Monday Motivation #36 Remembered For Betrayal and A Kiss
Many know the story of Judas. Judas betrayed Jesus by identifying him with a kiss in exchange for a bribe of 30 pieces of silver. Most people know the story because that is how Judas is remembered; for a kiss and betrayal. His story is shocking because he was one of Jesus’ disciples. He had been with Jesus, heard His words, and witnessed His miracles. And yet Judas made a tragic choice, a choice the world would forever remember him for.
It’s easy to remember Judas and believe that I would never do something like Judas did! But as I ponder the scriptures about Judas, they reveal a truth about me. My story can be shocking too! What about your story? What will you and I be remembered for?
- Judas chose the world over Jesus. How many times do we choose our own desires over God’s Word and will?
- Judas was easily swayed to betray Jesus. How easily do we fall for the world’s sparkling but deceitful promises? What motivates our pursuits?
- Judas knew the truth but rejected the truth. The truth is before us in God’s Word and revealed by the Holy Spirit. We have no excuse. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
- Judas was a follower by appearance but not by heart. He wasn’t fully committed to Jesus. Are our hearts divided?
Judas bore the responsibility for the choice he made and if nothing else, his story teaches us that choosing the world over Jesus leads to disaster. Judas died a pitiful man, forever separated from God. 
What will you be remembered for? Your love and loyalty for Jesus? Or sadly, like Judas, choosing the world and self, rejecting Jesus, His complete love, and an eternally secure future. Jesus is worthy of our devotion and I want to be remembered as one who followed Jesus with my heart.
© 2019 Robin R King
Mark 14:10-21 (NIV)
10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”
16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”
19 They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?”
20 “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 21 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.
Luke 22:47-48 (NIV)
47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him,48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?
Matthew 27:1-5 (NIV)
27 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. 2 So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”
“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”
5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
