As we mentioned in the first article of this series, some people do not make a good “first impression,” and sometimes the problem is in the eyes of the beholder. Many movies, children’s books, songs, and the like have helped us form incorrect opinions about some of those whom we read about in the Bible. We began with Thomas, and today I would like for us to take a second look at another disciple. Let’s see if we do not walk away with a better “Second Impression.”

Judas is “the bad guy.” When we think of him, we most often think of the scene of his kissing Jesus in the garden. With that kiss, he indicated the One he was turning over to the soldiers. He betrayed Jesus! As such, he goes down in history with some of the most notorious traitors of all time. Cassius, Brutus, Benedict Arnold, and Tokyo Rose have nothing on the man who betrayed the Lord. We are not so surprised at this heinous act because we think we have the character of Judas all figured out. How often do we think of him as the influential disciple chosen by Jesus and respected by the eleven? Despite our first impression of Judas, think of how incomplete a picture we have painted of him.

First, remember Judas was a disciple of Jesus! That means:

• He heard what Jesus taught (Mt. 5:1-2ff).
• He saw Jesus perform miracles (Mt. 8:23-27).
• He saw Jesus even raise the dead (Mt. 9:19-25).
• He was given exclusive insight into what Jesus taught (Mt. 13:10-12).
• He even helped Jesus perform miracles (Mt. 14:17-21).
• He was able to cast out unclean spirits (Mt. 10:1-4).
• He was able to heal every kind of disease and affliction (Mt. 10:1-4).

Think about all of that! Judas was doing good, hearing truth, and involved in great efforts to teach about Jesus! Because of this, he was also highly respected.

Second, remember the disciples respected Judas!

How can we come to that conclusion?

• They followed his lead. They became indignant at the “waste” of using the expensive perfume to anoint Jesus (Mt. 26:6-9). John’s account says it was Judas who did these things. It seems evident that Judas began the outcry, and the others naturally followed Judas in this.
• John also tells us that Judas became upset because he was the treasurer and wanted the money for himself. All of the disciples (to a certain degree at least) were concerned about what they could get out of Jesus. That is why the lobbied for positions and argued about who was the greatest. The point, though, is of all they could have chosen, at the time, they trusted Judas with the money.
• In Matthew 26, Jesus tells the disciples one will betray Him. Not one disciple said, “It’s Judas, right?” Instead, they each said, “Is it I, Lord?” (vv.21-22). In other words, Peter, Andrew, John, and all the rest thought they might be the betrayer before it ever entered their mind it might be Judas. That thought never entered their minds, apparently. When Judas did leave, they thought he was going out to do a good deed for the poor!

Third, remember this did not turn out how Judas wanted it. Perhaps, as some have suggested, Judas only wanted Jesus to step up and be the Messiah they all knew He should be. By leading the soldiers to arrest Jesus, it seems Judas might have thought this was the straw that would lead the Christ to throw out the Romans and sit on David’s throne. While we cannot know his motivation for sure, we can be confident he was upset when it became apparent that Jesus would be put to death. After all, that would be the only reason they would be bringing him to the governor. It was at that moment (“then”) that Judas wanted to reverse the course (Mt. 27:1-5).

So, what can we learn from Judas?

1. We can be with the right people, hearing the right things, and not be following Jesus.
2. We can be doing the right things, in the right places, and not be following Jesus.
3. Everyone can think we are following Jesus, and we not be following Jesus.
4. We must CHOOSE JESUS before we can FOLLOW JESUS!

Our first impression of Judas may have been of some notorious criminal mastermind. The text paints a different picture! He is one who was following Jesus while doing the right things but allowed his desires to turn his heart. Isn’t it true that the same thing could happen to us? No matter what the songs or stories might say, God’s word gives us a great second impression of Judas as one whose life is a warning for us all!

Corey Sawyers