Mat 26:23 And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
Mat 26:25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.
While reading in my devotion time recently this often read passage took on new meaning. Have you had that happen for you? A passage you have read many times before suddenly sheds new light producing new thoughts not previously considered? That is why I often refer to the Bible as an artesian well; it never runs dry!
Back to the text at hand for today. In Mt 26:14,15 the account is given of Judas’ betrayal of Christ for 30 pieces of silver. Satan has moved Judas against the Christ. A short time later with the 30 pieces hidden away or perhaps even stored on his person Judas rejoins the Apostles in the upper room for the last supper. Assuming he was successful in his clandestine betrayal and now settled back in his place amid the crowd of Apostles he finds himself uneasy yet smug in his scheme of betrayal. But then the supper begins. As they supped the meal is interrupted by the Lord and this statement is made…
Mat 26:24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
What do you think went through Judas’ mind at THAT moment? He thought no one knew of his plot to betray the Christ to the religious/political leaders. Now, not only is his sin known to the Lord but the judgment is revealed. Nothing this life could suffer Judas could compare to what lay ahead for him. It had been better he never experienced life when compared to what he is going to experience in death. Rather than repent Judas remained resolved and it brought about his demise.
Today, ensure your sin is confessed and forsaken. Make yourself as right with God as you can possibly be because the eyes of the Lord are everywhere beholding the evil and the good. Your sin is not hidden from the Lord so confess it, forsake it, find mercy and press on to a greater holiness today than you had yesterday! Be encouraged and stay in the fray. We wrestle against a foe who hates us and wants to destroy us. But we wrestle on behalf of One Who loves us and has empowered us to realize the victory!! Cleanse yourself, purify yourself, and then present yourself to God anew today!