the desire of ages-第125章

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A　little　before　the　Passover；　Judas　had　renewed　his　contract　with　the　priests　to　deliver　Jesus　into　their　hands。　Then　it　was　arranged　that　the　Saviour　should　be　taken　at　one　of　His　resorts　for　meditation　and　prayer。　Since　the　feast　at　the　house　of　Simon；　Judas　had　had　opportunity　to　reflect　upon　the　deed　which　he　had　covenanted　to　perform；　but　his　purpose　was　unchanged。　For　thirty　pieces　of　silverthe　price　of　a　slavehe　sold　the　Lord　of　glory　to　ignominy　and　death。

Judas　had　naturally　a　strong　love　for　money；　but　he　had　not　always　been　corrupt　enough　to　do　such　a　deed　as　this。　He　had　fostered　the　evil　spirit　of　avarice　until　it　had　become　the　ruling　motive　of　his　life。　The　love　of　mammon　overbalanced　his　love　for　Christ。　Through　becoming　the　slave　of　one　vice　he　gave　himself　to　Satan；　to　be　driven　to　any　lengths　in　sin。

Judas　had　joined　the　disciples　when　multitudes　were　following　Christ。　The　Saviour's　teaching　moved　their　hearts　as　they　hung　entranced　upon　His　words；　spoken　in　the　synagogue；　by　the　seaside；　upon　the　mount。

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Judas　saw　the　sick；　the　lame；　the　blind；　flock　to　Jesus　from　the　towns　and　cities。　He　saw　the　dying　laid　at　His　feet。　He　witnessed　the　Saviour's　mighty　works　in　healing　the　sick；　casting　out　devils；　and　raising　the　dead。　He　felt　in　his　own　person　the　evidence　of　Christ's　power。　He　recognized　the　teaching　of　Christ　as　superior　to　all　that　he　had　ever　heard。　He　loved　the　Great　Teacher；　and　desired　to　be　with　Him。　He　felt　a　desire　to　be　changed　in　character　and　life；　and　he　hoped　to　experience　this　through　connecting　himself　with　Jesus。　The　Saviour　did　not　repulse　Judas。　He　gave　him　a　place　among　the　twelve。　He　trusted　him　to　do　the　work　of　an　evangelist。　He　endowed　him　with　power　to　heal　the　sick　and　to　cast　out　devils。　But　Judas　did　not　come　to　the　point　of　surrendering　himself　fully　to　Christ。　He　did　not　give　up　his　worldly　ambition　or　his　love　of　money。　While　he　accepted　the　position　of　a　minister　of　Christ；　he　did　not　bring　himself　under　the　divine　molding。　He　felt　that　he　could　retain　his　own　judgment　and　opinions；　and　he　cultivated　a　disposition　to　criticize　and　accuse。

Judas　was　highly　regarded　by　the　disciples；　and　had　great　influence　over　them。　He　himself　had　a　high　opinion　of　his　own　qualifications；　and　looked　upon　his　brethren　as　greatly　inferior　to　him　in　judgment　and　ability。　They　did　not　see　their　opportunities；　he　thought；　and　take　advantage　of　circumstances。　The　church　would　never　prosper　with　such　shortsighted　men　as　leaders。　Peter　was　impetuous；　he　would　move　without　consideration。　John；　who　was　treasuring　up　the　truths　that　fell　from　Christ's　lips；　was　looked　upon　by　Judas　as　a　poor　financier。　Matthew；　whose　training　had　taught　him　accuracy　in　all　things；　was　very　particular　in　regard　to　honesty；　and　he　was　ever　contemplating　the　words　of　Christ；　and　became　so　absorbed　in　them　that；　as　Judas　thought；　he　could　not　be　trusted　to　do　sharp；　far…seeing　business。　Thus　Judas　summed　up　all　the　disciples；　and　flattered　himself　that　the　church　would　often　be　brought　into　perplexity　and　embarrassment　if　it　were　not　for　his　ability　as　a　manager。　Judas　regarded　himself　as　the　capable　one；　who　could　not　be　overreached。　In　his　own　estimation　he　was　an　honor　to　the　cause；　and　as　such　he　always　represented　himself。

Judas　was　blinded　to　his　own　weakness　of　character；　and　Christ　placed　him　where　he　would　have　an　opportunity　to　see　and　correct　this。　As　treasurer　for　the　disciples；　he　was　called　upon　to　provide　for　the　needs　of　the　little　company；　and　to　relieve　the　necessities　of　the　poor。　When　in　the　Passover　chamber　Jesus　said　to　him；　〃That　thou　doest；　do　quickly〃　（John　13：27）；　the　disciples　thought　He　had　bidden　him

