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Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present. (Luke 22:1-6)

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Now begins the passion narrative proper.\xa0 The night of Jesus\u2019 last supper with his disciples is quickly approaching.\xa0

Now, the religious leaders had been attempting to win the hearts of the crowds or catch Jesus in some heresy or political offence against Rome.\xa0 But to no avail.\xa0 Jesus eluded their traps and the crowds only loved him more.\xa0 So the plot thickens.\xa0 The leaders seek to find some way to get rid of Jesus when the crowds aren\u2019t present to see it.

Jesus had just gotten done exhorting his disciples to stand firm in their faith, keep watch, and pray so that they might be able to stand before the son of man, but apparently Judas\u2019 heart was like the hard path in the parable of the sower: Satan was able to swoop in snatch that word of Jesus away before it had chance to sprout (Luke 8:12).\xa0 \xa0\xa0

\u201cSatan entered Judas\u201d says Luke.\xa0 Way back at Jesus\u2019 temptations in the wilderness, we heard that the devil left Jesus until an opportune moment.\xa0 And while those same temptations and demonic work had continually pelted Jesus all through his ministry, now the opportune moment fully arrives.\xa0 Satan shows up and finds a ready host and partner in Judas.\xa0

Whatever else we may say or think about Judas, in the very least it can be said that he was not prepared for the spiritual battle of keeping watch in prayer.\xa0 Somehow he became confused, mistaking Jesus for the enemy instead of the devil.\xa0 Jesus would have brought Judas to life.\xa0 The devil would lead him on the path of death: Jesus\u2019 death, but also his own.\xa0 The words Jesus spoke over Jerusalem at his triumphal entry come to mind: \u201cif you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace\u2014but now it is hidden from your eyes.\u201d\xa0 \xa0\xa0\xa0

Did Judas do it for the money?\xa0 Did he do it because he wanted to usurp Jesus\u2019 place of authority?\xa0 Did he do it because he was fed up with Jesus\u2019 lack of ambition in being a political Messiah?\xa0 What made his heart hard ground for the Gospel, but fruitful ground for the devil\u2019s thorns?\xa0 We never do find out.

Ultimately of course, this text invites us to look not at Judas, but at ourselves.\xa0 The fact that one of Jesus\u2019 closest followers and disciples betrayed him is an invitation to pause and reflect on the spiritual battle of our own discipleship.\xa0 Are we softening our hearts to hear and respond to the word of Jesus?\xa0 To watch and pray so that we might stand firm before him?\xa0 Or are we becoming callous, allowing the small, slow sins of pride, envy, sloth and others to give the devil a foothold?\xa0

Wherever we are: Jesus\u2019 word of grace comes to us today anew: repent and believe, he says.\xa0 Die in my death that you might live.

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