1/17/12

Put your best face forward; a picture of a traitor.

Two faced!!!  I have known people who are like that, but until now had never seen a picture of one!!!  The cleverness of the photographer is amazing!!!  Real life is another matter; people can deceive you.  You think you have a friend and when you discover their true nature, the pain is incredible!!!!  When you find out, the natural question that comes to mind is: How could they do that?  I wish I knew the answer to such things, but, alas, it has always been a mystery to me.  In the Bible, the preeminent traitor is Judas Iscariot and here is his unveiling...

WEB: Matthew Chapter 26
[14] Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, [15] and said, “What are you willing to give me, that I should deliver him to you?” They weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver. [16] From that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

[17] Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?”

[18] He said, "“Go into the city to a certain person, and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.”’”"

[19] The disciples did as Jesus commanded them, and they prepared the Passover. [20] Now when evening had come, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. [21] As they were eating, he said, "“Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me.”"

[22] They were exceedingly sorrowful, and each began to ask him, “It isn’t me, is it, Lord?”

[23] He answered, "“He who dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same will betray me. [24] The Son of Man goes, even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.”"

[25] Judas, who betrayed him, answered, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?”

He said to him, "“You said it.”"

Why did Judas betray Jesus?  What could possibly be going through his mind to do such a thing?  Its not that he just met him, for he was with him about three years of itinerant preaching.  It could have been the money, because the scriptures say that he would steal from the general funds the group possessed.  Perhaps it was a combination of a desire to force Jesus' hand to greatness (as Judas says in his "gospel") along with his Judas' own greed, who knows???  Whatever the motive, he should have guessed that his betrayal method was incompatible with Jesus' lifestyle and teachings!  But, Judas did what he had to do and ultimately mankind was blessed by it!!!!  Judas' own blessing was his suicide and somehow it seems appropriate, considering what he did.  Sorry, but I just don't get this man and probably never will!!!  He should have faced up to his actions, repented and moved on, but that's the trouble with two faces (wills), you just never know which face is the correct one to put forward? 

The anatomy of a backslider by Mark Copeland

http://executableoutlines.com/top/backslid.htm

Why do people fall away?  ... Gary