Jesus Christ is my God!
Issued 19.07.2004
Ecumenical kiss
Judas became a betrayer because he had a liking for pretending. He kept in contact with Jesus and also with the opponents of Jesus. There is no love that could join lie to truth.
Unbelievable believers
Although Judas was a thief and a liar, bad life was not his real problem. We all are sinners and Judas was not worse than the others. He became a betrayer because he had a passion for pretence. Sometimes there were also other unbelievers than Judas who were following Jesus.
Jesus says about His disciples: "There are some of you who do not believe. For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him. He went on to say, 'This is why I told you that no-one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.'" John 6:64-65 He refers to His earlier words: "No-one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from Him comes to me." John 6:44-45
Thus Jesus exposes that Judas had not become His disciple by being drawn by the Father. He had had his own reasons to start to follow Jesus. Some human motive drew him into the company of Jesus.
Likewise Jesus also the apostles came to notice that there were in the congregations some persons who actually were not in the faith. Therefore Paul urged the believers of Corinth: "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you?" 2Cor.13:5 From this sentence we get the definition of a Christian: A Christian is a person in whom Christ Jesus lives.
The Spirit of God witnesses to every person that Jesus is the Son of God. Some people reject this testimony though they believe in Jesus in their own way. They don't find knowing of Jesus in themselves, because they have not got it from God the Father. They have not got it because they have not accepted the testimony the Father has given about his Son.
Although Judas was a thief and a liar, bad life was not his real problem. We all are sinners and Judas was not worse than the others. He became a betrayer because he had a passion for pretence. Sometimes there were also other unbelievers than Judas who were following Jesus.
Jesus says about His disciples: "There are some of you who do not believe. For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him. He went on to say, 'This is why I told you that no-one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.'" John 6:64-65 He refers to His earlier words: "No-one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from Him comes to me." John 6:44-45
Thus Jesus exposes that Judas had not become His disciple by being drawn by the Father. He had had his own reasons to start to follow Jesus. Some human motive drew him into the company of Jesus.
Likewise Jesus also the apostles came to notice that there were in the congregations some persons who actually were not in the faith. Therefore Paul urged the believers of Corinth: "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you?" 2Cor.13:5 From this sentence we get the definition of a Christian: A Christian is a person in whom Christ Jesus lives.
The Spirit of God witnesses to every person that Jesus is the Son of God. Some people reject this testimony though they believe in Jesus in their own way. They don't find knowing of Jesus in themselves, because they have not got it from God the Father. They have not got it because they have not accepted the testimony the Father has given about his Son.
How does Jesus treat Judas
Verses 43-71 in chapter six of the Gospel of John tells about the speech of Jesus. Many said about it: "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" It was hard for them to hear that they cannot live otherwise than through Jesus. They didn't like the idea that they should lose their own life and start living Jesus-life.
Due to this speech many of the disciples of Jesus deserted Him. Obviously just these people were those about whom Jesus said: "There are some of you who do not believe."
This was also for Judas a possibility to turn back, but he didn't do it. Then Jesus said to the Twelve: "You do not want to leave too, do you?" It seems to be so that Jesus waited for Judas to use this opportunity to stop pretending. When Judas still didn't understand his position before God, Jesus said so that everybody heard: "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!"
Why didn't Jesus say straight out that Judas is a devil? Why didn't He fight against Judas openly? Jesus acted in this situation according to His own teaching. He thought: "Do not resist an evil person." Matth.5:39 The Pharisees opposed Jesus publicly and Jesus replied to them publicly. Judas opposed Jesus secretly and Jesus replied to Judas unnoticed by the others.
Jesus didn't expose Judas for the others, because He preferred that Judas himself exposes his heart. Instead He made such a speech that it offended Judas and all of those who followed Him because of wrong motives. Unfortunately pretending had hardened the heart of Judas so that God's word didn't touch him any more. Also today the preachers of God's word should keep their congregations clear of pretenders by preaching as sharply as Jesus did. However the worst pretender can still remain.
It is better for false believers to take offence at a word of God and to desert their congregation than to stay as Judas among believers. Hearing God's word saves only those, who have opened their ears to God, the others it hardens. Many efforts to keep people in meetings where they hear God's word are not as valuable as many think.