718

buy　what　was　needed　for　the　feast；　or　give　something　to　the　poor。　In　ministering　to　others；　Judas　might　have　developed　an　unselfish　spirit。　But　while　listening　daily　to　the　lessons　of　Christ　and　witnessing　His　unselfish　life；　Judas　indulged　his　covetous　disposition。　The　small　sums　that　came　into　his　hands　were　a　continual　temptation。　Often　when　he　did　a　little　service　for　Christ；　or　devoted　time　to　religious　purposes；　he　paid　himself　out　of　this　meager　fund。　In　his　own　eyes　these　pretexts　served　to　excuse　his　action；　but　in　God's　sight　he　was　a　thief。

Christ's　oft…repeated　statement　that　His　kingdom　was　not　of　this　world　offended　Judas。　He　had　marked　out　a　line　upon　which　he　expected　Christ　to　work。　He　had　planned　that　John　the　Baptist　should　be　delivered　from　prison。　But　lo；　John　was　left　to　be　beheaded。　And　Jesus；　instead　of　asserting　His　royal　right　and　avenging　the　death　of　John；　retired　with　His　disciples　into　a　country　place。　Judas　wanted　more　aggressive　warfare。　He　thought　that　if　Jesus　would　not　prevent　the　disciples　from　carrying　out　their　schemes；　the　work　would　be　more　successful。　He　marked　the　increasing　enmity　of　the　Jewish　leaders；　and　saw　their　challenge　unheeded　when　they　demanded　from　Christ　a　sign　from　heaven。　His　heart　was　open　to　unbelief；　and　the　enemy　supplied　thoughts　of　questioning　and　rebellion。　Why　did　Jesus　dwell　so　much　upon　that　which　was　discouraging？　Why　did　He　predict　trial　and　persecution　for　Himself　and　for　His　disciples？　The　prospect　of　having　a　high　place　in　the　new　kingdom　had　led　Judas　to　espouse　the　cause　of　Christ。　Were　his　hopes　to　be　disappointed？　Judas　had　not　decided　that　Jesus　was　not　the　Son　of　God；　but　he　was　questioning；　and　seeking　to　find　some　explanation　of　His　mighty　works。

Notwithstanding　the　Saviour's　own　teaching；　Judas　was　continually　advancing　the　idea　that　Christ　would　reign　as　king　in　Jerusalem。　At　the　feeding　of　the　five　thousand　he　tried　to　bring　this　about。　On　this　occasion　Judas　assisted　in　distributing　the　food　to　the　hungry　multitude。　He　had　an　opportunity　to　see　the　benefit　which　it　was　in　his　power　to　impart　to　others。　He　felt　the　satisfaction　that　always　comes　in　service　to　God。　He　helped　to　bring　the　sick　and　suffering　from　among　the　multitude　to　Christ。　He　saw　what　relief；　what　joy　and　gladness；　come　to　human　hearts　through　the　healing　power　of　the　Restorer。　He　might　have　comprehended　the　methods　of　Christ。　But　he　was　blinded　by　his　own　selfish　desires。　Judas　was　first　to　take　advantage　of　the　enthusiasm　excited　by　the　miracle　of　the　loaves。　It　was　he　who　set　on　foot　the

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project　to　take　Christ　by　force　and　make　Him　king。　His　hopes　were　high。　His　disappointment　was　bitter。

Christ's　discourse　in　the　synagogue　concerning　the　bread　of　life　was　the　turning　point　in　the　history　of　Judas。　He　heard　the　words；　〃Except　ye　eat　the　flesh　of　the　Son　of　man；　and　drink　His　blood；　ye　have　no　life　in　you。〃　John　6：53。　He　saw　that　Christ　was　offering　spiritual　rather　than　worldly　good。　He　regarded　himself　as　farsighted；　and　thought　he　could　see　that　Jesus　would　have　no　honor；　and　that　He　could　bestow　no　high　position　upon　His　followers。　He　determined　not　to　unite　himself　so　closely　to　Christ　but　that　he　could　draw　away。　He　would　watch。　And　he　did　watch。

