Holy Week 2023- Thursday

 Holy Week- Thursday

On this Thursday of Holy Week, Judas Iscariot, Jesus’ betrayer, comes into focus.

Judas was a common name in the first century. There were many people named Judas, including one of Jesus’ brothers and a one of the later believers, who changed his name to Barsabbas, who was a leader in the newly formed church. Today, the name is not so common, for obvious reasons.

We know very little about Judas leading up to Holy Week. We know that he was one of the twelve disciples that Jesus chose to be His closest followers. Scripture tells us that Jesus went and prayed all night before choosing the twelve. We just have to wonder if most of that night, and most of His time in prayer and struggle, was spent in agony over choosing Judas? It wasn’t that Jesus only knew that one of them would betray Him, but didn’t know exactly who. He had known from the beginning and had chosen Judas anyway. Judas was always going to betray Jesus. Some even consider Psalm 41: 9 to be Messianic: “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.” Later, before He was given over in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus would say this in prayer to the Father: “While I was with them, I kept them in Your name, which You have given Me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” It’s not that Judas “fell away”, he was always going to betray Jesus. He was always going to choose himself and his desires over the One whom he called Master.

Although Matthew formerly worked for the Roman IRS, for some reason, Judas becomes the treasurer of the group. Perhaps it’s because Matthew wanted nothing to do with his former life before Jesus? Judas’ greed seems to play a large role in his reason for betraying Jesus. Once, when a woman approached Jesus and used a very expensive perfume to anoint Jesus’ feet, Judas complained that they could have sold this perfume and given the money to the poor. And although this may have sounded like Judas cared for others, John had a different take on Judas’ true concern: “He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.”

The Gospel of Matthew seems to point to the idea that it was this event that pushed Judas over the edge and caused him to seek for a way to betray Jesus. Perhaps Judas had seen Jesus as a opportunity to live an easy life? Maybe he felt like he could easily prey on the success of this Teacher and build up his retirement fund? But for whatever reason, Judas seemed to have been over that and was now trying to find a way to cash in quick. He consults with the chief priests, who had been looking for a way to destroy Jesus, and agrees to betray Him for 30 pieces of silver. This is considered to be a small amount of money and the Old Testament tells us that this is the exact cost of a slave. Perhaps in their wagering, this was as high as the chief priests would go? Maybe, in his conversation, he knew that Jesus was going to be killed somehow and he felt like he could make at least a little bit out of the deal? Regardless, Judas agrees to hand Jesus over. Later, Judas will have regret and seek to return the money, but it will be too late.

On the night that Jesus was betrayed, He gathered His disciples to Him in the Upper Room to observe the Passover meal together. On this night, He revealed His betrayer:  He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.” Matthew 26:23-25 (ESV)

But before this moment, the Gospel of John records that Jesus took off His outer garment, wrapped a towel around Himself, and began to wash the disciple’s feet. This is a task that was usually reserved for the youngest servant in the house. In Jesus’ day, shoes were a bit of a luxury. But even shoes didn’t prevent all the damage that the dry ground, hot sun, and sharp rocks would cause to a person’s feet. So, it was a common courtesy to wash the feet of those who entered your home. During this evening, John would have been the youngest disciple and the one who this task should have fallen to, but it is Jesus who humbles Himself and takes on this role. Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, each one of them, including Judas. Jesus washes the feet of Judas knowing that those feet have walked to and from His enemies and have given Him over to His death. You will never understand the love of Jesus until you wash the feet of your enemy.

In these moments, we can see the love and forgiveness of Jesus on display. Who are those who have hurt you and betrayed you? Who are those who have broken your heart and trust?

As we enter into this Thursday of Holy Week, seek to offer them the same love and forgiveness that Jesus does here. Not so that they will be released from their guilt, but so that you will be released from the prison that your anger can place you in.