June 24, 2005

Lip Service

History records the lives of many evil men and women.  Butcher Kings, Tyrant Lords, and Oppressive Dictators.  There are also ancient accounts of various other rogues, rascals and villains.  Somewhere amid these unsavory sorts is the story of a disgraceful man who betrayed his friend and master to death with a kiss.  How could anyone do such a despicable thing?  Whatever the reason, I wonder if you or I could be capable of doing the same.  Let’s take a quick look at the story.

            Two thousand years ago a group of thirteen men gathered in the upper room of a house to celebrate a ceremonial supper.  Twelve of them were disciples.  One of them was the master.  A man many called messiah.  During dinner the master announced that one of the twelve would betray him that very night.  All denied it and tried to guess who the culprit was.  But the answer wasn’t apparent. 

            Two likely candidates were the bothers James and John.  They were known as “sons of thunder”.  Surely their reputation as boisterous, quick-tempered men made them likely candidates for betrayer.  Why, not long ago, their mother approached the master and requested places of special honor for her boys.  When the messiah became king, she wanted one son to sit at his right and one at his left.  Her request was turned down.  Now perhaps the hot-tempered two were planning their revenge.

            Then there’s Peter the zealot.  Daring, outspoken, and always ready with a sword concealed in his cloak.  He’s a likely candidate for betrayer.  Oh yes, he loudly proclaims his loyalty any chance he gets, but the other disciples had seen plenty of occasions when his ego overtook his good sense.  Perhaps Peter’s impetuous personality had had enough of this talk of “loving they neighbor” and he was ready to rebel against Rome with or without his messiah’s help.  Betrayal could open the way for a more aggressive leader to step into the spotlight.

            Of course, there was always Andrew.  Though he seemed like a good-hearted man he had previously been a disciple John the Baptist—who was beheaded.  Perhaps Andrew harbored a deep resentment that his new master had taken John’s place in popularity with the people.  If Andrew betrayed him it would be a way he could get back at his new master for not even attempting to save John from the executioners axe.

And let’s not forget Matthew.  He could be the betrayer.  He had experience.  Matthew betrayed his fellow countrymen by becoming a tax collector for the Roman empire.  He sold his soul for personal gain.  Now he’s out of work.  For the past three years he’s been following a preacher around the country relying on handouts from others.  He probably grew tired of it.  Perhaps an enemy of the messiah offered to pay Matthew off.  He could live nicely off the money and return to a life of ease.  No more wandering the dusty desert roads.  Yes, Matthew could be the one.

Of all the likely choices around the table that evening, the one man apparently no one suspected was Judas.  Yet he was the betrayer.  Though we don’t know much about him, we do know he carried the common purse.  He was group treasurer.  Someone the others trusted and looked up to.  A man who pledged his allegiance to the master—and appeared sincere.

For all the things we don’t know about Judas, there is one we do.  He failed to let love in.  He never got to know the heart of his compassionate master.  He had every opportunity.  Judas spoke with him face-to-face.  He witnessed every miracle the other disciple’s saw.  The lame walked, the blind saw, the dead rose.  He tasted the bread of heaven.  Drank the wedding wine of joy.  Heard the spoken words of life.  Felt the thrill of demons silenced, storms stilled and sinners saved.  And on the night of the last supper, he experienced the same heart tug as the other disciples when his divine master knelt before him and washed his feet. 

Throughout it all, his heart remained untouched.

In his relationship to the master, Judas had proximity but not intimacy.  He looked, but had not seen.  He heard, but did not listen.  He touched, but had not felt.  He failed to let the light of love penetrate his heart.  So, for a few coins, he betrayed his Savior to his death.  With a kiss.

In one eternal moment, his professed love for God and loyalty to his master were shown for what they truly were.  Lip service.

Could it happen again today?  

Todd Chobotar
Mission development
Florida Hospital