03/16/2026
"Judas's Betrayal" - Matthew 26:14-50
When we think of evil, our minds tend to go to the most extreme examples. Murder, assault, child abuse, things of that nature. But one of the best examples of evil is the betrayal of our Lord Jesus Christ by His own follower and friend, Judas Iscariot.
Judas kept his focus on himself and his own desires instead of the will of God through Jesus Christ the Son. But Judas's betrayal did not just occur randomly. The evil that he let creep into his mind and heart snowballed out of control in the final act of disobedience when he led the Roman officers to arrest our Lord in return for 30 pieces of silver. Evil is contagious. If you let it near you, it is impossible, without the help of God, to keep it from tainting your soul.
Judas was disappointed in Jesus. As most of the Jews, Judas was expecting a grand military coup to overthrow the occupying Roman government and reestablish the physical kingdom of David in Jerusalem. He also most likely expected to be an important and highly regarded member of the king's counsel. So when your messiah is instead speaking of a heavenly kingdom and prophesying His own death, the ignorant human expectations are not being met. But instead of aligning his views with Christ and following His lead, Judas instead betrays his friend with a kiss, a sign of honor and love, and lets Satan use him as a tool in the murder of Jesus. Love cannot exist where evil is. God is love, and evil is not of God. He despises it! Therefore, the love Judas may have had for Jesus in the past was stamped out the moment Satan entered him.
A question we hear often is, "How could so much evil be in the world if God is real?" The truth is, God does permit evil in the sense that Satan is allowed to roam and we as humans have free will. This is not saying that God commits evil acts, quite the contrary! While Satan may tarry for now, his evil, sin, and death has been defeated by the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. Jesus even allowed evil to be enacted upon Himself! He was flogged, tortured, mocked, spit on, beaten, stripped naked, and ultimately crucified, forsaken by the very ones He came to save. But in this beautiful sacrifice, He has given us life and dominion over hell and the grave, promising that though this earthly life may be filled with pain and trials, our eternal life is secured in Him for those that believe. Praise His holy name! He wants us to love Him, more than anything else, and how could we not when we see the depth of His love for us? We will never be able to fully comprehend how much God loves us, but rest assured, it is the deepest, purest, most unconditional love that exists for those of us who walk with Him.
Applications:
1 - Others follow your lead. Know that since evil is contagious, if you are acting in ways outside of the will of God, others will witness that and follow suit. It is much easier to follow darkness than light. Be the example Christ wants you to be.
2 - Keep others' confidences. Be a true friend, no betrayal in your mind or heart. Love others the way Christ loves us.
3 - Love God on His terms. Put Him first in every part of your life. It is the least you can do for the Savior of this world who loves us so much that He sent the Son to die in our place.
Our prayer for you this week is that if you are struggling with unconfessed sin and evil in your life, no matter how insignificant you think it might be, that you would repent of it. Sin is a barrier between us and God and your relationship cannot grow deeper and more meaningful with that barrier in the way. Ask the Lord if there is anything in your life that He wants you to change and then ask Him to help you overcome it. He is faithful and will always honor this prayer. God bless you all this week!
