And Judas Iscariot | Page 2

one could not study Peter without saying
that his strongest characteristic was his enthusiasm. It is helpful to
know that the Spirit of God working with one who was a giant
intellectually and with one who was profane and ignorant accomplished
practically the same results, making them both, Paul and Peter, mighty
men whose ministry has made the world richer and better in every way.
But to think of Judas is always to shudder.
There is a kindred text in this same Gospel of Mark, but the emotions it
stirs are entirely different. The second text is, "And Peter." The
crucifixion is over, the Savior is in the tomb, poor Peter, a
broken-hearted man, is wandering through the streets of the City of the
King. He is at last driven to the company of the disciples, when
suddenly there rushes in upon them the woman who had been at the
tomb, and she exclaims, "He is risen, has gone over into Galilee and
wants his disciples to meet him." This was the angel's message to her.
All the disciples must have hurried to the door that they might hasten to

see their risen Lord--all save Peter. And then came the pathetic and
thrilling text, for the woman gave the message as Jesus gave it to the
angels and they to her, "Go tell his disciples--and Peter."
But this text, "And Judas Iscariot," brings to our recollection the story
of a man who lost his opportunity to be good and great; the picture of
one who was heartless in his betrayal, for within sight of the Garden of
Gethsemane he saluted Jesus with a hypocritical kiss; the recollection
of one in whose ears to-day in eternity there must be heard the clinking
sound of the thirty pieces of silver; and the account of one who died a
horrible death, all because sin had its way with him and the grace of
God was rejected.
The scene connected with his calling is significant. Mark tells us in the
third chapter of his Gospel that when Jesus saw the man with the
withered hand and healed him, he went out by the seaside and then
upon the mountain, and there called his Apostles round about him, gave
them their commission and sent them forth to do his bidding.
In Matthew the ninth chapter and the thirty-sixth to the thirty-eighth
verses, we are told that when he saw the multitudes he was moved with
compassion, and he commissioned the twelve and sent them forth that
they might serve as shepherds to the people who appeared to be
shepherdless. "Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is
plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the
harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest." And then he
sent the twelve forth. As a matter of fact the Scriptures concerning
Judas are not so very full, but there is a good outline, and if one but
takes the points presented and allows his imagination to work in the
least, there is a story which is thrilling in its awfulness.
The four Evangelists tell us of his call, and these are practically
identical in their statement except concerning his names. Matthew and
Mark call him the Betrayer; Luke speaks of him as a Traitor, while
John calls him a Devil. The next thing we learn concerning him is his
rebuke of the woman who came to render her service to Jesus as a
proof of her affection. In John the twelfth chapter, the fourth to the
sixth verse, we read, "Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot,

Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold
for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he
cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and
bare what was put therein."
Next we hear of him bargaining with the enemies of Jesus for his
betrayal. The account is very full in Matthew, the twenty-sixth chapter
the fourteenth to the sixteenth verse. "Then one of the twelve called
Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, What
will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted
with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought
opportunity to betray him."
Then we are told of his delivering Jesus into the hands of his enemies,
in Matthew, the twenty-sixth chapter, the forty-seventh to the
forty-ninth verses: "And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the
twelve, came, and with him a great multitude, with swords and staves,
from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed
him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever