One of the saddest portions of Scripture is found in Matthew 27:3-5, “Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.”
Judas had been one of the 12 disciples who followed Jesus during His earthly ministry. He had been there when Jesus walked on water. He had been there when Jesus healed the sick and cast out demons. He most likely took part in the feeding of the 5000. He had listened to Jesus teaching and was a first hand witness to Jesus ministry. On the outside, he was just like the other 11 disciples, but it was all an act…he never fully believed that Jesus was the Messiah, and he never gave Him his heart and life.
In the upper room, when Jesus announces that one of the 12 would betray Him, all of the other disciples didn’t point to Judas and say “It has to be him!” No, Judas had fooled them all, and they said “Is it I?” “Am I the one who will betray you?” Judas had lived those three plus years as one of the “inside clan”, those closest to Jesus Christ as He walked about Galilea, Samaria, and the surrounding areas, performing miracles, preaching the Gospel, and changing lives. Yet Judas’ life was never changed. Oh, he had succeeded in fooling all those around Him – yet he never fooled God or the Son of God. And when the time came, Jesus pointed out exactly who he was – an actor, an imposter, a betrayer.
Some of the greatest acting in our world today doesn’t happen in Hollywood…it happens in our churches, and in our “Christian” circles. People claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, yet they are just going through the actions. Jesus even spoke about those kind of people in Matthew 15:8, when He said, “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” You can fool everyone in the world, but you can NEVER fool God! And it’s God who has the power to condemn you to Hell. No amount of “acting” will keep anyone out of Hell. Only a life that is TRULY transformed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and only a heart that TRULY believes in Him will guarantee us a home for all eternity in Heaven.
The Bible never tells us why Judas betrayed Jesus, or why He kept his eyes closed to the truth, even though it was right there in full view. And today, the same is true. We never know why some people refuse to TRULY follow Jesus Christ, when they know full well the Gospel, and God’s promises. But we must remember Jesus words, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) Yes, salvation is free – but TRUE salvation will result in a denial of self. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for THEIRS is the kingdom of heaven!” (Matthew 5:3)
We can act all we want, and pretend to be whomever we choose in front of our family, our friends, and the world around us…but GOD knows us from the inside out, He knows the truth about us – and we will NEVER fool Him!