The Men God Chooses and Uses: Judas Iscariot, Part 2

Father, we thank you so much for the joy you give through the saving work of your son. We thank you, Lord, that we can gather together on this Lord's day, a day, Lord, that we can set aside to think only of you and to worship only you. Lord, lots of distractions that come our way, things before the service, things after the service, and sometimes, Lord, even things during the service that, Lord, would distract our hearts and minds from receiving the truth of the gospel. Today, Lord, I pray that all would be focused on you in the hearing of your word and the response to your spirit who instructs us in your word, that we might follow you with all of our hearts.

We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Today, we come to the concluding study of our investigation of the twelve apostles. We have covered each of them, and today we talk about the last one once again, Judas Iscariot, whose name, by the way, always has a notation with it, who became a traitor. And in studying these apostles, we've been very encouraged by the first eleven, because we've seen how these ordinary common men, used by God and transformed by his spirit, accomplished extraordinary works for the glory of God.

It's a great encouragement to study these men amidst all their frailties, amidst all their failures, and to realize that they lived fruitful lives for the glory of their Father in heaven. And so we want to begin or continue our study with Judas Iscariot, because he was the one called the son of perdition. He was the one who was called by Christ a devil. And try to figure out how it is this man came to that place in his life. As we study these apostles and have been encouraged by the first eleven, we realize that Judas was just like the other eleven.

In fact, they probably all started at the same point. We know that they were all chosen by God. They were all called by God to be a part of these twelve apostles. And Judas, like the others, started with great excitement, great anticipation, great fascination over what Christ might do. And yet, as the other eleven heard the word of the Lord, and their hearts began to melt under the authority of God's word, Judas' heart didn't melt. It became harder and harder and harder. And one so close to the light lived in such darkness.

And it begs the question, how can one be so near to the Christ, so around the truth, yet never embrace that truth? And that was Judas. And the Lord, in his perfect plan, demonstrates to us how one can be a part of the truth, and yet never embrace it, and help us to realize that there are many people in the church today just like that. He became the perfect example of what it meant to be the tare that would be sown along with the wheat. He would be the perfect example of a branch that was tied to the vine, and yet be an unfruitful branch, and be cast away, and burn forever.

And Christ would speak a lot about the kingdom, and the kingdom parables. Those who would hear the truth, receive the truth, even receive it with joy, but yet fall away because of the cares of this world, or because of persecution, and because of tribulation. They would fall away from the truth. And Judas was that individual who became the illustration of all those parables, so that we could understand more about how Christ would operate during the kingdom age in the hearts and lives of people. He becomes for us a classic illustration of one who heard the truth, who to some degree received the truth, who lived around the truth, but never fully embraced that truth.

He becomes the perfect illustration of these words in Hebrews chapter 6. For in the case of those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucified themselves the son of God, and put him to open shame. It's those people who have tasted of the heavenly gift, had been partakers of the Spirit of God, like Judas, had been around the truth, and yet rejected the truth.

And the Bible says it's impossible to bring them to a point of repentance, because in reality they agree that the Christ should have been crucified.

That was Judas. Also over in Hebrews chapter 10 verse 26, for if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?

For we know him who said, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, and again the Lord will judge his people. It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Those are some some crucial words, especially for people who think they're saved, but in reality have never embraced the truth, and believe in the words of Christ, and follow him with all their heart. And maybe that's you today. Well then Judas becomes that living illustration for you not to follow. He becomes someone we can learn from.

And so as we study this man, this man who like the other eleven fascinated with the kingdom principles, that Jesus was Messiah. Judas believed that Jesus was the Messiah. Why else would he leave everything and follow him? The others left all and followed Christ. Judas being in the same boat would leave all behind to follow the one that he believed truly was the Messiah. But his concept of the Messiah was not a biblical concept. His concept of the Messiah was political, was military. That somehow this man would would be the conqueror of Rome, would set up his kingdom, and Judas would be able to be a part of that, and be a part of those in the know, and be able to receive the greatest amount of money he possibly could, because at the heart of Judas he was greedy.

