John or Judas?

March 22nd, 2023

John or Judas
Author: Barb Barnhart, Preschool Coordinator
The Plot - Part 2
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“For you will certainly carry out God's purpose, however you act, but it makes a difference to you whether you serve like Judas or like John.”

― C.S. Lewis

I love reading the Gospel of John. It is written by one who intimately knew Jesus. John went from being called by Jesus as one of the “Sons of Thunder” to the “disciple whom He loved.” John wrote as one who spent three years growing in his relationship with the Savior. Every Word written was from the perspective of one who realized that Jesus was indeed the Son of God.

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name”

—John 20:31

John’s desire was to see that not only his generation would understand that Jesus was indeed both God and Man but also future generations would come to know Him. He made sure to share the intimate conversations Jesus had with others, from the Samaritan woman at the well whom Jesus tells that He is the Messiah (John 4:26) to meeting Nicodemus on a dark night to explain salvation through His death on the cross (John 3:14–16). John loved his Savior deeply and wanted others to join him in this wonderful relationship.

Judas Iscariot was also a disciple. Like John, he was a man who was chosen by Jesus and spent three years of his life being filled with the love and example of the Savior. He put in his time and was trusted to take care of the finances. He used this position to steal money from them (John 12:6). Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, Judas was the disciple who grew away from Jesus through selfish ambition that led to opening his heart to the ultimate betrayer, Satan.

John 6:64 says
“But there are some among you who don’t believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning those who did not believe and the one who would betray him.)

The fact is that Judas did not have a true relationship with Jesus. He played the game. He made it look good for everyone else to see. Yet, Jesus knew the truth. This must have been heartbreaking for Jesus!

When Jesus had said this, he was troubled in his spirit and testified, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”
Jesus replied, “He’s the one I give the piece of bread to after I have dipped it.” When he had dipped the bread, he gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son. After Judas ate the piece of bread, Satan entered him. So Jesus told him, “What you’re doing, do quickly.”

—John 13: 21, 26-27

You are either one or the other. You are choosing life or death.

Although Jesus gave Judas multiple opportunities to repent, he did not interfere with the choice that Judas had made to be the betrayer. He knew what was to be done and told Judas to do it quickly, which Judas did.

In our lives, we have a choice. We can choose to submit to Jesus as Lord and follow Him as the disciple John did or we can choose to follow our own desires as Judas did. You are either one or the other. You are choosing life or death.

This week as we continue to see The Plot unfold, take time to read the Gospel of John, especially chapter 13. Discover who you are in this story—are you a John or a Judas?

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Posted in Devotional
Tagged with judas, john, betrayal