FWD: Morning Manna (Mar. 20); BP: Mt. 27:3-10; RBTTY: Luke 1:1-20; Josh.

 Reminder:  Tom Smith is former missionary, originally from Lonoke, has spoke at my church.  he is also veteran and NG chaplain.  He now pastors in Louisiana
Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net

 

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-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:47:00 -0500
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Mar. 20); BP: Mt. 27:3-10; RBTTY: Luke 1:1-20; Josh.
 

March 20                                                                                                                “Too Little, Too Late”

 

“Then Judas, who had betrayed Him, when he saw that He was condemned, repented himself and brought again the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, ‘I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.’  And they said, ‘What is that to us?  See you to that.’  And he cast down the pieces of silver in the Temple and departed and went and hanged himself.”

                                                                                                                                           Matthew 27:3-5

     His life serves as an eternal reminder of the danger of the hardened heart and the point of no return.

     Judas.

     No parent has ever given his son this name since the time of today’s Manna, just as no parent would ever name a daughter Jezebel.  Although the name is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Judah, which means “Let God be praised,” the mere mention of the name now is repulsive because of this one who sold the Savior for the price of a slave.

 

     Was Judas created for the singular purpose of betraying Christ?

     The Hyper-Calvinist would quickly say, “Yes.  That was God’s plan.”  And, if that’s true, then we all might as well resign ourselves to singing a few verses of the fatalistic song, “Que sere, sere” (“Whatever will be will be”).

 

     But, dear Pilgrim, such was not the case—then. . .or now.

     Like us, this man from the southern city of Kerioth had the same opportunities to respond to Jesus’ teachings the other disciples did.  Interestingly, he was the only “pure-blooded” Jew among the Twelve and, ironically, was chosen to be the group’s treasurer—even though animosity existed between folks from the north and south regions.  Regardless, they trusted him to oversee their limited finances, not knowing until after-the-fact he continually robbed from the till (Jn. 12:4-6). 

 

     But, Jesus knew.  He always knows.

     And, that’s why some of Jesus’ most pointed sayings about the “peril of riches” were directed toward Judas.  He knew this “son of perdition/waste” (Jn. 17:12) loved the world’s gold more than he did God’s glory.  That’s why our Lord also said, “It’d been better for him if he’d not been born” (Mt. 26:24).  How sad!!

 

     Some have tried to portray Judas as some type of misguided zealot, who was trying to force Jesus’ hand into setting up an earthly kingdom.  But, the Scriptures do not portray him as such; instead, they depict him as a cunning, deceitful “lover of darkness,” who constantly looked out for “Number One” (himself).  And, sadly, after cutting a deal with the priests to betray our Lord, Judas reached the “point of no return” and committed the unpardonable sin when “the sop entered his mouth and satan took control of his hardened heart” (Jn. 13:26-27).

 

     Although Judas later “repented (Grk. ‘metamellomai’—‘to show regret, have remorse, over, etc.’) himself” and returned the blood money to the priest, the irreparable damage had been done.  So, he hanged himself. . .feeling cursed by God (Dt. 27:25). . . even though he, like Peter, could have been forgiven if he’d only believed.