He was someone who was ambitious, selfishly ambitious. He followed Christ for his own purposes. And to be among the many disciples in Luke chapter 6, when Christ came down from the and chose twelve, Judas being one of the twelve he chose, thinking wow this is fabulous. After all my name means Jehovah leads, and maybe this is the way Jehovah's going to lead me. My name from the Hebrew Judah, the one who is the object of praise, maybe this is how I will receive praise. That's what his parents named him.

So he's seeing all this come to fruition in his life, and now he believes that he will be a part of this great kingdom that Messiah will usher in, and he will be on the forefront. He will be the one to receive the great rewards. And yet the longer he followed Christ, the harder he became. The more disillusioned he became. And this man would end up betraying the Messiah. And you think about that. Here was the one chosen by the Lord. Here was the one who had the same opportunities that the other eleven had.

And yet this is the one who was called the devil, the son of perdition, or the son of lostness. His nature was one of utter lostness because he never embraced the truth. And Judas was never coerced by some invisible hand to do his betrayal. He was not. He acted freely of his own will, without any external compulsion. He was responsible for his own actions. Jesus said that he would bear the guilt of his deed throughout all eternity. His own greed, his own selfish ambition, and his own wicked desires were the only forces that constrained him to betray the Messiah.

Listen to the words of John MacArthur in his book Ordinary Men. He wrote these words. How do we reconcile the fact that Judas's treachery was prophesied and predetermined with the fact that he acted of his own volition? There is no need to reconcile those two facts. They are not in contradiction. God's plan and Judas's evil deed concurred perfectly. Judas did what he did because his heart was evil. God, who works all things according to the counsel of his own will, Ephesians 1.11, had foreordained that Jesus would be betrayed and that he would die for the sins of the world.

Jesus himself affirmed both truths in Luke 22.22 when he said, Truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed. We wrestle in our minds with how it is this man could choose his destiny and yet be a part of the prophetic plan of God from eternity past. Charles Spurgeon eloquently says it this way, If I find taught in one part of the Bible that everything is foreordained, that is true. And if I find in another scripture that man is responsible for all his actions, that is true.

And it is only my folly that leads me to imagine that these two truths can ever contradict each other. I do not believe they can never be welded into one upon any earthly anvil, but they certainly shall be one in eternity. There are two lines or they are two lines that are so nearly parallel that the human mind which pursues them farthest will never discover that they converge. But they do converge and they will meet somewhere in eternity close to the throne of God whence all truth doth spring. That's a great, great truth.

While we might not understand them, if I read in the Bible that Judas chose this way, that is true. If I read in the Bible that this was preordained and foreordained by God, that is true. And although I can't see them coming together this side of eternity, one day when I get to heaven I will. But both are 100% true. It's not 50% Judas's volition and 50% God's sovereignty. It's 100% Judas's choice. It's 100% God's preordained counsel that determined his future. Both are true. And we need to be able to rest in that because that's what the Bible states.

Man is responsible for his sin. Man had no one to blame but himself if he goes to hell because he refuses to receive the love of the truth according to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. He refuses to believe it. He refuses to embrace it. He refuses to obey God and that will cost him his eternal life. And so Judas becomes that illustration that shows us how a man can be so close to the truth yet so far from heaven. And Judas is that man. How did he get that way? What's the path he took that will lead him to that descent?

You know Judas speaks for the first time in John chapter 12. Turn there with me in your Bible if you would please. John chapter 12. And as he speaks for the very first time we're able to understand his heart.

You see Judas was fascinated with the Messiah. He left all to follow him. He was with the Messiah for two and a half years listening to all of his sermons watching all of his miracles. And think about it he is taken back by the power and the authority of Christ. His ability to to be able to do what no other person has ever done. And so there was a belief that Jesus was this Messiah. That he as a Judean Jew had longed for and had hoped for. And yet his aspiration to follow him was all for his own purposes.

