The Desire of Ages
by Ellen G. White
Chapter 76: Judas
The history of Judas presents the sad ending of a life that
might have been honored of God. Had Judas died before his last journey to
Jerusalem he would have been regarded as a man worthy of a place among the
twelve, and one who would be greatly missed. The abhorrence which has followed
him through the centuries would not have existed but for the attributes
revealed at the close of his history. But it was for a purpose that his
character was laid open to the world. It was to be a warning to all who, like
him, should betray sacred trusts. {DA 716.1}
A little before the Passover, Judas had renewed his contract
with the priests to deliver Jesus into their hands. Then it was arranged that
the Saviour should be taken at one of His resorts for meditation and prayer.
Since the feast at the house of Simon, Judas had had opportunity to reflect
upon the deed which he had covenanted to perform, but his purpose was
unchanged. For thirty pieces of silver—the price of a slave—he
sold the Lord of glory to ignominy and death. {DA 716.2}
Judas had naturally a strong love for money; but he had not
always been corrupt enough to do such a deed as this. He had fostered the evil
spirit of avarice until it had become the ruling motive of his life. The love
of mammon overbalanced his love for Christ. Through becoming the slave of one
vice he gave himself to Satan, to be driven to any lengths in sin. {DA 716.3}
Judas had joined the disciples when multitudes were following
Christ. The Saviour's teaching moved their hearts as they hung entranced upon
His words, spoken in the synagogue, by the seaside, upon the mount. [717]
Judas saw the sick, the lame, the blind, flock to Jesus from the towns and
cities. He saw the dying laid at His feet. He witnessed the Saviour's mighty
works in healing the sick, casting out devils, and raising the dead. He felt in
his own person the evidence of Christ's power. He recognized the teaching of
Christ as superior to all that he had ever heard. He loved the Great Teacher,
and desired to be with Him. He felt a desire to be changed in character and
life, and he hoped to experience this through connecting himself with Jesus.
The Saviour did not repulse Judas. He gave him a place among the twelve. He
trusted him to do the work of an evangelist. He endowed him with power to heal
the sick and to cast out devils. But Judas did not come to the point of
surrendering himself fully to Christ. He did not give up his worldly ambition
or his love of money. While he accepted the position of a minister of Christ,
he did not bring himself under the divine molding. He felt that he could retain
his own judgment and opinions, and he cultivated a disposition to criticize and
accuse. {DA 716.4}
Judas was highly regarded by the disciples, and had great
influence over them. He himself had a high opinion of his own qualifications,
and looked upon his brethren as greatly inferior to him in judgment and
ability. They did not see their opportunities, he thought, and take advantage
of circumstances. The church would never prosper with such shortsighted men as
leaders. Peter was impetuous; he would move without consideration. John, who
was treasuring up the truths that fell from Christ's lips, was looked upon by
Judas as a poor financier. Matthew, whose training had taught him accuracy in
all things, was very particular in regard to honesty, and he was ever
contemplating the words of Christ, and became so absorbed in them that, as
Judas thought, he could not be trusted to do sharp, far-seeing business. Thus
Judas summed up all the disciples, and flattered himself that the church would
often be brought into perplexity and embarrassment if it were not for his
ability as a manager. Judas regarded himself as the capable one, who could not
be overreached. In his own estimation he was an honor to the cause, and as such
he always represented himself. {DA 717.1}
Judas was blinded to his own weakness of character, and
Christ placed him where he would have an opportunity to see and correct this.
As treasurer for the disciples, he was called upon to provide for the needs of
the little company, and to relieve the necessities of the poor. When in the
Passover chamber Jesus said to him, "That thou doest, do quickly"
(John 13:27), the disciples thought He had bidden him [718] buy
what was needed for the feast, or give something to the poor. In ministering to
others, Judas might have developed an unselfish spirit. But while listening
daily to the lessons of Christ and witnessing His unselfish life, Judas
indulged his covetous disposition. The small sums that came into his hands were
a continual temptation. Often when he did a little service for Christ, or
devoted time to religious purposes, he paid himself out of this meager fund. In
his own eyes these pretexts served to excuse his action; but in God's sight he
was a thief. {DA 717.2}
Christ's oft-repeated statement that His kingdom was not of
this world offended Judas. He had marked out a line upon which he expected
Christ to work. He had planned that John the Baptist should be delivered from
prison. But lo, John was left to be beheaded. And Jesus, instead of asserting
His royal right and avenging the death of John, retired with His disciples into
a country place. Judas wanted more aggressive warfare. He thought that if Jesus
would not prevent the disciples from carrying out their schemes, the work would
be more successful. He marked the increasing enmity of the Jewish leaders, and
saw their challenge unheeded when they demanded from Christ a sign from heaven.
