“JUDAS ISCARIOT: AN OUTSIDER WHO NEVER CAME IN!”

Matthew 26:14-16                   John 12:4-8                   Matthew 27:3-5

Have you ever noticed that there are people who never fit into the group? There are reasons why this occurs, at times. Usually this lack of compatibility is based on a major difference between the one who experiences alienation and the rest of the crowd. There are times when such separation is because the one shunned has a personality that doesn’t mesh with anyone. But, that is the exception. Most often, the reason for distance between people is caused by the “difference factor”. We meet such a person in the twelfth disciple of our Lord. We know him by the name Judas Iscariot. So far, in our sermon series, we have recognized that Jesus had a plan to bring about change in each of His disciples, in at least one particular area of life. The same can be said of this second disciple with the name of Judas. Come with me as we uncover three significant features about this man, who tragically never changed from what he was like when the Lord called him.

I.                  JUDAS WAS AN OUTSIDER AMONG THE DISCIPLES!

(Matthew 26:14-16)

We get an incredible amount of information concerning this man’s fit with the other disciples. When such information is coupled with his actions (in the verses I just read to you) it   gets very profound. We are told he is known as Iscariot. Literally, in the Hebrew language, we are being told that he is (“Is”) a man from (“Kerioth”). Kerioth is a small town located south of Jerusalem, as you can see on the map we are projecting before you (the map is at the bottom of this page). Notice, on the map, that this village is a part of a region named Idumea. n order to understand the politics and circumstances pertaining to the time of Christ, we must refer to previously known data found in the Old Testament.    The descendants of Esau settled in two kingdoms: Idumea and Moab. The descendants of Jacob, Esau’s twin brother, became the Jewish nation Israel. Galilee was the rural area   of Israel. The Galilean population (which is located far to the north) found itself subject to an Idumean king named Herod. Be aware that the Jewish population, during the first  century A.D., owed much to the Herodian family for the economic development of their nation. Extensive construction occurred under the reign of Herod, the Great. He was the Herod who ruled over Israel during the birth of Jesus. The Herod family, Idumean by nationality, had a streak of cruelty in their genetic makeup, as we have seen previously. They were considered by the Jewish citizens as intruders, as were all Idumeans. Welcome to a disciple named Judas of Kerioth!

Just as Jesus offers His love to people of all races, discipleship is offered to this man. Yet, the gospel writers choose to refer to this disciple by the “non-Jewish” town he comes   from. He is identified as an outsider when listed with the other eleven. Such an issue carried over from the history of enmity between Jacob and Esau. We have already seen    potential alienation between others of the Lord’s group of disciples. There was a tax collector and a Zealot or there were two brothers with competitive desires to be given status above the rest. Add a man from Kerioth to the mix and you have tension waiting to explode.

Notice what Judas does in the verses at which we referred a few moments ago. In verse 14 this disciple goes to the Jewish leaders and asks “What are you willing to give me if   I hand him over to you?” After they count out thirty silver coins we read in verse 16, “From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.”  Do we still see him as an outsider, after following Jesus for three years? Nothing has changed to bring this man through the obstacles to being part of the team. Though he listened to the Lord’s teaching and followed the Lord for this period of time, he never becomes responsive to the Lord’s message.

II.               JUDAS WAS NEVER A DISCIPLE OF INTEGRITY!

(John 12:4-8)

The “beloved disciple” of Jesus writes the Gospel of John. As one of the twelve he gives us some pertinent data concerning Judas. He tells us not only was Judas the one “who  was later to betray him” (Verse 4) but this man from Kerioth “objected” to the Lord allowing Mary of Bethany to anoint his feet. It doesn’t end with that informational detail, however. John (inspired by the Holy Spirit) actually quotes the objection Judas has, as follows: “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was   worth a year’s wages.” (Verse 5) Even this negative reference to Judas would have been quite an indictment about a fellow disciple. But as we continue, John adds to the flame common knowledge recognized among the twelve, “He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.” (Verse 6)

This man from Kerioth was not only an outsider by nationality; he was an outsider by his shameful, disloyal, sinful behavior. We have already uncovered the huge task Jesus faced in molding his group of disciples into a cohesive force. And we must remind ourselves that the other Judas of the Apostles, called “Thaddeus”, is given that name to keep him differentiated as not “the man from Kerioth”. Thaddeus was the half brother of the Lord. Thaddeus was Jewish. He was more a part of the team. Not so, Judas, of Idumean descent!