When Jesus at the last supper said to the disciples that one of them will betray Him, they became very sad and began to say to Jesus: "Surely not I, Lord?" Matth.26:22 Judas was a so well trained pretender that also he said: "Surely not I, Rabbi?" Although Jesus replied to Judas: "Yes, it is you", he still continued his pretending.
Why did Judas stay in his congregation, though he was internally out of it? He respected Jesus as a great teacher of the Bible, because he calls Jesus by the name "Rabbi". The other disciples call Jesus by the name "Lord". From this we can conclude that Judas was more interested in the teachings of Jesus than His personality. He stayed in the congregation, because he admired the high teachings of Jesus.
Jesus gave Judas many possibilities to stop pretending, but he didn't use them. He had the last moment to be saved, when Jesus at the supper said about His betrayer: "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread." John 13:26-27 The disciples saw how He handed a piece of the bread to Judas. In this way Jesus wanted to help Judas to expose himself!
When Judas took the bread from the hand of Jesus, it was as though he had said to Jesus that although you know me to be your betrayer I still am going to betray you. He had become as hardened as the devil. Judas could have said: "I am your betrayer and I repent what I am. I do not want to take the piece of the bread, because I don't want to betray you. Jesus, save me." When he however took that bread he sealed his pretending. He turned finally his back to light and stepped into darkness.
In the dark garden Judas led the arresters to the right man by saying, "Greetings, Rabbi" and kissed Jesus. Jesus didn't kiss Judas, but said kindly to him: "Friend, do what you came for?" Matth.26:50
Verses 43-71 in chapter six of the Gospel of John tells about the speech of Jesus. Many said about it: "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" It was hard for them to hear that they cannot live otherwise than through Jesus. They didn't like the idea that they should lose their own life and start living Jesus-life.
Due to this speech many of the disciples of Jesus deserted Him. Obviously just these people were those about whom Jesus said: "There are some of you who do not believe."
This was also for Judas a possibility to turn back, but he didn't do it. Then Jesus said to the Twelve: "You do not want to leave too, do you?" It seems to be so that Jesus waited for Judas to use this opportunity to stop pretending. When Judas still didn't understand his position before God, Jesus said so that everybody heard: "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!"
Why didn't Jesus say straight out that Judas is a devil? Why didn't He fight against Judas openly? Jesus acted in this situation according to His own teaching. He thought: "Do not resist an evil person." Matth.5:39 The Pharisees opposed Jesus publicly and Jesus replied to them publicly. Judas opposed Jesus secretly and Jesus replied to Judas unnoticed by the others.
Jesus didn't expose Judas for the others, because He preferred that Judas himself exposes his heart. Instead He made such a speech that it offended Judas and all of those who followed Him because of wrong motives. Unfortunately pretending had hardened the heart of Judas so that God's word didn't touch him any more. Also today the preachers of God's word should keep their congregations clear of pretenders by preaching as sharply as Jesus did. However the worst pretender can still remain.
It is better for false believers to take offence at a word of God and to desert their congregation than to stay as Judas among believers. Hearing God's word saves only those, who have opened their ears to God, the others it hardens. Many efforts to keep people in meetings where they hear God's word are not as valuable as many think.
When Jesus at the last supper said to the disciples that one of them will betray Him, they became very sad and began to say to Jesus: "Surely not I, Lord?" Matth.26:22 Judas was a so well trained pretender that also he said: "Surely not I, Rabbi?" Although Jesus replied to Judas: "Yes, it is you", he still continued his pretending.
Why did Judas stay in his congregation, though he was internally out of it? He respected Jesus as a great teacher of the Bible, because he calls Jesus by the name "Rabbi". The other disciples call Jesus by the name "Lord". From this we can conclude that Judas was more interested in the teachings of Jesus than His personality. He stayed in the congregation, because he admired the high teachings of Jesus.
Jesus gave Judas many possibilities to stop pretending, but he didn't use them. He had the last moment to be saved, when Jesus at the supper said about His betrayer: "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread." John 13:26-27 The disciples saw how He handed a piece of the bread to Judas. In this way Jesus wanted to help Judas to expose himself!
