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Humble Hero
and upright. So in a very religious and apparently wise way, he
was attaching a meaning to Jesus’ words that He had not conveyed.
Judas’s suggestions were constantly stirring up ambitious desire for
higher positions and honors. The argument over who should be
greatest was generally started by Judas.
When Jesus presented the condition of discipleship to the rich
young ruler, Judas thought that He had made a mistake. Such men
as this ruler would help finance Christ’s cause. Judas thought that
he personally could suggest many plans to benefit the little church.
In these things, he thought he was wiser than Christ.
Judas’s Last Opportunity to Repent
In everything that Christ said to His disciples, there was some-
thing with which Judas, in his heart, disagreed. Under his influence,
the leaven of discord was doing its work. Jesus saw that Satan was
opening up a channel through which to influence the other disciples.
Yet Judas made no outward complaint until the feast in Simon’s
house. When Mary anointed the Savior’s feet, Judas showed his cov-
etous attitude. When Jesus reproved him, wounded pride and desire
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for revenge broke down the barriers. This will be the experience of
everyone who persists in tampering with sin.
But Judas was not yet completely hardened. Even after he had
twice committed himself to betray the Savior, he had opportunity
to repent. At the Passover supper, Jesus tenderly included Judas
when He ministered to the disciples. But Judas did not respond to
love’s last appeal. The feet that Jesus had washed went out to do the
betrayer’s work.
Judas reasoned that if Jesus was supposed to be crucified, the
event must happen. His act would not change the result. If Jesus
was not supposed to die, Judas’s betrayal would only force Him to
deliver Himself. He decided that he had made a sharp bargain in
betraying his Lord.
Judas did not, however, believe that Christ would permit Himself
to be arrested. In betraying Him, Judas intended to teach Him a
lesson. He wanted to make the Savior careful to treat him with due
respect from then on. Often when the scribes and Pharisees had
picked up stones to throw at Him, He had made His escape. Since