Daily Devotions
John
John 19:17-42 (Matthew 27:1-10) "THE ABSENCE OF MENTION OF JUDAS ISCARIOT"
Day 304 – John 19
THE ABSENCE OF MENTION OF JUDAS ISCARIOT
All the Gospels noted that Jesus knew who would betray Him. All the Gospels noted the name of the betrayer, the despised Judas Iscariot. John made no further mention of Judas after making this observation.
“And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood
with them.”
John 18:5
The context of this text reveals that Judas had taken a final stand, and it wasn’t by the side of Jesus that he made his final stand!
John’s focus in the last few chapters of his Gospel was to portray Jesus as best he could. He wanted all his readers to see Jesus and to love Him as He deserved to be adored! John did not see the necessity of giving any more space or time in his Gospel to his erstwhile fellow Disciple! It is interesting to note that only Matthew gave an account of how Judas finally came to himself – too late!
JUDAS MUST HAVE BEEN PART OF THE CROWD THAT STOOD OUTSIDE THE PRAETORIUM
It is not without meaningful instruction to read Matthew’s account of what happened to Judas. The context of the following text would suggest that Judas was part of the crowd that delivered Jesus to Pontius Pilate.
Judas was the one who led the chief priests, and the Roman soldiers to the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus. We read,
“And while He was speaking, behold, Judas,
one of the twelve, with a great multitude with
swords and clubs, came from the chief priests
and elders of the people.”
Matthew 26:47
It is not unlikely that Judas witnessed the trials of Jesus before Annas and Caiaphas. This may be inferred as we read the following text.
“When morning came, all the chief priests
and elders of the people plotted against
Jesus to put Him to death. And when they
had bound Him, they led Him away and
delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had
been condemned, was remorseful and brought
back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief
priests and elders, saying, ‘I have sinned by
betraying innocent blood.'”
Matthew 27:1-4
When did Judas come under great conviction of sin?
1. Not in the garden of Gethsemane?
2. Not in the night when Jesus was interrogated by Annas and Caiaphas.
3. Judas must have heard what Pilate said on three separate occasions. Three times he declared that he had found no cause to sentence Jesus to death. Finally, Pilate washed his hands off the case, declaring that he had not been the cause of shedding innocent blood (Matthew 27:24).
4. Did Judas also see his former Master after He had been scourged by the Roman soldiers?
Did he then come to his senses? He admitted then that he had sinned against Jesus.
“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.”
Matthew 26:4a
TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE
Judas had allowed Satan to enter his heart. He was to discover the kind of master that he had newly owned. He has forsaken the Perfect Master for one who deceived him. His new master was totally unlike the One he had foolishly forsaken and sold for a paltry thirty pieces of silver.
Where could he go? Who would befriend him now? News would soon get around that one of the Twelve had betrayed his Master. Who would ever trust a betrayer? One used a traitor, but one does not befriend let alone trust a betrayer!
Judas went out to the chief priests and elders in the Temple. They had but a very brief conversation with each other. If he had hoped to see any kind of sympathy, he would be badly mistaken. As he spoke about how he felt he had betrayed innocent blood, the chief priests and elders retorted.
“What is that to us? You see to it!”
Matthew 27:4b
They had seemed “friendly” when they needed his help to find Jesus and to betray Him. Now that Jesus had been condemned, the chief priests and elders couldn’t be bothered with Judas. What could he do for them now? Judas had done his part. He had been paid for betraying Jesus. They had nothing but contempt for people who could be so easily bought!
Judas must have felt terribly guilty after seeing Jesus so cruelly mistreated! How could he have been so wicked as to betray his erstwhile Master? Could he return to Jesus and beg for forgiveness? His mind drew a blank. His heart was like lead. There was only one thought and one thought only. He deserved DEATH!
Matthew noted Judas’ reaction as his “new friends” rejected him with terse and words.
“Then he threw down the pieces of silver in
the temple and departed, and went and hanged
himself.”
Matthew 27:5
Thus ended the life of a Disciple who betrayed his Master! What a sad end!