Judas and Satan – Luke 22:1-6

Passover was the celebration of Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt.  Yahweh had been sending curses on Egypt to make Pharaoh release Israel, and the final one was the death of every firstborn.  God told Israel that His death angel would pass over Israel if each family sacrificed a lamb and put its blood on the doorposts of their homes.  The lamb took away the sin of the Israelites and spared them death.

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.

Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.  (Luke 22:1-6 ESV)

The only thing stopping the chief priests and scribes from killing Jesus is fear of the people.  To arrest Jesus in broad daylight when the crowds are thronging to him and love him would be disastrous for them.  But they find an ally in Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ apostles.  How could he do this?  What was his motivation?  Was it entirely monetary?  We don’t know.

What we do know is that Satan won the day in his heart.  He began listening to the Devil, who no doubt did suggest many reasons why it was best for him to turn Jesus in.  At some point it may be that Judas lost all control to Satan.  The “seed” of the serpent is getting ready to bite the heal of the seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15).  When will the serpent’s head be crushed?