His heart was open to unbelief, and the enemy supplied thoughts of questioning
and rebellion. Why did Jesus dwell so much upon that which was discouraging?
Why did He predict trial and persecution for Himself and for His disciples? The
prospect of having a high place in the new kingdom had led Judas to espouse the
cause of Christ. Were his hopes to be disappointed? Judas had not decided that
Jesus was not the Son of God; but he was questioning, and seeking to find some
explanation of His mighty works. {DA 718.1}
Notwithstanding the Saviour's own teaching, Judas was
continually advancing the idea that Christ would reign as king in Jerusalem. At
the feeding of the five thousand he tried to bring this about. On this occasion
Judas assisted in distributing the food to the hungry multitude. He had an
opportunity to see the benefit which it was in his power to impart to others.
He felt the satisfaction that always comes in service to God. He helped to
bring the sick and suffering from among the multitude to Christ. He saw what
relief, what joy and gladness, come to human hearts through the healing power
of the Restorer. He might have comprehended the methods of Christ. But he was
blinded by his own selfish desires. Judas was first to take advantage of the
enthusiasm excited by the miracle of the loaves. It was he who set on foot the [719]
project to take Christ by force and make Him king. His hopes were high. His
disappointment was bitter. {DA
718.2}
Christ's discourse in the synagogue concerning the bread of
life was the turning point in the history of Judas. He heard the words,
"Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have
no life in you." John 6:53. He saw that Christ was offering spiritual
rather than worldly good. He regarded himself as farsighted, and thought he
could see that Jesus would have no honor, and that He could bestow no high
position upon His followers. He determined not to unite himself so closely to
Christ but that he could draw away. He would watch. And he did watch. {DA 719.1}
From that time he expressed doubts that confused the
disciples. He introduced controversies and misleading sentiments, repeating the
arguments urged by the scribes and Pharisees against the claims of Christ. All
the little and large troubles and crosses, the difficulties and the apparent
hindrances to the advancement of the gospel, Judas interpreted as evidences
against its truthfulness. He would introduce texts of Scripture that had no
connection with the truths Christ was presenting. These texts, separated from
their connection, perplexed the disciples, and increased the discouragement
that was constantly pressing upon them. Yet all this was done by Judas in such
a way as to make it appear that he was conscientious. And while the disciples
were searching for evidence to confirm the words of the Great Teacher, Judas
would lead them almost imperceptibly on another track. Thus in a very
religious, and apparently wise, way he was presenting matters in a different
light from that in which Jesus had given them, and attaching to His words a
meaning that He had not conveyed. His suggestions were constantly exciting an
ambitious desire for temporal preferment, and thus turning the disciples from
the important things they should have considered. The dissension as to which of
them should be greatest was generally excited by Judas. {DA 719.2}
When Jesus presented to the rich young ruler the condition
of discipleship, Judas was displeased. He thought that a mistake had been made.
If such men as this ruler could be connected with the believers, they would
help sustain Christ's cause. If Judas were only received as a counselor, he
thought, he could suggest many plans for the advantage of the little church.
His principles and methods would differ somewhat from Christ's, but in these
things he thought himself wiser than Christ. [720] {DA 719.3}
In all that Christ said to His disciples, there was
something with which, in heart, Judas disagreed. Under his influence the leaven
of disaffection was fast doing its work. The disciples did not see the real
agency in all this; but Jesus saw that Satan was communicating his attributes
to Judas, and thus opening up a channel through which to influence the other
disciples. This, a year before the betrayal, Christ declared. "Have not I
chosen you twelve," He said, "and one of you is a devil?" John
6:70. {DA 720.1}
Yet Judas made no open opposition, nor seemed to question
the Saviour's lessons. He made no outward murmur until the time of the feast in
Simon's house. When Mary anointed the Saviour's feet, Judas manifested his
covetous disposition. At the reproof from Jesus his very spirit seemed turned
to gall. Wounded pride and desire for revenge broke down the barriers, and the
greed so long indulged held him in control. This will be the experience of
everyone who persists in tampering with sin. The elements of depravity that are
not resisted and overcome, respond to Satan's temptation, and the soul is led
captive at his will. {DA
720.2}
But Judas was not yet wholly hardened. Even after he had
twice pledged himself to betray the Saviour, there was opportunity for
repentance. At the Passover supper Jesus proved His divinity by revealing the
traitor's purpose. He tenderly included Judas in the ministry to the disciples.
