Wednesday brings the betrayal of Jesus by Judas. This is a heavily taught passage, and one that we cannot fathom in many ways. I think we put a mental block against studying this too closely.

Judas was chosen by Jesus. Judas traveled with Jesus. Judas heard all the teachings. Judas saw the miracles. Judas handled ministry money. Judas surely had credibility with the other disciples and as a part of the ministry. Judas was one of the Twelve that Jesus sent out with authority in Matthew 10. And yet, Satan entered him to do his will. How can this be?

Here are some hints that Judas wasn’t a true believer- from the mouth of Jesus Himself. John 13:10-11 And you are clean, but not every one of you. For He knew who was to betray him, that was why He said, Not all of you are clean. –This isn’t a once you were clean and now you’re not
John 6:64 But there are some of you who do not believe. For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray Him.- This isn’t a falling away
John 6:60: Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.

Many may think of Matthew 7:22-23, which is one of the scariest verses in the Bible to some people. “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name…?” And then I will declare to them, I never knew you.” I think this verse relates to many things including fake ministry. This includes false religions and false prophets. I think it in the realm of possibility that Judas used the authority Christ gave him to cast out demons without ever belonging to Christ. Think about it this way- a man can be useful in ministry and still be lost.

Here is the distinction. Judas proved to us that you can be close to Jesus, but not know Jesus. Judas was like an “inside man” the whole time. His disbelief, greed, and hardness made him a willing instrument of evil. In both Luke 22:3 and John 13:27, we see that Satan actually entered Judas. Full possession? Maybe. Maybe also oppression or persuasion acting of one accord. I’m taking the words literally, though.

Here’s the takeaway: Judas is a warning that it is possible to be close to Jesus without ever truly belonging to Him. He wasn’t an atheist. He wasn’t a pagan. Judas isn’t mainly in Scripture so we can study the villain- he’s there so we will examine our own hearts.