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From Heaven With Love
a manager. In his own estimation he was an honor to the cause, and
as such always represented himself.
Christ placed him where he would have an opportunity to see
and correct his weakness of character, but Judas indulged his cov-
etous disposition. The small sums that came into his hands were
a continual temptation. When he did a little service for Christ, he
paid himself out of this meager fund. In his own eyes these pretexts
served to excuse his action; but in God’s sight he was a thief.
Judas had marked out a line on which he expected Christ to
work. He had planned that John the Baptist should be delivered
from prison. But John was left to be beheaded. And Jesus, instead
of avenging the death of John, retired into a country place. Judas
wanted more aggressive warfare. He thought that if Jesus would
not prevent the disciples from carrying out their schemes, the work
would be more successful. He saw the Jewish leaders’ challenge
unheeded when they demanded from Christ a sign from heaven. His
heart was open to disbelief, and the enemy supplied thoughts of
rebellion. Why did Jesus predict trial and persecution for Himself
and His disciples? Were his hopes for a high place in the kingdom
to be disappointed?
Working Against Christ
Judas was continually advancing the idea that Christ would reign
as king in Jerusalem. At the miracle of the loaves it was he who set
on foot the project to take Christ by force and make Him king. His
hopes were high, his disappointment, bitter.
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Christ’s discourse concerning the bread of life was the turning
point. He saw Christ offering spiritual rather than worldly good.
He thought he could see that Jesus would have no honor, and could
bestow no high position on His followers. He determined not to
unite himself so closely to Christ but that he could draw away. He
would watch. And he did watch.
From that time he expressed doubts that confused the disciples.
He introduced controversies and texts of Scripture that had no con-
nection with the truths Christ was presenting. These texts, separated
from their connection, perplexed the disciples and increased the dis-
couragement pressing upon them. Yet Judas appeared conscientious.