p. 1116 | J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH by John Norton Loughborough

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Nov 20, 1913

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH

By John Norton Loughborough

Judas — No. 2

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH

“He [Judas] finally became so penurious that he made bitter complaints because the ointment poured on the head of Jesus was expensive. He turned it over and over in his mind, and coveted the money that might have been placed in his hands to expend if the ointment had been sold. His selfishness grew stronger, until he felt that the treasury had really met with a great loss in not receiving the value of the ointment in money. He finally made open complaint of the extravagance of the expensive offering to Christ. Our Saviour rebuked him for this covetousness. This rankled in the heart of Judas until, for a small sum of money, he consented to betray his Lord.”—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. IV, page 42.

“When Judas had become annoyed at the implied rebuke of Jesus because of his covetous spirit upon the occasion of Mary’s anointing her Lord with costly ointment, he yielded to the tempter, and gave Satan easy access to his mind.”—Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. III, page 125.

“The look which Jesus cast upon Judas convinced him that the Saviour penetrated his hypocrisy and read his base, contemptible character. And in commending Mary’s action, which had been so severely condemned, Christ had rebuked Judas. Prior to this, the Saviour had never given him a direct rebuke. Now the reproof rankled in his heart. He determined to be revenged. From the Supper he went directly to the palace of the high priest, where he found the council assembled, and he offered to betray Jesus into their hands.”—Desire of Ages, trade edition, pages 666, 667.

Again we read of the occurrence at the house of Simon: “He [Judas] was stirred with resentment. His heart burned with envy that Jesus should be the recipient of an offering suitable to the monarchs of earth.”—Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. II, page 379.

“After Judas had closed the contract by which he agreed to betray his Master into the hands of those who thirsted for his life, he mingled with the other disciples as though innocent of wrong and interested in the work of preparing for the Passover.”—Id., Vol. III, page 83.

Of the working of the mind of Judas, we read still further: “If Christ could escape so many snares set to destroy him, thought Judas, he certainly would not allow himself to be taken by the scribes, the Pharisees, and the Sadducees; and he decided to put the matter to the test, and bring the crisis. He, Judas, would act his part in selling his Lord, and the priests would be cheated out of their money. If Christ really were the Son of God, the Messiah, the people for whom he had done so much in relieving them from the oppressive power of Satan, would rally and come to his assistance. Then he, Judas, would have the credit of having placed him on David’s throne. This would forever settle many minds that were now in such uncertainty. And this act would place him as first, next to Christ, in the new kingdom.”—Mrs. E. G. White, in Review and Herald, Oct. 12, 1897.

“Judas, the betrayer, was present at the sacramental service. He received from Jesus the emblems of his broken body and his spilled blood. He heard the words, ‘This do in remembrance of me.’ And sitting there in the very presence of the Lamb of God, the betrayer brooded upon his own dark purposes and cherished his sullen, revengeful thoughts.

“At the feet washing, Christ had given convincing proof that he understood the character of Judas. ‘Ye are not all clean,’ he said. These words convinced the false disciple that Christ read his secret purpose. Now Christ spoke out more plainly. As they were seated at the table, he said, looking upon his disciples, ‘I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled. He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.’

“Even now the disciples did not suspect Judas. But they saw that Christ appeared greatly troubled. A cloud settled over them all, a premonition of some dreadful calamity, the nature of which they did not understand. As they ate in silence, Jesus said, ‘Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.’ At these words amazement and consternation seized them. They could not comprehend how any one of them could deal treacherously with their divine Teacher. . . .

“They began to search their own hearts to see if one thought against their Master were harbored there. With the most painful emotions, one after another inquired, ‘Lord, is it I?’ But Judas sat silent. John in deep distress at last inquired, ‘Lord, who is it?’ And Jesus answered, ‘He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.’ The disciples had searched one another’s faces closely as they asked, ‘Lord, is it I?’ And now the silence of Judas drew all eyes to him. Amid the confusion of questions and expressions of astonishment, Judas had not heard the words of Jesus in answer to John’s question. But now, to escape the scrutiny of the disciples, he asked as they had done, ‘Master, is it I?’ Jesus solemnly replied, ‘Thou hast said.’

“In surprise and confusion at the exposure of his purpose, Judas rose hastily to leave the room. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. . . . He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.’ Night it was to the traitor as he turned away from Christ into the outer darkness.”—Desire of Ages, pages 782–784.

The Feet Washing

Of the feet washing we read: “He [Judas] was the first one whose feet were washed. . . . A change of feeling did come; the union of heart and love one for another did exist. They became meek, teachable, and loving, and would have conceded to any one the highest place. They were prepared to partake of the Last Supper with fragrant feelings of love, deep and full, for their Master and for one another.”—Mrs. E. G. White, in Review and Herald, July 5, 1898.

“It was because the disciples were erring and faulty that he washed their feet, and all but one were brought to repentance.”—Desire of Ages, page 785.

Of the betrayal we read: “Judas was himself surprised that Jesus should deliver himself into the hands of those who sought to destroy him. . . . The false disciple flattered himself, however, that Jesus had only permitted himself to be taken that he might manifest his power by delivering himself from his enemies in a miraculous manner.”—Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. III, pages 705, 706.

“From the time of his betrayal in the garden, Judas had not lost sight of the Saviour. He eagerly looked for him to surprise his enemies by appearing before them in the character of the Son of God, setting at naught all their plots and power. But when he saw him meekly submitting to their abuse, suffering himself to be tried and condemned to death, his heart smote him, and he realized the full extent of his own crime—he had sold his divine Master to shame and death. He remembered how kind and considerate Jesus had ever been to him, and his heart filled with remorse and anguish. He now despised the covetousness which Jesus had reproved, and which had tempted him to sell the Saviour for a few pieces of silver.

“Perceiving that his entreaties to spare the life of Jesus availed nothing with the high priest, he rushed from the hall in despair, crying, ‘It is too late! It is too late!’ He felt unable to live to see Jesus crucified, and, in an agony of remorse, went out and hanged himself.”—Id., pages 125, 126.

“They hurried Jesus away with loud shouts of triumph; but their noise ceased for a time when they passed a retired place, and saw at the foot of a lifeless tree the dead body of Judas, who had betrayed Christ. It was a most revolting spectacle; his weight had broken the cord by which he had hanged himself to the tree, and, in falling, his body had become horribly mangled, and was then being devoured by dogs. The mutilated remains were ordered to be buried at once, and the crowd passed on; but there was less noisy mockery, and many a pale face revealed the fearful thoughts within. Retribution seemed already to be visiting those who were guilty of the blood of Jesus.”—Id., pages 148, 149.

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