When Judas took the bread from the hand of Jesus, it was as though he had said to Jesus that although you know me to be your betrayer I still am going to betray you. He had become as hardened as the devil. Judas could have said: "I am your betrayer and I repent what I am. I do not want to take the piece of the bread, because I don't want to betray you. Jesus, save me." When he however took that bread he sealed his pretending. He turned finally his back to light and stepped into darkness.
In the dark garden Judas led the arresters to the right man by saying, "Greetings, Rabbi" and kissed Jesus. Jesus didn't kiss Judas, but said kindly to him: "Friend, do what you came for?" Matth.26:50
Judas' destiny
Why did Judas become a betrayer? He was not aiming at it but he met with the destiny of a pretender. A pretender should remember that sooner or later all will be exposed.
Due to his pretentious faith Judas was able to keep in contact with people who believed in quite opposite ways. Judas wanted to build a unity between Jesus and the high priests. He started the ecumenical movement.
The present time Judases think that those who belong to Jesus could keep in contact with the churches that are pretending to be Christian. In the same way as Judas tried to build unity between the disciples of Jesus and the high priests they try to bring about ecumenicalism between the true Christianity and e.g. Catholicism.
The Jews were furious with Jesus because He said that He is the Son of God. Also Judas didn't believe that Jesus is the Son of God but he loved the teachings and miracles of Jesus. He wanted to get Jesus accepted as one rabbi among the Jewish rabbis. He was dreaming that Jesus and the high priests could cooperate. He himself felt like-minded with the high priests and therefore he kept in contact with them.
When the high priests sought a possibility to judge Jesus, Judas' offer to hand Jesus over to them, was a cooperation of the like-minded. How did Judas experience this? His task was only to lead a group of people to Jesus. What bad was it in this? He was guiding to Jesus the people with whom he had the unity of heart.
When Jesus was sentenced to death Judas was shocked. How could he be so surprised at the result of his ecumenical efforts? Pretending had blinded him. When he pretended to Jesus and at the same time kept connection with the priests he became blind to seeing how different Jesus and the high priests actually were. When the truth was exposed for him it drove him to desperation.
The distressed Judas went to confess his sin to those with whom he had the unity of the spirit. He opened his heart to those, who believed that Jesus was not the Son of God. Therefore he got the unfriendly answer: "What is that to us? That's your responsibility." This answer caused him to commit suicide.
In practice Judas didn't help much the high priests. They could find Jesus from the night of Gethsemane also without Judas. Also the help of Judas was not needed to carry out the atonement work of God. The high priests succeeded in arresting Jesus, because He accepted His task in Gethsemane and said to the Father: "Yet not as I will, but as you will." Judas was among the apostles as the messenger of the devil. Through him God tested the faith of the apostles. Through him the devil tried to captivate the disciples and drive them against Jesus.
The destiny of Judas is a warning example for all pretenders. It's no use pretending a Christian. On the other hand he is a warning example of a false believer, who tempts believers to an unholy unity with other religions.
Why did Judas become a betrayer? He was not aiming at it but he met with the destiny of a pretender. A pretender should remember that sooner or later all will be exposed.
Due to his pretentious faith Judas was able to keep in contact with people who believed in quite opposite ways. Judas wanted to build a unity between Jesus and the high priests. He started the ecumenical movement.
The present time Judases think that those who belong to Jesus could keep in contact with the churches that are pretending to be Christian. In the same way as Judas tried to build unity between the disciples of Jesus and the high priests they try to bring about ecumenicalism between the true Christianity and e.g. Catholicism.
The Jews were furious with Jesus because He said that He is the Son of God. Also Judas didn't believe that Jesus is the Son of God but he loved the teachings and miracles of Jesus. He wanted to get Jesus accepted as one rabbi among the Jewish rabbis. He was dreaming that Jesus and the high priests could cooperate. He himself felt like-minded with the high priests and therefore he kept in contact with them.
When the high priests sought a possibility to judge Jesus, Judas' offer to hand Jesus over to them, was a cooperation of the like-minded. How did Judas experience this? His task was only to lead a group of people to Jesus. What bad was it in this? He was guiding to Jesus the people with whom he had the unity of heart.
