Mark 14:10-11 10Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order that he might betray him to them. 11And when they heard, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought a good time to betray him.
Something broke in Judas at Simon’s house when Mary anointed Jesus with the expensive alabaster perfume. The shock waves of his decision to betray Jesus have echoed throughout time. Mark’s account of Judas’ betrayal is quite brief. John’s Gospel reveals more of Judas’ motive in 12:4 and his spiritual decline in 12:27-30. Mark mentions Judas four times (3:19; 14:10; 14:43; 14:45). Two times in this chapter (verses 10 and 43), Mark uses the descriptor one of the twelve. The reader should already be aware of this from 3:19. The addition of this phrase twice related to Jesus’ betrayal may not be accidental and certainly is shocking. Judas has been with Jesus from the beginning, probably three years. He had heard and seen everything that the other eleven had experienced. He was privileged to see things few others could even imagine. Yet something was missing in his life. He was missing what Mary had. His life was not fully committed to the point of giving what was most precious to him to Jesus.
Judas left the group and setoff with a clear purpose and plan. The chief priests and the Sanhedrin could not lay their hands on Jesus. When Jesus was present, the crowds were also there, looking and listening to him. When he left, no one knew where he went. Jesus had left the temple for the last time the previous day, never to return. He had basically completed his public ministry in Jerusalem. The events that take place after this are out of the center of the activities around the temple. With up to one hundred thousand people crowding the city and its surrounds, picking him out would be nearly impossible. The religious leaders needed someone on the inside so they could find Jesus and get rid of him.
They found that person in Judas who made it easy by voluntarily coming to them and letting them know where Jesus and the disciples hung out. The time and place had to be right, however; not too far away and not too many people present. He had to wait for the right opportunity to betray Jesus. The chief priests enticed Judas with money. Money speaks, especially if you are the treasurer. The very thing that likely pushed Judas over the edge in Simon’s house was the great temptation presented by the Jewish leaders. Giving in to one temptation makes it easier to give in to an even great temptation. Judas was moving closer and closer to spiritual destruction. Each step he took, the temptation also was one more step of intensity. He went from a simple decision to leave Jesus in Bethany, then he sought out the chief priests, which was no easy task, and finally, he acted on the betrayal in the garden. Every step he walked solidified the evil in his heart and sent him descending toward destruction. His life serves as a powerful warning about giving in to any temptation. We must turn and flee from even the inclination and sinful thoughts that come to all of our minds.
For older posts, click here.