It was all for his own selfish desires. And so he would he would follow this Messiah and he would see and hear all that he did. And yet he was completely taken back by this one who he believed would overthrow Rome talking about his death. You guys all the 12 were that way. Every time they would speak about Christ and his Messiahship and his kingship that he would he would Christ would take them back to show them how the Messiah must suffer and he must die. And they had a hard time embracing that truth.

They all did but Judas especially. Judas especially. In John 12 you had that triumphal entry where people sing the praises of the Messiah. Hosanna glory to God in the highest. Oh this is the one. This is the one that we are going to worship and adore. This is King Jesus. And Judas's heart must have raced with excitement. But once again in John chapter 12 it would be our Lord who would say these words when somebody came to see him. He says truly truly I say to you unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies it remains by itself alone.

But if it dies it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to eternal or to a life eternal. If anyone serves me let him follow me and where I am there shall my servant also be. If anyone serves me the Father will honor him. Here were some Greeks who came to see Jesus after his entry into Jerusalem and the praise he had received and Judas hearing once again about the fact that Jesus speaking of his death. He was completely disillusioned as to who Christ was.

He like most people followed Christ for what he could get out of him. Followed Christ because of what God would do for him. He followed him for selfish reasons. And as Christ would continually speak about his own death and burial he became more and more angry because he would not receive what he thought he would receive in being a follower of the Messiah. Money, power, position. He never got it. So he comes to a point in his life where he has to get something out of all he's given away. And so he sells his Lord for not a little not a lot of money.

But he had to get something out of his sacrifice. And so he betrays his Lord. But in John 12 we begin the unmasking of Judas as he speaks for the very first time.

It says in John 12 verse number one these words. Jesus therefore six days before the Passover came to Bethany where Lazarus was whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they made him a supper there and Martha was serving but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with him. Mary therefore took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot one of his disciples who was intending to betray him there is that notation once again with his name said why was this perfume not sold for 300 denarii and given to poor people.

Stop right there. Judas smells the aroma sees what Mary does says hold on a minute hold on a minute there are poor people who are in need of the money we could get if we would just sell that perfume. 300 denarii is just about one year's wages. That's some costly perfume. I would never buy my wife that kind of perfume. I don't know about you I would never spend my yearly's wage year's wages on my wife's perfume. I mean come on who would do that? But that's the expense that's the extravagance of worship that there is nothing you would hold back because of your adoration for the Messiah.

And Judas sees this he smells this he says hey wait a minute we could have sold this we could have given it to the poor people. If you read the other gospel accounts the other disciples became a little irritated too. You're right. Good idea Judas. You know Judas is so intelligent. Judas has such a heart for people in need. Judas has a heart that that we don't have you know and Judas is right. You know why didn't we do that? What's wrong with what happened here? See they were so taken by Judas's leadership by Judas's perceived sensitivity by Judas's perceived desire to help those in need that they missed the point of what Mary was doing.

Now John that great revealer of the apostles for us because he shows us more of the apostles than anybody else does says this about Judas because he gives this commentary in verse number six now he said this not because he was concerned about the poor but because he was a thief and as he had the money box he used to pilfer what was put into it. John I mean John lets us know exactly the heart of Judas. John knows now exactly having written after the death and resurrection of Christ he knows now what was in the heart of Judas because Judas didn't have a care for the needy.

He was a thief. He stole money from the apostles. He used that money for his own purposes because he was a selfish greedy person. He followed Christ for what he could get out of it and yet he was the most trusted of the apostles because he carried the money box. He had everybody's money in his possession and he would pilfer that box. He would take from it as he so desired. So John reveals to us exactly what was going on in the heart and mind of Judas all the while at the time in John 12 the apostles would join in the refrain with Judas hey why not give that money to the poor and Jesus said these words in verse number seven let her alone in order that she may keep it for the day of my burial for the poor you always have with you but you do not always have me.

