The Perfect Christian That Wasn’t

Luke 22:21-23

In his letters to the churches in Revelation 2-3, the Lord describes what each church needs to do to be pleasing to him. Essentially, the messages to the churches are prescriptions for revival, based on the symptoms of each individual church. A detailed study of the subject can be found in the series Letters to Churches on this blog.

The church at Sardis is especially interesting when we read The Lord’s description in Revelation 3:1. “And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” It is an active growing and highly respected church, but in reality, it is dead. James 2:26 declares “…the body without the spirit is dead,…” and this church lacks the Spirit. It is the word which gives both life and Spirit.

Unfortunately, many churches today fall into this category, giving an impressive show but not knowing the Lord at all. Sadly, there some in every church who belong to this group. Judas is a good example of these church members. Many preachers have declared that Judas did not participate in the Lord’s supper, but Luke implies that he did and none of the other gospels contradict this..

“But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!” (Luke 22:21-22)

Jesus declared that the person who was about to betray him was sitting at the table. The betrayal was what had been predicted in scripture, and would result in fulfillment of God’s plan., but the person doing it has rejected Christ and will suffer for it. Hebrews 10:29 asks, “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" The announcement shocked the apostles.

“And they began to inquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.” (Luke 22:23)

They had been together for three years and could not imagine one of the others betraying him. It was easier to believe they might do so themselves that to think one of the others would.

“And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.” (Matthew 26:21-25)

Two days before, on Monday, Judas had conspired with the leaders to betray Jesus. When the other disciple began to ask if it was them who would betray him, Judas found himself forced to ask the same question in an attempt to look like the others. Jesus’ answer was “you said it”, but none of the disciple caught what he said. After all they trusted Judas so completely they had chosen him as treasurer. At Peter’s urging, John asked who it was outright. They were not seated at the table as the painting of the Last Supper portrays, but reclining in a circle around the food, much like a group of kids lying on the floor eating chips and dip and talking.

“He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.” (John 13:25-30)

Even when Jesus answered, “It is the one I am going to give this piece of bread to,” they still didn’t even suspect Judas. When Jesus told him to go do what he was going to do, they assumed he was doing something special for the Lord. How could he have fooled them so completely?

About two years before, in John 6:70-71 Jesus had warned them. “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.” Though he had been called by God, had received the same teaching as the other apostles, and been accepted as one of them, participating in everything the rest of them did, he had never believed.

Paul was forced to deal with some false teaching at Galatia which had already been a problem in other places. It resulted from Satanically led teachers who were there to destroy the effectiveness of the Church as he states in Galatians 2:4. “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage.”

That they fool people so completely should not surprise us, because as Paul describes in II Corinthians 11:13-5, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” They are espionage agents seeking to destroy God’s work and their apparent dedication to God is just part of their cover. They are the Christian’s Christian, and are seldom doubted.

In describing how to detect false teachers, in Matthew 7:20, Jesus said, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Like the spy, their actions or works are designed to deceive. The disciples focused on Judas’ works, and believed he was one of them. To spot a spy you must examine the underlying attitude, or spirit motivating him, to spot behavior that don’t quite fit. Had they observed Judas’ attitudes more closely, they disciples would have seen what Jesus saw, that he was a devil, and a thief. The fruit of the Spirit is a change in the attitudes, not just in the actions. Works are not fruit.