Luke 22:1-6: a reflection

1Now the feast of unleavened bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching. 2The chief priests and the scribes sought how they might put him to death, for they feared the people. 3Satan entered into Judas, who was also called Iscariot, who was counted with the twelve. 4He went away and talked with the chief priests and captains about how he might deliver him to them. 5They were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6He consented and sought an opportunity to deliver him to them in the absence of the multitude.

Luke notes something chilling almost in passing: Satan entered into Judas, who was called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve. Of the twelve. Judas was not an outsider or an obvious enemy. He had walked with Jesus for three years, heard the teaching, seen the miracles, been trusted, been sent out to preach. And he went to the chief priests and agreed to betray Jesus for money, then began looking for an opportunity to hand him over.

Notice how close to Jesus a betraying heart can be. Judas had every outward advantage, proximity, access, the appearance of a disciple, and none of it made his heart faithful. Something else had a hold on him, and for a sum of silver he sold the one he had followed. It is a sobering reminder that nearness to Jesus, familiarity with the things of faith, a place among his people, is not the same as a heart truly given to him.

That is not said to make us paranoid but to make us honest. It is possible to be close to Jesus outwardly, to know all the right things, to be counted among his followers, and still harbor a divided heart, a loyalty to something else, a small compromise that, fed over time, could grow into betrayal. The right response is not to point at Judas but to examine ourselves: is my heart truly given to Christ, or am I close to him outwardly while something else quietly holds me? Do not presume on proximity. Give him your heart, fully, not just your place among his people.

Lord, Judas was one of the twelve, close to you outwardly, and still betrayed you. Keep me from presuming that nearness to you, or knowing the right things, means my heart is truly given to you. Search me for any divided loyalty or small compromise, and let my heart be fully yours, not just my place among your people.