What did Jesus do? He spoke about his death once again because you see the apostles never really understood it. They never really grasped it. You see we can look at Judas and say you know what was wrong with him but he was just like the other 11.

None of them grasped the death of Christ. They had a hard time believing it. We study that in the resurrection of Christ. They still didn't believe and Judas yet became more and more hardened. It was at this point where he set his mind according to Matthew chapter 26 to go to the chief priests and to work out a deal where he could sell his messiah. This was the straw that would break the camel's back. This was it. No more. He still believes he's going to die. That's all he talks about. There is not going to be a political kingdom.

There's not going to be any rulership of this one on the throne of David. I am done with this man but I've got to get something out of it. I'm going to sell him. So he goes to the chief priests and he makes a deal. He makes a deal because he so desperately wants to receive something out of his commitment because Jesus certainly wasn't going to give him anything. Isn't it interesting that on the eve on this night when Mary would adore him and lavish this ointment upon him in preparation for his burial, believing that somehow this one would die, there would be this other one who would reject him and hate him.

One who loved him so and one who hated him so. Amazing. So you read on the story you go John chapter 13. In John chapter 13, Judas has rejoined the apostles. It says this in verse number one, now before the feast of Passover, Jesus knowing that his hour had come that he should depart out of this world to the father having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

He loved them all. Listen, to the end. All 12 of them he loved to the end. He loved them all. He loved them all. It doesn't say that he loved the 11 more than he loved Judas. It says he loved them all completely to the end because our Lord is the great lover of man. And the Bible says this, and during supper, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon to betray him, Jesus knowing that the father had given all things into his hands and that he had come forth from God and was going back to God, rose from supper and laid aside his garments and taking a towel, he girded himself about.

It was at this time there was an argument about who was the greatest in the kingdom. And Christ would gird himself with a sleigh's apron and begin to wash the disciples' feet. All 12 apostles, not 11, but all 12, because he loved them all completely and perfectly until the end. This is an amazing, amazing insight into the love of Christ. I know people have said over the years that God has a different kind of love for his own versus those who are not his own. And so we try to categorize that love and we use the illustration, well, a man loves his wife differently than he loves other women.

And that's true. But no matter what man you choose, that man cannot be compared to God himself because no man's love for his wife can ever be compared to God's love for the world and how God in his great mercy and great sensitivity and great kindness would reach out to those who would reject him. Because what we have in the life of Judas Iscariot is a life of a man who received the fullest extent of God's love even to the very end, exactly as the other 11 received it. The only difference is, is that the other 11 had their hearts melted by the truth and Judas did not.

His heart was hardened because he refused to believe the love of the truth. He refused to embrace Jesus as his personal Messiah and Savior. And so the story goes that Jesus has washed the disciples feet and then Christ begins to unmask what's happening among the 12 because he says these words in verse number 10, he who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but it's completely clean and you are clean, but not all of you, not all of you are clean. For he knew, verse 11, the one who was betraying him for this reason he said, not all of you are clean.

Now think about that. Jesus is telling his men that one of you, some of you are not clean. You've been washed, but one has not been washed. There's one that's not been cleaned and he washed their feet and it comes down to verse number 21 or Christ would say in verse number 18, I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen, but it is that the scripture may be fulfilled. He who eats my bread has lifted up his heel against me. From now on, I am telling you before it comes to pass that when it does occur, you may believe that I am truly, truly, I say to you, he receives whomever I send receives me and he receives me, receives him who sent me.

Christ is letting them know that there's going to be one who betrays him. And so you read on the story in verse number 21, when Jesus had said this, he became troubled in spirit and testified and said, truly, truly, I say to you that one of you will betray me. Now imagine this. You're in the upper room. You're around this table that's on the ground. You are lying around this table and Christ says, not all of you are clean.

