The Judas Factor
Luke had a different reason for writing – he was educated and a doctor. He was a man of science. He (it is believed) had an urgent purpose. Luke set out to research all the facts, to talk to eye witnesses (including some of Jesus' disciples and some of the followers who actually knew and heard Jesus), to read all the letters and material he could find and to put together a detailed account. Why? Luke was a close friend of Paul and Paul was on trial in Rome and was facing execution. It is believed that Luke was gathering the material evidence to show the truth of what Paul was teaching and saying about Jesus and the purpose of the Jesus movement.
In today's readings we are confronted with two things:
1. The fact that many (perhaps "I" ??) do not actually believe what God promises.
2. The truth that many (perhaps "I") want God to do what we want Him to do; we are not keen to Love God on His terms.
Today's readings ask us to contemplate our faith and how the true state of our faith is revealed in our words and actions. We might also remember yesterday's reading - when read as David it sounded demanding and disrespectful as it challenges, demands and judges God! There is a reason the Bible confronts us with these thoughts; it is because we do this too often! We deny Christ in how we live, what we say and what we do.
Watch Yourselves - [this is Jesus speaking to His followers]
“Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let [Judgement] day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and that you will stand with the Son of Man”
Jesus warns us to watch ourselves; our stress and worry are symptoms of a serious problem. Why? Well earlier in this chapter Jesus talks about our "wants" and our "needs." He promises God will provide for our true “needs.” He tells us the extra things we “want” (but don't need) distract us from God. As we chase after extra stuff, luxuries, status and pleasures they become our idols - our gods. Jesus also warns that when we “want” more than we are given we are in fact saying God's gifts are inadequate. It is a fact that we WILL be called by God to give account of our words and actions in life. When this accounting happens, if we have been distracted from God it will feel like a trap snapping closed around us. Sadly we baited this trap with our own greed and lusts. God asks us to do one thing: Love Him. Distracted we seem to love everything but Him. Our stress and worry are symptoms of that lack of love.
Judas will Betray Jesus
And every day Jesus was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.
Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread (which is called the Passover) drew near. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking a [discrete] way to put Jesus to death, for they feared the people. Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. Judas slipped away and conferred with the chief priests and officers [suggesting] how Judas might betray Jesus to them. And they were very glad, and agreed to give Judas money. So Judas consented [agreed on the amount] and he waited for a good opportunity to betray Jesus to the priests and officers away from the crowds.
Why would Jesus’ friend and follower betray Him? Well, in the first passage there is a clue. God often does not do what we want when we want and He does not give us all that we demand. Jesus was NOT living up to expectations. Yes He taught new (even radical) ways of thinking and of treating each other. Yes He seemed to be able to do some pretty unexplainable things - raising people from graves was after all a pretty cool trick; and the walking on water thing – that’d be awesome at a pool party! But, the disciples “wanted more” – they expected more – they believed in a Messiah who would make them rich and powerful and Jesus was just not getting this done. In fact, Jesus was going the other way – sell all you have and give the money to the poor? (ya right!!) take up the cross? (no thanks) die for strangers? (think again!!). He was saying stuff that sounded exactly the opposite of what He [God] was supposed to be doing. The disciples felt deceived; it was time for Jesus to put up or shut up. Judas had reached his tipping point - he was cutting his losses, looking out for himself and moving along. After all, all Judas wanted was to be safe, successful, healthy and comfortable – just like us.
Is there a sin that doesn't find it's origin in our egocentricity - our selfishness - our self interest?
So a pretty short reading for today – I talked too much ... sorry ... - but the reading forces us to look at:
1. Who Jesus is.
2. Who I am.
3. What I expect of Jesus.
4. What I really need.
5. What God has blessed and challenged me with.
6. Why God has not given me everything I want.
7. Whether my life reflects trust, obedience and submission to God. Does my life reflect His love?
Dear God: sadly we do not often trust You completely. You love us. You promise to protect and keep us. Yet we turn to ourselves to get what we want and worse, we want more than we need. Help us see our need. Help us trust You. Help us love as You love us. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
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