Judas Iscariot, the Suicide of Satan & the Salvation of the World
Luke 22:1-6

During the final Feast of Unleavened Bread, also called the “Passover,” the chief priests and scribes were seeking how they could put Jesus to death but they feared the people.

Judas was one of the twelve. This is only the second time in Luke that Judas is mentioned. The first time was in 6:16 in the list of apostles, the “twelve.” “Iscariot” may mean “man of “ Kerioth, a city in the south of Judaea.

It is during the institution of the Lord’s Supper, during this Passover Feast, that Jesus points out to the apostles that one of them would betray Him and they all said, “Lord, is it I?” But He said, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I dipped it.” He dipped the morsel and gave it to Judas. Satan entered into him. Jesus told him to proceed with what he had planned to do – “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Judas left the Lord’s presence, His Savior’s presence, and went out to do just that.

Being influenced by Satan, Judas went out and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Jesus into their hands. But when Satan motivated Judas to betray Jesus, it was his own downfall. It was his own suicide.

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:8 that the rulers of this age did not understand the wisdom of God. If they had understood, Paul writes, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory! If Satan had known the betrayal was in God’s plans to send Jesus to the cross, he would not have motivated Judas to betray Jesus. He would have allowed Jesus to die a natural death at a good old age.

While we need to take Satan seriously, perhaps we give Satan far too much credit than he deserves. Satan is limited. Satan does not know the Bible like we think he does. If he did, he would have known that the crucifixion of Christ was prophesied there and the resurrection was prophesied there! He would not have crucified the Lord of glory. He would have known that the betrayal of Jesus was predicted there as well.

Satan did not know Judas betraying Jesus fit into God’s plans – Psa. 41:9 (cf. John 13:18). He did not know the betrayal was predicted in Psa. 55:12-14. He did not know the cross was in God’s plans all along (Gal. 3:13; Deut. 21:23). He did not even know that Jesus was going to be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver (Zech. 11:12-13). Satan does not know everything!

Don’t follow Satan. He doesn’t know where he is going!

–Paul Holland