One of you is going to betray me. And the disciples, verse 22, began looking at one another at a loss to know which one he was speaking. They had no idea. Absolutely no idea. Because the hypocrisy of Judas was so good, was the best ever that none of the other 11 knew it was him. Read on. There was reclining on Jesus's breast, one of his disciples whom Jesus loved. That's John. Simon Peter, therefore, gestured to him and said to him, tell us who it is of whom he is speaking. Healing back, thus on Jesus's breast, said to him, Lord, who is it?

Jesus therefore answered, that is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him. So when he had given it to him, had dipped the morsel, he took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Now you'd think that everybody would say, oh, Judas. But no one says anything. No one responds. Because I don't believe that none of them heard except for John. John was leaning back on his breast. None of the others heard. If they would have heard, I think they would have axed Judas at that point.

Let's know what happens. Verse 27. And after the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Jesus therefore said to him, what you do, do quickly. Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose he had said this to him. For some were supposing because Judas had the money box that Jesus was saying to him, buy the things we need for the feast or else that he should give something to the poor. And so after receiving the morsel, he went out immediately and it was night. See, they didn't even know.

It never entered their mind that Judas was the betrayer. Even when Jesus said that he would dip the morsel and to receive the morsel that was dipped and to be the first one to receive it would mean that you were in the position of supreme honor.

He honored Judas. He honored Judas symbolically. And yet the one that he honored would be the one that would betray him. And yet it never entered the minds of the other eleven that Judas was the traitor. Even when Jesus told them, not all of you are clean. One of you will betray me. Well, who is it, Lord? Is it I? Is it I? No, is it I? Who is it, Lord? They all thought it was going to be them. And Jesus said, the one whom I give the morsel or give the sop to, that one will be the betrayer. And I believe that John was the only one who heard that because they all believed that what Jesus said to Judas was something other than what truly took place.

They did not comprehend it because Judas's deception was so, so good. So good at deceiving everybody except for Jesus himself. You can't deceive the Messiah. So whatever you do, do quickly. And Judas would leave. He would go and he would finalize all that he was going to do. And the Bible tells us that he would betray the Lord in a secret place, not in a public place. In fact, the Bible says over in Luke chapter 22, verse number 6, and he promised and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

Why? Because the multitude was in favor of Jesus. He had seen the triumphal entry. He had seen the reaction of the multitude. And he knew that he had to do this in secrecy, in private, not in public, because there would be an uproar from the crowd. And so now you move to John chapter 18. John chapter 18. And you begin to understand what's taking place. Matthew 26, as you recall, says these words. Then one of the twelve named Judas Iscariot went to the chief priest and said, what are you willing to give me to deliver him up to you?

And they weighed out to him 30 pieces of silver, a fulfillment of Zechariah chapter 11. 30 pieces of silver. If you read the book of Exodus, you would sell the lowest of all slaves for 30 pieces of silver. The lowest of all slaves. And that's what Judas would get for the betrayal of his Savior, of the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. You come to John chapter 18. It says these words. John chapter 18. When Jesus had spoken these words, he went from or forth for with his disciples, over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden into which he himself entered and his disciples.

Now Judas also, who was betraying him, knew the place, for Jesus had often met there with his disciples. Judas then having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus, therefore, knowing all the things that were coming upon him, went forth and said to him, whom do you seek? They answered him, Jesus of Nazarene. He said to them, I am. And Judas also, who was betraying him, was standing with them. And therefore he said to them, I am.

They drew back and fell to the ground. Again, therefore, he asked them, whom do you seek? And they said, Jesus, the Nazarene. Jesus answered, I told you that I am. If therefore you seek me, let these go their way, that the word might be fulfilled which he spoke of those whom thou has given me. I lost, not one. This whole scene in the garden is a remarkable scene to realize that Jesus once again displayed his power in front of Judas, in front of these 600 soldiers, plus the temple police, plus the Pharisees.

