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76 - The Desire of Ages - Ellen Gould · Philosophy and Faith

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