Here is a testimony of one of the disciples of Jesus who walked with Him, ate with Him, followed wherever He went, listened to His wonderful teachings almost every day and saw the many miracles He had performed, who finally decided to betray his close friend and Savior for a few pieces of silver perhaps for reasons of greed.
Here is what happened:
Here is what happened:
Then one of the twelve -- they called Judas Iscariot -- went to chief priests and asked, 'What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?'
So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
Jesus and the disciples met for the Passover feast.
When the evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve. And while they were eating, he said, 'I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.'
They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, 'Surely not I, Lord?' Jesus replied, 'The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.'
Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, 'Surely not I, Rabbi? Jesus answered, 'Yes it is you.'
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, 'Take and eat; this is my body.'
Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
... When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives (Matthew 26:20-28).
After Jesus had finished praying for the third time, Judas arrived with a large crowd to betray Jesus into the hands of the priests.
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people (Matthew 26:47).
Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him."
Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him. Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for."
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
"Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?"
At that time Jesus said to the crowd, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled."
Then all the disciples deserted him and fled (Matthew 26:48-56).
Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor (Matthew 27:1-2).
When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders.
"I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood."
"What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility."
So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
The chief priests picked up the coins and said, "It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money."
So they decided to use the money to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day.
Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:
"They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me."
Finally, Judas openly declared that he betrayed an innocent man. But he died in his sins a hopeless death most probably regretting his hypocrisy.
Jesus gives His life for a noble cause, whereas Judas dies for his own hypocrisy.
Here is Jesus dying on the cross for a noble cause telling the truth that He is the Messiah the Savior of the world, whereas, Judas one of His close disciples is committing suicide for his hypocrisy.
Judas had never believed that Jesus was truly the Messiah in spite of all the evidences that he witnessed during the three years of his close association with the Son of God until the last moment. His focus could have been on money, because he happened to be the treasurer for the group and he might not have been looking for a Savior. Money led him to his doom. Money alone could not save him. We sinners need a Savior, much more than just money.
I suppose, you might have heard the gospel of Jesus many times and you have been ignoring Him all this while, not necessarily because you are greedy for money, may be due to other reasons, but now after hearing the testimony of Judas, if you so desire to want to trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior, here is how you could receive Him as your Lord and Savior.
Please do not delay any more. Procrastination is the greatest enemy of man. God's enemy, Satan will be very happy that we put off this crucial decision for another day. Sometimes that day may never come. At the last moment Judas' mind was submerged in guilt and hopelessness, and decided to commit suicide. It never dawned on him to turn to Jesus in genuine repentance and to trust Him as his only Savior and Lord.
May the Lord in His mercy draw you with His cord of love to trust Him from now on.