So probably somewhere between 600 and 800 people would make their way over the kindred brook, up the Mount of Olives, to this garden, to this place where Jesus was in Gethsemane. And Jesus would go to them. Jesus would go to them. It was Judas who said that he would betray his Messiah with a kiss. In fact, listen to the words over in Matthew chapter 26. I'm sorry, Matthew chapter 27. No, I want to go to Matthew 26, my bad. Verse 47, same account of John 18. And while he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a great multitude with swords and clubs from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Now he who was betraying him gave him a sign saying, Whomever I shall kiss, he is the one. Seize him. And immediately he went to Jesus and said, Hail, Rabbi, and kissed him. And the Bible says in the Greek text, he kissed him repeatedly.

Now, listen to these words. And Jesus said to him, Friend. Didn't say, You idiot. You numbskull. You failure. You loser. He said, Friend. Do what you have come for. You see, even in that, even in that, it was that loving mercy of God that was calling Judas to help him understand who he was. But Judas's heart had been so hardened that, as we read in John 13, that Satan had now entered his heart. Satan put it in his mind, and now Satan entered his heart. And his heart was so hardened against Christ that it would be impossible to ever renew him to repentance.

Impossible. And Christ would call him friend. Friend. All in fulfillment of Isaiah chapter 49. All in fulfillment of, I'm sorry, Psalm 49, Psalm 55, Isaiah, Zachariah. The prophecies of the betrayal were all fulfilled in the life of one man named Judas Iscariot. It all came about just as it had been planned. And Christ calls him friend. Friend. Do what you came to do. Because Jesus, knowing that all things had come to an end, it was time. And then over in Matthew 27, after his betrayal and selling the Lord to those people, it says in verse number three, then when Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that he had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.

But they said, what is that to us? See to that yourself. And he threw the pieces of silver into the sanctuary and departed. And he went away and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, it is not lawful to put them into the temple treasury, since it is the price of blood. And they counseled together and with the money bought the potter's field as a burial place for strangers. For this reason, that field has been called the field of blood to this day. Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah, the prophet was fulfilled, saying, and they took the 30 pieces of silver, the price of the one whose price had been set by the sons of Israel.

And they gave them for the potter's field as the Lord directed me. All a fulfillment of prophecy to the very end, even the throwing down of the money in the temple, the purchasing of the potter's field, all of that was prophesied. And it all came to be, here was Judas who felt great remorse, great remorse, but no repentance, no repentance. It would be the perfect opportunity for him to repent of his sin, of his betrayal and realize that he had betrayed innocent blood, that his Lord had done nothing wrong.

His Lord was completely innocent, but he did not. He had great remorse. He was sad for what he did, but no repentance. You ever met people like that? They're sad for their sin, but there's no repentance. There's crying over the fact that they've sinned, but there's no true repentance. It's not a godly sorrow. It's a worldly sorrow based on 2 Corinthians 7, a worldly sorrow that doesn't bring about a repentant spirit. Judas had a worldly sorrow, and he went out and hanged himself. He was so remorseful.

The Bible says over in the book of Acts, the book of Acts, these words, Peter speaking for verse 17, for he was counted among us, speaking of Judas, and received his portion in this ministry.

Judas was one of us, supposedly. He received his portion in his ministry. Now, this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle, and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem, so that in their own language, that field was called hakal domah, that is the field of blood. Peter speaking about how it is that Judas went to hang himself, and gives us the commentary that when he went to hang himself, one of two things happened.

The branch broke, or the rope broke. And as it broke, he fell to the bottom, and his bowels gushed out, and blood flew everywhere because of his sin. What a tragic end to a man who had been so close to Jesus. What a tragedy. And by the way, in Acts chapter one, they would go, and they would cast lots, and there would be another apostle who would be appointed. That man would be named Matthias. And like the majority of the apostles, we know hardly anything at all about him, but he would take the place of Judas.

What are the lessons we learn from Judas Iscariot? What are the lessons that we can take home with us that will help us understand this man, and lessons we need to understand? Number one is this, Judas enjoyed the singular and sacred responsibility as one of the apostles.