When Jesus was sentenced to death Judas was shocked. How could he be so surprised at the result of his ecumenical efforts? Pretending had blinded him. When he pretended to Jesus and at the same time kept connection with the priests he became blind to seeing how different Jesus and the high priests actually were. When the truth was exposed for him it drove him to desperation.
The distressed Judas went to confess his sin to those with whom he had the unity of the spirit. He opened his heart to those, who believed that Jesus was not the Son of God. Therefore he got the unfriendly answer: "What is that to us? That's your responsibility." This answer caused him to commit suicide.
In practice Judas didn't help much the high priests. They could find Jesus from the night of Gethsemane also without Judas. Also the help of Judas was not needed to carry out the atonement work of God. The high priests succeeded in arresting Jesus, because He accepted His task in Gethsemane and said to the Father: "Yet not as I will, but as you will." Judas was among the apostles as the messenger of the devil. Through him God tested the faith of the apostles. Through him the devil tried to captivate the disciples and drive them against Jesus.
The destiny of Judas is a warning example for all pretenders. It's no use pretending a Christian. On the other hand he is a warning example of a false believer, who tempts believers to an unholy unity with other religions.
Be saved from the way of Judas
Actually Judas was not able to deceive Jesus, but only the other apostles. When he betrayed Jesus he only deceived himself. Jesus was aware of the actions of Judas. He was not surprised at it. In the same way every Jesus' own now has to be aware of the betrayers who are acting near to him. Or - do you consider all members of the church believers? Do not be deceived by the exterior but seek the unity of the Spirit.
Recognise the ecumenical kiss. A person who pretends to be a Christian may praise you, although he actually is against you. In that way he tries to temp you to pretend. He wants from you a pretending "kiss" back. Do not get yourself involved in a pretentious unity. Do not reply to an ecumenical kiss with a kiss.
We are able to reject an approach that seems loving only if we love the truth more than proofs of love. If you love pretentious love the ecumenicalism takes you into its deadly embrace. God allows these judases to do their work to test you if you have received the love of the truth or not.
When we find that there are in the congregation people who don't know Jesus, we pray for them that they would genuinely come to the faith. They have to experience a spiritual crisis that it could be possible.
It is not easy to anyone to confess that one is not a genuine Christian. Judas was not able to do it. However I hope that you are able to do it, if you don't know Jesus as your Lord and God. Confess it publicly that you are not a Christian. Secede from your church and be to all what you really are in your heart. Seek God that He would allow you to know His Son. When you come to know Jesus, return to the unity of the believers.
If you were born from a wrong spirit when you became a believer, your only hope is to give up your untruthful faith through the words of Jesus. If you experience that the speeches of Jesus hurt you so much that you feel that you are dying spiritually, don't be afraid. He first wants to put to death your religiousness so that He could make you alive after it. Jesus says about those who were born through a false prophet as follows: "I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am He who searches hearts and minds." Rev.2:23
Unfortunately churches have supported pretending so much that they are full of unbelievers, who are in danger of sharing the destiny of Judas. We can notice that only in few congregations it has been done as Jesus did. Jesus knew that it is not worth keeping in His flock people who have not been given Him by His Father. Therefore He didn't hesitate to speak about things that could offend some people and make them leave Him.
Many pastors have acted just the opposite to Jesus. They are careful not to offend anybody, because they want to keep in their flock almost everybody, who wants to stay there. They believe that they are able to save also them who have rejected God's testimony of Jesus. They should trust the influence of God about which the Bible speaks: "The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:47
Actually Judas was not able to deceive Jesus, but only the other apostles. When he betrayed Jesus he only deceived himself. Jesus was aware of the actions of Judas. He was not surprised at it. In the same way every Jesus' own now has to be aware of the betrayers who are acting near to him. Or - do you consider all members of the church believers? Do not be deceived by the exterior but seek the unity of the Spirit.
Recognise the ecumenical kiss. A person who pretends to be a Christian may praise you, although he actually is against you. In that way he tries to temp you to pretend. He wants from you a pretending "kiss" back. Do not get yourself involved in a pretentious unity. Do not reply to an ecumenical kiss with a kiss.
We are able to reject an approach that seems loving only if we love the truth more than proofs of love. If you love pretentious love the ecumenicalism takes you into its deadly embrace. God allows these judases to do their work to test you if you have received the love of the truth or not.
