Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
June 24, 2021
Commentary
The Feast of the Unleavened Bread began the fifteenth day of the first Jewish calendar Month (our April) and continued for seven days (Leviticus 23:4-8). This, along with the one-day feast of the Passover, was sometimes called “the Passover” and stands for the entire observance (vv. 1-2). Keep in mind that all Jewish men were required to be in Jerusalem for the Passover feast, followed by a seven day festival called the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Lk. 16:16). Jews from all over the Roman Empire converged on Jerusalem to celebrate this important event.
The religious leaders were afraid of the people but were still looking for a way to get rid of Jesus (v. 2). Satan’s part in the betrayal of Jesus does not remove any of the responsibility from Judas (v. 3). Judas solved their problem for them when he guaranteed to deliver Jesus to them privately so there would be no uproar from the people (vv. 4-6). This was one of Jesus twelve disciples that had preached the same message and performed the same miracles as the other eleven. It just shows how close a person can come to knowing Christ and still be lost (Matthew 7:21-29).
Even during these final days of preparation for His death, Jesus was doing miraculous things. He told Peter and John to look for a man carrying a jar of water and to follow him to where their Passover meal would be eaten (vv. 7-13). It would have been easy to recognize a man carrying a jar of water because it was usually the women who carried the water from the wells to their houses.
Application
Have you ever felt betrayed by someone that you felt close to? If so, what was your reaction? I need to realize that men will disappoint me, but the Lord never will.
Luke 22:1– 13 (NET)
1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching. 2 The chief priests and the experts in the law were trying to find some way to execute Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.
3 Then Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve. 4 He went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers of the temple guard how he might betray Jesus, handing him over to them. 5 They were delighted and arranged to give him money. 6 So Judas agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus when no crowd was present.
7 Then the day for the feast of Unleavened Bread came, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us to eat.” 9 They said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare it?” 10 He said to them, “Listen, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters, 11 and tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 12 Then he will show you a large furnished room upstairs. Make preparations there.” 13 So they went and found things just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
Illustration: Judas is the Symbol of Betrayal and Treason
When the Romans wanted to capture Jesus they paid one of his trusted followers to betray him. Judas Iscariot was one of Jesus’ disciples. The Romans arranged for a signal from Judas. He would identify Jesus by kissing him in the Garden of Gethsemane. In return for this betrayal, Judas was paid thirty pieces of silver. Judas is thus the symbol of betrayal and treason, and the “thirty pieces of silver” has become another way of saying “blood money.” An act of betrayal has come to be known as a “Judas kiss.” Similarly, a “Judas goat” is the animal that leads a flock to the slaughter house. (Encyclopedia of Illustrations #13087).