But the last appeal of love was unheeded. Then the case of Judas was decided,
and the feet that Jesus had washed went forth to the betrayer's work. {DA 720.3}
Judas reasoned that if Jesus was to be crucified, the event
must come to pass. His own act in betraying the Saviour would not change the
result. If Jesus was not to die, it would only force Him to deliver Himself. At
all events, Judas would gain something by his treachery. He counted that he had
made a sharp bargain in betraying his Lord. {DA 720.4}
Judas did not, however, believe that Christ would permit
Himself to be arrested. In betraying Him, it was his purpose to teach Him a
lesson. He intended to play a part that would make the Saviour careful
thenceforth to treat him with due respect. But Judas knew not that he was
giving Christ up to death. How often, as the Saviour taught in parables, the
scribes and Pharisees had been carried away with His striking illustrations!
How often they had pronounced judgment against themselves! Often when the truth
was brought home to their hearts, they had been filled with rage, and had taken
up stones to cast at Him; [721] but again and again He had made
His escape. Since He had escaped so many snares, thought Judas, He certainly
would not now allow Himself to be taken. {DA 720.5}
Judas decided to put the matter to the test. If Jesus really
was the Messiah, the people, for whom He had done so much, would rally about
Him, and would proclaim Him king. This would forever settle many minds that
were now in uncertainty. Judas would have the credit of having placed the king
on David's throne. And this act would secure to him the first position, next to
Christ, in the new kingdom. {DA
721.1}
The false disciple acted his part in betraying Jesus. In the
garden, when he said to the leaders of the mob, "Whomsoever I shall kiss,
that same is He: hold Him fast" (Matthew 26:48), he fully believed that
Christ would escape out of their hands. Then if they should blame him, he could
say, Did I not tell you to hold Him fast? {DA 721.2}
Judas beheld the captors of Christ, acting upon his words,
bind Him firmly. In amazement he saw that the Saviour suffered Himself to be
led away. Anxiously he followed Him from the garden to the trial before the
Jewish rulers. At every movement he looked for Him to surprise His enemies, by
appearing before them as the Son of God, and setting at nought all their plots
and power. But as hour after hour went by, and Jesus submitted to all the abuse
heaped upon Him, a terrible fear came to the traitor that he had sold his
Master to His death. {DA
721.3}
As the trial drew to a close, Judas could endure the torture
of his guilty conscience no longer. Suddenly a hoarse voice rang through the
hall, sending a thrill of terror to all hearts: He is innocent; spare Him, O
Caiaphas! {DA 721.4}
The tall form of Judas was now seen pressing through the
startled throng. His face was pale and haggard, and great drops of sweat stood
on his forehead. Rushing to the throne of judgment, he threw down [722]
before the high priest the pieces of silver that had been the price of his
Lord's betrayal. Eagerly grasping the robe of Caiaphas, he implored him to
release Jesus, declaring that He had done nothing worthy of death. Caiaphas
angrily shook him off, but was confused, and knew not what to say. The perfidy
of the priests was revealed. It was evident that they had bribed the disciple
to betray his Master. {DA
721.5}
"I have sinned," again cried Judas, "in that
I have betrayed the innocent blood." But the high priest, regaining his
self-possession, answered with scorn, "What is that to us? see thou to
that." Matthew 27:4. The priests had been willing to make Judas their
tool; but they despised his baseness. When he turned to them with confession,
they spurned him. {DA
722.1}
Judas now cast himself at the feet of Jesus, acknowledging
Him to be the Son of God, and entreating Him to deliver Himself. The Saviour
did not reproach His betrayer. He knew that Judas did not repent; his
confession was forced from his guilty soul by an awful sense of condemnation
and a looking for of judgment, but he felt no deep, heartbreaking grief that he
had betrayed the spotless Son of God, and denied the Holy One of Israel. Yet
Jesus spoke no word of condemnation. He looked pityingly upon Judas, and said,
For this hour came I into the world. {DA 722.2}
A murmur of surprise ran through the assembly. With
amazement they beheld the forbearance of Christ toward His betrayer. Again
there swept over them the conviction that this Man was more than mortal. But if
He was the Son of God, they questioned, why did He not free Himself from His
bonds and triumph over His accusers? {DA 722.3}
Judas saw that his entreaties were in vain, and he rushed
from the hall exclaiming, It is too late! It is too late! He felt that he could
not live to see Jesus crucified, and in despair went out and hanged himself. {DA 722.4}
Later that same day, on the road from Pilate's hall to
Calvary, there came an interruption to the shouts and jeers of the wicked
throng who were leading Jesus to the place of crucifixion. As they passed a
retired spot, they saw at the foot of a lifeless tree, the body of Judas. It
was a most revolting sight. His weight had broken the cord by which he had
hanged himself to the tree. In falling, his body had been horribly mangled, and
dogs were now devouring it. His remains were immediately buried out of sight;
but there was less mockery among the throng, and many a pale face revealed the
thoughts within. Retribution seemed already visiting those who were guilty of
the blood of Jesus. {DA
722.5}
Click here to read the next chapter:
"In Pilate's Judgment Hall"
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