Introduction

Of all the characters in Scripture, the most tragic is surely Judas. He is the One described by Jesus as the “son of destruction”. Gospel Number 4 explains Judas in some depth. To guard against treachery in matters of the Kingdom it will be good to ask the question “Why did Iscariot betray Christ?”

Covetousness

Being treasurer of the church just proved too much for Judas. His keen eye for cash revealed a heart of greed and theft. This came to light when precious nard was cracked. His indignation was sparked by his money running out to anoint the body of Christ. This certainly was a case of “methinks thou protesteth too much!”

“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.

Hypocrisy

The others in the room probably dismissed his loot-love seemingly well-meaning, thoughtful, prudent, money-manager, antics as authentic concern for the poor (it was nothing of the sort!). There may even have been some who nodded in approval and were confirmed in their blind prejudice by the mopping up operations. Mary they imagined had lost the run of herself. So skilled had Judas become at putting on a mask, that for a few nearly a week he became, among the twelve, the “champion-elect of the poor”. Did other disciples feel a little bit thoughtless and unkind when they heard this social-justice rebuke? It was only Christ who knew the truth behind this deceptive “play-act”.

Satan

Before the Supper interlude, the devil & Judas were already in cahoots: it seems better to take “his heart” as a reference to Iscariot, not the Tempter. Treacherous thoughts were already swirling round his brain – with the Passover coming about and conspiracy afoot, now was the time to act, and he must seek the right moment. All must be done under the cloak and dagger of night. At just the right morsel-moment, Satanic suggestion became Satanic possession in this minister of Christ!

During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him…Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly”—John 13:2, 27.

Flesh

It is only by the grace freely given by the Spirit that the war waged against true believers can be resisted: we are totally dependant on God’s help in Christ to turn the tide of temptation when it surges like a flood. Judas did not have the indwelling presence of God: his self-interested, self-preserving, self-serving lusts lost their attraction to the advantage of serving Christ – they moved their center of gravity towards pieces of silver which he now reckons has more profit. No flood defences had been erected in His soul! The billows of badness now sweep the false-believer-betrayer away.

Hardening

How often Judas had preached like a Spurgeon or sung like a David, working miracles for the sick and doing wonders for the crowds. This was a Christian ministry in which he shared for a time. Yet his own cold-shouldered response to the faith once-for-all delivered to the saints was the sort characteristic of most of the crowds in John (at best): persistent, half-hearted, superficial, undecided, wavering neglect, skepticism and finally entrenched, recalcitrant, unbelief – the truth was never applied, sin was never renounced – the would-be apostate apostle remained stubbornly impenitent. Judas had never been truly united to Christ. He tasted the powers of the age to come, but only outwardly, superficially and formally – not savingly, internally or spiritually. He became like hardened wax, refusing to be warmed, and when he took the morsel, his heart petrified into cement.

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