Don't Squander the Wander!

Judas was there all along. Looking spiritual. At church every time the door opened. Listening to every sermon, and dare I say singing every song the band played. Looked it. Seemed it. Yet God, in His perfect foreknowledge, His omniscience, knew. He knew the reality of what is to come. Judas, the one who already stole from the coffers, manipulated the money pot, would ultimately be bought with the jingling price of some coins that would never be spent on his own palace. No, Judas would wind up throwing those coins back at the ones who paid him, as he internalized his betrayal of the One True King. Too late. Fate sealed.

We are also told of a distinct moment when satan entered Judas. When God’s time for His perfect plan would include the turning of a follower to sin. Judas was already halfway there, and this was the final commitment to a specific prophecy. This would seal his fate. Theologically between Judas and God. Our finite minds could reason and wrestle for a lifetime and never fully understand the ways of God with the mind of man. Why Judas. Why then. Why, God?

There they were. Judas was destined to betray the King. And yet, he was invited to the Passover meal. He sat at the table with the faithful, proclaiming his allegiance and dedication to the Lord. Until he received the bread from Jesus’ hand. Imagine, the Bread of Life, handing Judas the bread to signify the bread of life, Jesus’ body about to be broken for their sins. The symbol and teaching and truth and gravity of the situation that was close to happening. The fulfillment of prophecy and the fulfillment of betrayal as they were reminded of the unleavened bread and provision from God Almighty to the Israelites in the desert. So Judas takes hold of bread and holds the fate of the Bread of Life. Then off he went, racing to the road of his demise.

But what about Jesus? Was He moved? Did he break up the buffet and call the communion null and void? No. Did he continue with his followers, teaching and praying and modeling and mentoring? Absolutely. Jesus was not deterred. In fact, His plans became more urgent. More resolute.

This is the way of spiritual warfare. When the enemy is at our table or running out our door, we see that our focus must become more intentional. Jesus teaches us in these moments the “how” of spiritual warfare. We know that we need to respond with the truth of God’s word, but Jesus gives us the method in the madness too.

Jesus simply stares the satan-filled man in the face and says, “go and do what you are going to do.” Basically, I can’t stop you from what you’ve already done, but I’m doing what I said I would do too. Jesus said He would hand the bread in confirmation to all who watched. So Jesus did. And then, as the room of believers watched the betrayer run away from his Savior, they also saw their Savior unmoved by the betrayal. Isn’t this what “on mission” is all about? To be about the Father’s business, regardless?

Judas goes to the Temple seeking out those who wanted to take Jesus out. He needed to find the law makers who wanted to break the law to preserve their own positions. Judas discusses with the leaders how to betray Jesus. They had to come up with a plan! And a payment. Judas had to wait for the right opportunity to implement the evil ideas. Guys, this is not just intent, it is intrinsically insidious. Not just an impulsive jab, but a secret, never secret to the King of Kings, scheme.

At the same time, the faithful disciples get caught in their own trap. As they see who leaves, they are also glancing around the room realizing who remains. But of all of us good guys who haven’t sold out Jesus, which of us is the greatest? Who does He love the most? We certainly just witnessed who Jesus must love the least. Oh, how they, and we, miss the mark. Even more so in the middle of the night, when we should and would rather be sleeping. When we don’t expect it.

Great or greatest, least or lost, we all fall short of the glory of God. We all need the Savior to redeem us from the pit of our own making. We all need the refocus only God’s truth and Hoy Spirit can provide.

See, after the dinner theater, Jesus and His disciples withdrew to the garden. Jesus needed to meet with the Father, to pray and prepare mentally and spiritually for the challenges to come. And as He prayed, including praying for the disciples, believers, and the world, His chosen dozen minus one slept. They couldn’t even stay awake to support Him, watch out for His safety, and agree in prayer. They wanted to be the greatest but had no idea what being great in the kingdom really meant.