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How Judas Lost His Soul
431
He had escaped so many traps, He certainly would not now allow
Himself to be taken.
Judas decided to put the matter to the test. If Jesus really was
the Messiah, the people would proclaim Him king. Judas would
have the credit for having placed the king on David’s throne, and
this would secure the first position for him, next to Christ, in the new
kingdom.
In the Garden, Judas said to the leaders of the mob, “Hold him
fast [
securely
].”
Matthew 26:48
, KJV. He fully believed that Christ
would escape. Then if they blamed him, he could say, “Did I not tell
you to hold Him fast?”
In amazement Judas saw the Savior allow Himself to be led away.
At every movement he looked for Him to surprise His enemies by
appearing before them as the Son of God. But as hour after hour
went by, a terrible fear came to the traitor that he had sold his Master
to His death.
As the trial came to a close, Judas could no longer endure his
guilty conscience. Suddenly a hoarse voice rang through the hall:
“He is innocent! Spare Him, O Caiaphas!” The tall form of Judas
pressed through the startled crowd. His face was pale, and sweat
stood on his forehead. Rushing to the judgment throne, he threw
down in front of the high priest the pieces of silver that had been the
price of his Lord’s betrayal. Grasping Caiaphas’s robe, he begged
him to release Jesus. Caiaphas angrily shook him off, but he did not
know what to say. The treachery of the priests was plain to everyone.
They had bribed the disciple to betray his Master.
“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But the high priest,
regaining his composure, answered, “What is that to us? You see to
it!”
Matthew 27:4
. The priests had been willing to make Judas their
tool, but they despised his low character.
Judas’s Agony of Remorse
Judas now threw himself at Jesus’ feet, acknowledging Him to
be the Son of God and begging Him to deliver Himself. The Savior
[332]
knew that Judas felt no deep, heartbreaking grief that he had betrayed
the spotless Son of God. Yet He spoke no word of condemnation.