THESE three verses focuses on Judas Iscariot and his action to betray Jesus to the chief priests. The attitude and final action of the chief priest to Jesus is very bad, but it could be said that the behaviour of Judas was far worse. The chief priests never pretended to love or approve of Jesus. They always wanted to harm him, but Judas was one of the twelve disciples specially chosen by Jesus, and throughout the ministry of Jesus lived with him and saw all his miracles, and heard his teaching. Judas presented himself as a lover and servant of Jesus.

The lessons from this said story are profound. The first one is that of how far a person can go in a godly way and still be all wrong inside and not truly a follower and a disciple of Jesus. Outwardly Judas presented a godly facade. None of the other disciples had any idea that Judas was not just like themselves, and a true disciple. Judas enjoyed the greatest of spiritual privileges. He had been called by Jesus to be a disciple and one of the chosen twelve. He had lived with Jesus and seen his perfect life. He had been given the highest evidence of the love of Jesus for people, even people in their sins. He had seen the surest evidence that Jesus was the Son of God and truly the Christ, the promised Messiah. He had listened first hand to the teaching of Jesus and no doubt joined in discussion of this teaching with the other disciples. He had spent time in the company of Jesus and the other disciples. He had gone out with the other disciples in witness, and experienced much blessing in this ministry. Yet in spite of all this his heart was not changed. He still loved the world. He had heard of the things of the kingdom of heaven, but these found no attraction for him. He had heard the words of condemnation upon the world, but he still served the world. He had heard of the dreadful doom of all those who rejected Christ and lived for this present evil world, and it moved him not at all.

This shows how far a person can be blessed with spiritual privileges, and live in a spiritual atmosphere but still not be touched by these things, and remain godless and graceless. It shows how insensitive man in sin can be. It teaches us that attending church and the means of grace does not necessarily mean a person is born again of the Spirit, and has true faith in Jesus. Judas is a warning to us all.

Then secondly, we learn how powerful and destructive is the love of money. This was the canker in the soul of Judas. Money had become his God, and his desire to possess it had become and idol which he had to obey. This side of his character is seen in flashes throughout the Gospel story. He questions expense but the motive is greed. He is in charge to the finances of Jesus and the disciples. In the end he was prepared to betray his master for money. The sum paid for the betrayal may have been a recognized sum, but it was paltry compared with the life of the person he betrayed. Such power money had in the life of Judas. For money he sold his soul.

In every other respect the character and living of Judas was no worse than any other person, and no worse than any of the other disciples. Love of money was his besetting sin, and this one defect in his character was so powerful that it led him to the awful act of betrayal, regardless of the consequences. He only began to realize the consequences of his action and the love of money after it was too late. Even then there was only remorse, but no repentance. He feared the consequences of his action but still loved the sin.

The danger and destructive power of the love of money can not be too forcefully pointed out. The possession of money or not possession of money is nothing. It is when desire for money becomes so strong that it drives a person's life that money becomes evil. The love of money and possession of money is the curse of our society today. We have only to notice how many programmes on TV are driven by the quest for money; the popularity of the lotteries; the quest for more pay, etc. to see how our society is being destroyed by love of money. Love of money will drive people to hurt others to retain and gain money. Love of money drive people to dishonest actions, to cheat and steal. How we need to learn from the history of Judas to beware of the curse of love of money.

The story of Judas is so tragic. He was no worse, no doubt, than any other person. No doubt he had many very commendable characteristics. In his way, not doubt, he had no hate of Jesus, and probably liked him a lot. His life may have been marked by many good actions in the past, but he was destroyed by his love for money.