From　that　time　he　expressed　doubts　that　confused　the　disciples。　He　introduced　controversies　and　misleading　sentiments；　repeating　the　arguments　urged　by　the　scribes　and　Pharisees　against　the　claims　of　Christ。　All　the　little　and　large　troubles　and　crosses；　the　difficulties　and　the　apparent　hindrances　to　the　advancement　of　the　gospel；　Judas　interpreted　as　evidences　against　its　truthfulness。　He　would　introduce　texts　of　Scripture　that　had　no　connection　with　the　truths　Christ　was　presenting。　These　texts；　separated　from　their　connection；　perplexed　the　disciples；　and　increased　the　discouragement　that　was　constantly　pressing　upon　them。　Yet　all　this　was　done　by　Judas　in　such　a　way　as　to　make　it　appear　that　he　was　conscientious。　And　while　the　disciples　were　searching　for　evidence　to　confirm　the　words　of　the　Great　Teacher；　Judas　would　lead　them　almost　imperceptibly　on　another　track。　Thus　in　a　very　religious；　and　apparently　wise；　way　he　was　presenting　matters　in　a　different　light　from　that　in　which　Jesus　had　given　them；　and　attaching　to　His　words　a　meaning　that　He　had　not　conveyed。　His　suggestions　were　constantly　exciting　an　ambitious　desire　for　temporal　preferment；　and　thus　turning　the　disciples　from　the　important　things　they　should　have　considered。　The　dissension　as　to　which　of　them　should　be　greatest　was　generally　excited　by　Judas。

When　Jesus　presented　to　the　rich　young　ruler　the　condition　of　discipleship；　Judas　was　displeased。　He　thought　that　a　mistake　had　been　made。　If　such　men　as　this　ruler　could　be　connected　with　the　believers；　they　would　help　sustain　Christ's　cause。　If　Judas　were　only　received　as　a　counselor；　he　thought；　he　could　suggest　many　plans　for　the　advantage　of　the　little　church。　His　principles　and　methods　would　differ　somewhat　from　Christ's；　but　in　these　things　he　thought　himself　wiser　than　Christ。

720


In　all　that　Christ　said　to　His　disciples；　there　was　something　with　which；　in　heart；　Judas　disagreed。　Under　his　influence　the　leaven　of　disaffection　was　fast　doing　its　work。　The　disciples　did　not　see　the　real　agency　in　all　this；　but　Jesus　saw　that　Satan　was　communicating　his　attributes　to　Judas；　and　thus　opening　up　a　channel　through　which　to　influence　the　other　disciples。　This；　a　year　before　the　betrayal；　Christ　declared。　〃Have　not　I　chosen　you　twelve；〃　He　said；　〃and　one　of　you　is　a　devil？〃　John　6：70。

Yet　Judas　made　no　open　opposition；　nor　seemed　to　question　the　Saviour's　lessons。　He　made　no　outward　murmur　until　the　time　of　the　feast　in　Simon's　house。　When　Mary　anointed　the　Saviour's　feet；　Judas　manifested　his　covetous　disposition。　At　the　reproof　from　Jesus　his　very　spirit　seemed　turned　to　gall。　Wounded　pride　and　desire　for　revenge　broke　down　the　barriers；　and　the　greed　so　long　indulged　held　him　in　control。　This　will　be　the　experience　of　everyone　who　persists　in　tampering　with　sin。　The　elements　of　depravity　that　are　not　resisted　and　overcome；　respond　to　Satan's　temptation；　and　the　soul　is　led　captive　at　his　will。

But　Judas　was　not　yet　wholly　hardened。　Even　after　he　had　twice　pledged　himself　to　betray　the　Saviour；　there　was　opportunity　for　repentance。　At　the　Passover　supper　Jesus　proved　His　divinity　by　revealing　the　traitor's　purpose。　He　tenderly　included　Judas　in　the　ministry　to　the　disciples。　But　the　last　appeal　of　love　was　unheeded。　Then　the　case　of　Judas　was　decided；　and　the　feet　that　Jesus　had　washed　went　forth　to　the　betrayer's　work。

Judas　reasoned　that　if　Jesus　was　to　be　crucified；　the　event　must　come　to　pass。　His　own　act　in　betraying　the　Saviour　would　not　change　the　result。　If　Jesus　was　not　to　die；　it　would　only　force　Him　to　deliver　Himself。　At　all　events；　Judas　would　gain　something　by　his　treachery。　He　counted　that　he　had　made　a　sharp　bargain　in　betraying　his　Lord。

Judas　did　not；　however；　believe　that　Christ　would　permit　Himself　to　be　arrested。　In　betraying　Him；　it　was　his　purpose　to　teach　Him　a　lesson。　He　intended　to　play　a　part　that　would　make　the　Saviour　careful　thenceforth　to　treat　him　with　due　respect。　But　Judas　knew　not　that　he　was　giving　Christ　up　to　death。　How　often；　as　the　Saviour　taught　in　parables；　the　scribes　and　Pharisees　had　been　carried　away　with　His　striking　illustrations！　How