TOPIC:“Judas - The Man Who Never Came Back”
by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap
TEXT:John 13:21-35
“So Judas took the piece of bread and went out quickly into the night” (John 13:30)
Clarence McCartney, in his book, Great Nights of the Bible, calls the Judas story “The night that knew no morning.” What a night it was! A night of humiliation. A night of betrayal. A night of the unholy kiss. A night of the holy supper. A night of regret. A night of NEVER for one man.
As we come to the text it was Passover week. A full moon was riding high in the sky. It was a beautiful night, but one that turned evil in the heart of one man. His name was Judas. He went out into the night but never came back.
In this night study of the life of Judas, I want us to consider three things about him. 1) He had a RANK that he never REALIZED. 2) He had a RUIN that never brought about REPENTANCE. 3) He had a REVENGE that could not be REFUSED. Let us begin our study.
I.
Consider, first of all, Judas had a RANK that he never REALIZED. Notice the words of verses 24 through 27: “Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.” According to verse 21 one of the disciples was going to betray Jesus. We continue to read: “Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.”
Now what we have just read should never have happened. Judas was so close to Jesus and he had every opportunity to make good. The fact that God foreknows and foretells the wickedness of Judas does not make Him responsible for his wickedness or excuse him of his responsibility. Though there is mystery here, let us be sure to realize that the predestinated purpose of God did not make the guilt of Judas any the less. Let me show you what I mean.
For one thing, Judas had a REMARKABLE BEGINNING. Think of his name. The name Judas is the Greek form of Judah. Judah was the name of the 4th son of Jacob and a great tribe in the southern Kingdom out of which the Messiah of Israel was to come. Most of the great kings of Israel came from the tribe of Judah. Judah was the first tribe to publicly crown David as their king. Judas was a name for heroes. A symbol of nobility, rank and distinction. Even one of . . .