We are not sure whether this renegade Judas was a disciple with a character flaw or one who was committed to sabotaging Jesus’ ministry. It is enough for us to recognize that his upbringing and his lack of morality presented two clear barriers to fitting into the group. We must accept the obvious reality that this man was miserable for at least the last three   years of his life. To follow a man who he didn’t respect AND who appointed him as the treasurer of the group had to place Judas in an uncomfortable position. By following the   Lord for this length of time, he had to be aware that Jesus knew the very thoughts that each of His disciples. Such observations could only have escalated the feelings of discomfort  for Iscariot. What a cloud had to hang over this man’s head! In another place in the New Testament, we highlight the inside knowledge Jesus had about this Judas. Listen to the prayer from Jesus to His Heavenly Father found in John 17:12, “While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture could be fulfilled.”

 It is obvious that Jesus called this one from Kerioth into discipleship knowing that the Old Testament scriptures predicted he would turn on the Messiah and sell him out. We come face to face with God’s sovereignty, His knowing everything, His mercy and love. In the same prayer Jesus tells His Father in heaven of His own love for His disciples. That    included Judas. But let’s wrap up our study by looking at the tragic end of this outsider.

III.           JUDAS WAS A MAN WHO DISCOVERED HIS MISTAKE IN REJECTING THE LORD AND IT DESTROYED HIM!

(Matthew 27:3-5)

 The verdict issued by the Jewish leaders ultimately resulted in “the death sentence” for Jesus. Perhaps Judas didn’t expect such an outcome. But we are told in verse 3 that “he    was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders.” Did you notice Judas’ words when he tried to return the treason money he had been given? He says in verse 4, “I have sinned for I have betrayed innocent blood.” Judas finally gets it! He finally puts together the facts concerning Jesus. He recognizes the sin in his own life along with the innocence (or sinlessness) of the Lord. But his reaction to the massive tragedy which beclouded his life did not bring him to repentance. Instead,  he despaired of life and as verse 5 tells us, “So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself”.

This leads me into one additional clarification that I must tuck into our look at this tragic man. Based on this account, many people believe that Suicide is “the unpardonable sin”. That is NOT true. It is a sin to take the authority of God for oneself and determine the end of one’s life. But the true unforgivable sin is for a person to reject God’s free gift of grace offered through the shed blood of the Lord. If one rejects Jesus (as the means by which they can be released from slavery to their sinful nature) they will die without the new spiritual nature God will give them by faith. Without the new nature, found in Christ, one will remain lost and therefore it is the unpardonable sin, for once they die, there is no more hope.

Simply put, if a Christian takes his or her life it is sin but if they have a new nature in Christ the Lord will deal with that sin at the Bema judgment seat in glory. If one does not accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord, while recognizing their sinful nature has control of them, they go into eternity without Christ and with only their sinful nature. At that point they have    no more chance.

As we return to the study of Judas we realize that he never accepted the Lordship of Christ. He was without a new life founded on the work of the Lord. He went to a Christ-less eternity. His earthly existence was tragic. What a waste! With all the potential of a fruitful life, he squandered that hope with an end of desolation and eternal judgment. He did not allow Jesus to change him. He only realized the change that needed to happen in him when it was too late. He took matters into his own hands and ended up in Hell: the place of    total isolation from the living God.

Each of us can learn from this tragedy! We can admit that we are lost and enslaved to a sinful nature, recognizing that Jesus is the answer to that problem. We can reach out in faith believing in Christ and be saved. Such a response makes an insider out of an outsider. Such a response makes a winner out of a loser. Such a response brings life instead of death. What will you do with Jesus? Will you learn from Judas’ example or go your separate way?