Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
All during the time that Judas Iscariot was one of the Twelve, he was constantly spreading among them subtle opposition to Jesus. He had a great personality; the Eleven thought he was just the one qualified to become Prime Minister of the new kingdom Jesus would establish.
An example of his resistance of the Holy Spirit was his condemnation of Mary Magdalene for her offering when she washed the feet of Jesus with her tears. Judas despised her for that, and the Eleven knew no better than to follow his lead and despise her also (Matt. 26:6-13; John 12:1-7; an illustration of how the final "shaking" can take place in the remnant church of the last days--many following some great apostate personality).
Judas sincerely thought that in betraying Jesus he could force Him to follow his lead in setting up His kingdom. He was so wise! But when he realized that he had betrayed the Messiah to His death, he was "remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver, ... saying, 'I have sinned by betraying innocent blood'" (Matt. 27:4). Then he committed suicide.
In the day of final judgment when the resurrected lost (Rev. 20:5) gather before the Great White Throne and the book of record is opened for all to see what they have done with the life that God gave them, they too will be "remorseful." Jesus never said one word of reproach to Judas; he condemned himself. So at last the lost will condemn themselves, "will welcome destruction," and will choose to jump into the Lake of Fire (20:11-15).
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: November 22, 2005.
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