritical when we praise His Holy Name in church and use it in vain and anger elsewhere? Are we any less hypocritical when we express our honor and love for Jesus in one context and then seek to be entertained by music, movies and other programming that promote sin and all that the Lord deems abhorrent?

The feet of Judas took him to his death.

Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. – Matthew 27:3-5

This is the saddest part of the life story of Judas Iscariot. He had a choice but the hardness of his heart led him to the wrong one. He was remorseful, despondent, and discouraged – yet he was not repentant.

Judas heard the Gospel message of forgiveness and salvation for three years as he walked with Jesus, yet he never believed it. He could have chosen to repent and accept the free gift of salvation from Jesus – the thief crucified next to Jesus did and was saved.

And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” – Luke 23:43

Know this, you are never too far gone from Christ that He will not forgive you. Jesus’ death and resurrection paid the price for all sin – no matter how egregious.

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. – Romans 10:9-10

The enemy of your soul will tell you that there is no hope. That is a lie from the pit of hell. There is always hope in Jesus. Don’t let your feet follow the path of Judas. May your feet always follow the narrow path of Jesus that leads to eternal life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16