p. 9 | T. E. BOWEN by T. E. Bowen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 26, 1906

T. E. BOWEN

By T. E. Bowen

Lessons from the Life of Judas —No. 2

T. E. BOWEN

“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. . . . 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. . . .”

“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.’ He saw that Christ was offering spiritual rather than worldly good. He regarded himself as far-sighted, 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.”—Desire of Ages, pages 718, 719.

Judas proposed to be safe. He would burn no bridges behind; for later they might be of use to him. He therefore would not incur too much displeasure of the church. He would be friendly with all. The little band might come to grief and need the friendly assistance of the rabbis.

He now began to express doubts which greatly confused the disciples. “He introduced controversies and misleading sentiments, repeating the arguments urged by the scribes and Pharisees against the claims of Christ. . . . 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. . . . 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?’ Yet Judas made no open opposition, nor seemed to question the Saviour’s lessons.”—Ibid., pages 719, 720.

“Jesus, seeing that to antagonize was but to harden, refrained from direct conflict. The narrowing selfishness of Judas’ life Christ sought to heal through contact with his own self-sacrificing love. In his teaching he unfolded principles that struck at the root of the disciple’s self-centered ambitions. Lesson after lesson was thus given, and many a time Judas realized that his character had been portrayed, and his sin pointed out; but he would not yield.”

“Jesus reproved his disciples, he warned and cautioned them; but John and Peter and their brethren did not leave him. Notwithstanding the reproofs, they chose to be with Jesus. And the Saviour did not, because of their errors, withdraw from them. He takes men as they are, with all their faults and weaknesses, and trains them for his service, if they will be disciplined and taught by him. But there was one of the twelve to whom, until very near the close of his work, Christ spoke no word of reproof.”—Education, pages 91, 92. And that disciple was Judas.

Thus step by step Judas was led on to work out the will of Satan, while professedly being a servant of Christ. All this pleased the enemy well; for well did he understand that could he get his evil insinuations, his strife and discord, into that inner circle of Christ’s trusted followers, he could perplex Jesus much, and he hoped thus ultimately to compass their ruin. And well-nigh did his scheme carry; for every disciple forsook Christ and fled when the crucial test came upon them. Had it not been that Christ’s faithful pleadings for them had been recorded, all would have been sifted out. “And the Lord said, Simon,

Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

“but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Luke 22: 31, 32.

Thus some of Judas’ sowing, when ripened, almost overthrew the faith of the ardent Peter and loving John in Christ as the Messiah. The culmination of doubt with Judas reached this fearful end, notwithstanding the fact that he witnessed some of the most wonderful manifestations of divine power ever seen by mortal eyes. Before him multitudes had been healed. Lepers, full of loathsome disease, were cleansed; the blind saw; the deaf heard; the dumb spoke; and the dead were restored to life. Men had before him received the forgiveness of sins, and with great joy departed from Christ with their souls flooded with heaven’s peace. Was it possible that one in the midst of all this could remain unconverted, with a heart growing more and more like steel every passing day? The unerring Word of God pictures it even thus. O, the terrible deceitfulness of sin!

Rome, N. Y.