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BRAVER THAN LIONS
Sam Stringer
Nov 16, 2024
"I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled,
‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.' Now I tell you before it comes, that when it
does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I
send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” When Jesus had said these things,
He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me."
John 13:18-21
Wonderful words were spoken by Jesus at the evening of the Last Supper. The disciples gathered around in what
would be the last moments of intimacy between them and Jesus before the cross; He would go on after Judas left
to speak of the coming Holy Spirit. Meaningful and powerful words were said to them around a table with food and
fellowship, and yet one of them would betray Christ.
Have you ever wondered if all of those words Judas was present for went in one ear and out the other? If I had to
give an educated guess, Judas wasn’t thinking about anything that was being said or done that night; he was
simply ready and waiting to betray Jesus, his mind abuzz with acting upon this betrayal.
We know from this passage that Jesus didn’t just know that He would be betrayed, but He also knew who would do
it. Notice this: Jesus didn’t treat Judas any different than the others despite knowing it was absolutely coming and
that this man was a complete fake. A fake disciple, a fake friend, a fake follower of Him. All the pleasantries he
gave, the quiet leaving of the table, just a sham. Sometimes we forget that when God calls us to treat others well,
even those who are our enemies, what we don’t foresee is His love and presence emblazoned on us as a last
memory for some relationships. There are people you will meet in this life or will say goodbye to that will be heavy
and hard, and they may strongly remember the last look on your face or your last words, and you theirs as well.
Has it ever dawned on you that while Judas was set in his heart on receiving money in exchange for betraying
Jesus that the demeanor and kindness, the patience and love of Jesus, never left his memory? I want to point out
something here: from all that we can see of Judas after betraying Jesus, giving him the kiss on the cheek to identify
Christ to the soldiers, there was never a time afterwards where peace existed for that man. Ever. Forever. He would
become remorseful for taking the money and betraying “innocent blood” and would cast it back at the feet of the
Pharisees (Matt. 27:3-4). Not long after he would go and hang himself (27:5). The field where he hanged himself
would be purchased with the silver pieces of betrayal, and Judas’ body would burst open from the hanging (Acts
1:18). No pretty ending whatsoever.
In Mark 14:21, Jesus even goes so far as to say, "The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe
to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born."
I’m sure it’s debated, but I’m going to state my own conclusion here: Judas went to Hell. For Jesus to make that
proclamation, I’d suggest to you that no one who goes to Heaven has a story that could be said, “It would be better
that they had not been born.” It’s always better no matter what the life story is to end up in Heaven. So I draw this
eternal conclusion with you: Judas, from the time of his betrayal, would never experience peace again for the rest
of his existence into eternity.
We do not want the kindness and calmness of Christ to be burned into our memories coupled with the haunting
awareness that we rejected Him. Friends, let me give you just a piece of advice today: the bravery you are called to
have in loving others and pointing them to the Gospel of Christ is going to bless them or haunt them like an echo
into eternity. We do not want anyone to be haunted by their rejection of the grace of God, but I solemnly state that
there will be many who will be haunted, and many who will be blessed, by the faith of those who were
placed in their lives. Perhaps you are that person for someone today.
How long is this mortal life? For most, if they are healthy, 70, 80, maybe 90 years, some longer. How
long is eternity? Forever. Remember that when you live for Jesus amongst your peers. Temporary
rejection by sinners in a fallen world is nothing in comparison to an infinite separation from God in Hell
forever. We’re all eternal and we’re only here in this mortal world for a moment. Live for Him, for the time
is short.
Be brave and be blessed.
Sam Stringer
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.
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