When we find that there are in the congregation people who don't know Jesus, we pray for them that they would genuinely come to the faith. They have to experience a spiritual crisis that it could be possible.
It is not easy to anyone to confess that one is not a genuine Christian. Judas was not able to do it. However I hope that you are able to do it, if you don't know Jesus as your Lord and God. Confess it publicly that you are not a Christian. Secede from your church and be to all what you really are in your heart. Seek God that He would allow you to know His Son. When you come to know Jesus, return to the unity of the believers.
If you were born from a wrong spirit when you became a believer, your only hope is to give up your untruthful faith through the words of Jesus. If you experience that the speeches of Jesus hurt you so much that you feel that you are dying spiritually, don't be afraid. He first wants to put to death your religiousness so that He could make you alive after it. Jesus says about those who were born through a false prophet as follows: "I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am He who searches hearts and minds." Rev.2:23
Unfortunately churches have supported pretending so much that they are full of unbelievers, who are in danger of sharing the destiny of Judas. We can notice that only in few congregations it has been done as Jesus did. Jesus knew that it is not worth keeping in His flock people who have not been given Him by His Father. Therefore He didn't hesitate to speak about things that could offend some people and make them leave Him.
Many pastors have acted just the opposite to Jesus. They are careful not to offend anybody, because they want to keep in their flock almost everybody, who wants to stay there. They believe that they are able to save also them who have rejected God's testimony of Jesus. They should trust the influence of God about which the Bible speaks: "The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:47
World treats believers in the same way it treated Jesus
Jesus predicted that His followers will have the same destiny as He Himself. "It is enough for the student to be like his teacher." Matth.10:25
Jesus stresses the importance of this word by saying: "Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master'. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also." John 15:20
This world persecuted Jesus the His whole life, but it reached its climax in the crucifixion. Correspondingly the believers of Jesus have always been persecuted, but in the end times we will meet greater persecution than normally corresponding to the crucifixion of Jesus. In the same way as Jesus rose from the dead also the congregation will rise up after its sufferings.
Jesus predicted this persecution by saying: "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people." Matth.24:9-11
In the same way as the Pharisees used Judas to betray Jesus the present time religious leaders use Christians walking in the spirit of Judas to betray the true believers. Jesus says: "They will betray each other". This is just what Judas did. He helped the high priests to judge Jesus "without a riot". In the same way the present time Judases will help the ecumenical world church to judge the Jesus' own.
It was not an easy task to judge Jesus, because He was such a good person. The priests had to invent false evidence against Him. Also judging the true believers needs a pretext. In the same way as Judas was the guide of the priests to find Jesus the present time Judases help the ecumenical church to recognise the true believers so that they could be arrested and judged.
The believers who have gone through their Gethsemane will stand before their judge as calm as Jesus. All glory to God for that!
Jesus predicted that His followers will have the same destiny as He Himself. "It is enough for the student to be like his teacher." Matth.10:25
Jesus stresses the importance of this word by saying: "Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master'. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also." John 15:20
This world persecuted Jesus the His whole life, but it reached its climax in the crucifixion. Correspondingly the believers of Jesus have always been persecuted, but in the end times we will meet greater persecution than normally corresponding to the crucifixion of Jesus. In the same way as Jesus rose from the dead also the congregation will rise up after its sufferings.
Jesus predicted this persecution by saying: "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people." Matth.24:9-11
In the same way as the Pharisees used Judas to betray Jesus the present time religious leaders use Christians walking in the spirit of Judas to betray the true believers. Jesus says: "They will betray each other". This is just what Judas did. He helped the high priests to judge Jesus "without a riot". In the same way the present time Judases will help the ecumenical world church to judge the Jesus' own.
It was not an easy task to judge Jesus, because He was such a good person. The priests had to invent false evidence against Him. Also judging the true believers needs a pretext. In the same way as Judas was the guide of the priests to find Jesus the present time Judases help the ecumenical church to recognise the true believers so that they could be arrested and judged.
The believers who have gone through their Gethsemane will stand before their judge as calm as Jesus. All glory to God for that!
The Bible version used in references is NIV