We Have Seen the LordSample

God’s Bright Way or Satan’s Night Way

When Judas took the bread from Jesus, perhaps he thought that he could receive fellowship from Jesus but still follow his own plans. But that was true neither for Judas nor for you and me. Jesus’ offer of bread and fellowship was Judas’ last chance to change. But while he took the bread outwardly—he denied it inside. He decided instead to go Satan’s way. And so—immediately and totally—Satan entered into him—and his soul was lost.

The Church, through the centuries, has come to call Wednesday of Holy Week “Spy Wednesday” because that is the day that Judas went out as a spy to sell out Jesus for the price of a slave—but made himself a slave to Satan instead. Do not think that just playing a little on the side with Satan cannot, in the end, make you a slave to Satan. You have to choose Jesus all in all and over all else if you wish to finish on His side forever.

The satanic sellout of Judas tells us: Do not be surprised when the people of God are infiltrated by spies who want to spy out our true freedom in Christ and betray us into bondage. So has it ever been? Some claim to be God’s people and even appear to be—but are not. We have spies, we have hypocrites, we have traitors, and outward pretenders to the faith. And some of us, like Peter, are just weak and fail in the face of trial. The traitor Judas represented an eight percent rate of outright evil among Jesus’ twelve disciples. Do you think that the Church will fare much better? And as we know, even a disgruntled group of just eight percent in any church can cause serious conflict, trouble, and heartbreak.

Yet Jesus allowed the Judas tares to grow alongside the true disciple wheat. He gives everyone fair warning and a fair choice. How gracious and loving is Jesus to give us His opportunity for eternity! Yes, His Church will harbor enemies; yet in the end, with our resurrected Lord, it will win!

Judas chose Satan over Jesus. He went out from that Passover room full of light—“and it was night.” By his choice, his soul was dark, his surroundings were dark, his deeds were dark, and his ultimate fate—was night.

May you and I soberly note, in the fear and love of God, the personal, eternal price of playing with evil; but also the glory of Jesus’ victory that is ours to choose to share!

Prayer

Father, help us to choose Christ and stay strong in Christ. Deliver us from evil, within and without, to share in your glory even during the darkest night. Amen.

Mark A. Jumper, Ph.D., serves as associate professor of Practical Ministry and the director of Chaplaincy & Military Affairs for the Regent University School of Divinity.