Priceless Lessons from the Life of Judas

Don’t mistake your involvement in ministry, your membership at church, or your encounter with the supernatural for a relationship with Jesus. Judas’ life teaches us that it’s not enough to just be where Jesus is; we must have a transformational experience with Him.

Judas walked with Jesus. He was one of the twelve disciples chosen to be a part of the inner circle. He saw first-hand the eyes of the blind opened, he saw the lepers cleansed and the lame walk. Judas was in the midst of the miracles of Christ. He didn’t just hear stories, he watched the dead come back to life! But what Judas never experienced was a transformation. He never made the choice to give Jesus everything. He knew Jesus was the King of Kings – he believed it! – but he couldn’t bring himself to trust Jesus with his whole heart and surrender his own will.

Jesus has a plan and a purpose for each of us. There is path for your life that is better than the other roads you could choose to follow. God has a good and perfect will, and to make that path clear, you can’t stay the same … you have to let Christ change your heart, renew your mind, and trust that His ways are far greater than anything you can conceive.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

Many scholars believe that Judas didn’t intend for Jesus to be arrested and crucified. They think he anticipated Jesus to somehow resist the arrest and begin the revolution that would lead to establishing His new Kingdom. Judas was impatient and prideful. By taking things into his own hands, he didn’t change God’s plan at all, but he took himself out of the picture.

Do you have God on a deadline? Are you frantically taking matters into your own hands trying to make things happen according to your plans? If Judas would have trusted God’s timing and allowed the presence of Jesus to transform his heart and his mind, he would be sitting at the table with Him today. But Judas stayed the same. He knew Jesus—but he wouldn’t let Jesus change his heart.

There are priceless lessons to be learned from Judas’ life. But perhaps the most important one is this: If you don’t finish your assignment, someone else will. If you try to rush the dream, you may miss a step. If you give up on God, someone else will be there to take the chance. Judas missed it. Another disciple was chosen to take his place. Where Judas’ name should be carved on one of the 12 foundations of Heaven (Rev. 21:14), instead it says Matthias. God wants to use YOU, but He doesn’t have to.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

You know Jesus, but have you truly let Him into your heart? Will you allow the Holy Spirit to change you? Will you listen when the still small voice whispers? Will you trust Him with the tough choices? Will you wait on the Lord? Jesus told the disciples in John 6:63, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”

Trust in the Lord and accomplish the great things He has in store for your life!

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