He enjoyed the singular and sacred responsibility as one of the apostles chosen by God to preach the truth. He preached the truth. He preached the gospel. He, like the other twelve, went out and preached the gospel, told other people about who Jesus was, the Messiah. And he had the opportunity to enjoy that singular and sacred responsibility to be chosen as one of the twelve. But number two, he experienced the faithfulness and the forbearance of deity.

He experienced the faithfulness and forbearance of deity. Just like the other twelve, Christ was faithful to him. Just like the other twelve, or the other eleven, excuse me, he would demonstrate his longing patience toward Judas. We see in the dealings with Judas the great patience of God, knowing that Judas was going to betray him. Notice that, knowing that he was a thief, and that he would take money from the money box, knowing the heart of a man who would open it up for Satan to enter, Christ patiently dealt with this man faithfully, day after day after day.

And this man, Judas, exemplified scorned and squandered opportunity. Judas exemplifies scorned and squandered opportunity. How many opportunities did he have to repent? How many opportunities did he hear the truth? How many sermons did he hear over those two and a half years? How many miracles did he see? How many conversations did he have with the Lord? How many conversations did he have with the other twelve? How long was he with them? How much he learned, and did he squander that opportunity? He squandered it.

Judas eluded the love and longing of Jesus's mercy. Oh, the mercy of Jesus by washing his feet, by putting him in that place of honor at that table, and dipping the sop in that morsel, and giving it to him as the honored guest, by calling him friend in the garden of Gethsemane, always extending mercy, always extending mercy, because Jesus is the God of mercy. And Judas embodied the deceitfulness and destiny of iniquity. He embodies the deceitfulness and destiny of iniquity. The Bible says in Acts chapter 1, verse number 25, that he went to his own place.

What place is that? It's a place that's reserved for all those who reject Jesus as their Messiah. It's a place reserved for all those who refuse to believe that Jesus is that one sacrifice for their sins. It's a place where all men go who refuse to believe that Jesus Christ can save the soul. And he embodies the deceitfulness and the destiny of iniquity. Where are you today? Are you like Judas? Having fooled so many people, maybe fooled your family, your church, your study school class, the ministry group you're associated with, having been so close to Christians, so close to the Lord, maybe you come every single Sunday.

Judas was in the synagogue on the Sabbath with Jesus when he preached. He was with him when he performed miracles. He heard his teaching day in and day out. He was always with Jesus. But instead of your heart softening to the truth, you become more and more hardened to the truth. And you refuse to bend. You refuse to submit to the Lordship of Christ in your life. Is that you? That was Judas. And the longer he went, the more disillusioned he became as to who Messiah was and what Messiah was all about.

To the point he came in his life where he absolutely hated everything Christ stood for. And in spite of that animosity, in spite of all that hate, the other eleven never saw it, never picked up on it, because he was the master, master hypocrite. He was so deceitful, so deceitful. Or are you one of those who has your heart being wrenched by the Word of God, who says, oh, I need the Lord Jesus. I have rebelled against him for so long. And I see the extension of his mercy over and over again in my life, where he looks to me and calls me friend, where he looks to me and he bestows mercy upon me and gives me privilege after privilege after privilege to live every day, to go to a Bible-believing church, to be a part of a family that loves the Lord, and to realize that that mercy is extended from me.

And therefore, I want to receive that great mercy of God. I hope that's you today. If you've never come to that point in your life where you've given it to Christ, I pray that that's you today. I do. Because if it's not, and you don't have that hard attitude, you, like Judas, will go to your own place, the place reserved for those who reject Jesus as their Messiah. Let's pray. Father, we thank you for today and your Word and all that's there. So much about this man, Judas. But in our study of Judas, we see the attributes of our God, his providence, his sovereignty, his mercy, his love, his kindness, his goodness, his patience, all those things.

Most importantly, Lord, we see the truth, the truth that says, for all those who reject me, they will go to their own place. But for all those who receive me, they will go to my place. Oh, I trust, Lord, that everyone in this room today would go to your place and not their own place. In Jesus' name, amen.