LIFE SCRIPTS

Jesus was still speaking when Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs and sent by the chief priests and the elders. The traitor had given the crowd a signal: “The man I kiss is the one you want. Arrest him!” Judas went straight to Jesus and said, “Peace be with you, Teacher,” and kissed him.
Matthew 26:47‭-‬49 GNBDC

Several ironies stick out from the scenario as Christ was being arrested. However, I’ll focus on two:

1. They came with weapons to arrest a man of peace (verse 47).
   Perhaps because they expected resistance from His followers, Judas and His henchmen, the chief priests’ crowd descended on Christ violently. They left no doubt about their intentions. To harm Him. Truth more often than not elicits violent reaction from those who will lose when the people get to know it. Christ had spent years preaching the true gospel. A gospel that brought redemption to many. But because it exposed the rot and lies deep within the Pharisee doctrine, He had become a sworn enemy to them, the chief priests and the teachers of the Law. All means needed to be used to apprehend and punish Him. Violence and intimidation were not only options. They were the choice twin tools for victimization. When the truth bites, it bites hard. To see how hard it’s bitten, just see the reaction of its opposers!
2. This man Judas Iscariot
   Judas Iscariot transformed from a loyal disciple to a sell out. But he just wasn’t a simple sell out…he was the man who betrayed Christ. His double life can be summed up in verses 48 (he had told the crowd to arrest the man he would kiss) & 49 (he hypocritically greeted Christ in ‘peace’ yet desired harm on Him). This man who had once believed Christ turned out to be living a lie. With his mouth, he confessed the Saviour yet with his actions he betrayed Him…sounds familiar? As believers, the man Judas Iscariot and his character is sometimes not very far from us. When we confess Christ in the midst of believers but deny Him out in the world, we follow the pathway of Judas Iscariot. When we confess Christ when living in comfort yet deny Him when we struggle, we follow the pathway of Judas Iscariot. When Christ is on our lips when we gain but cursed by our lips when we’re out to gain from Him, we walk the pathway of Judas Iscariot. May our faith in the Saviour be established that it may not be shaken. That we’ll always remain true to Him.