Thursday | 03 September 2026
Judas’ reservations and offences, concerning the words and actions of Jesus, were the indication that he was becoming a betrayer. The antecedents of betrayal were apparent in his response to the anointing of Jesus by Mary and the wife of Simon the leper. Judas was contrary when Mary anointed Christ’s feet with very costly oil of spikenard. He was then indignant when Simon the leper’s wife anointed Christ’s head with oil of spikenard for His burial, criticising her sharply. Mar 14:3-5. Mark recorded that, following this incident, Judas ‘went to the chief priests to betray [Jesus] to them’. Mar 14:10.
Luke recorded that, at this time, Satan entered Judas. Luk 22:3. We could say that he was now oppressed by Satan. This was distinct from the next step of polarisation that happened to Judas at the last Passover meal. John recounted that, at this meal, after Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, He dipped the bread into the sop and gave it to Judas. ‘Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him.’ Joh 13:27. When Satan entered Judas at this time, Judas was now possessed by Satan. He was no longer in the confusion of his infirmity. He was a murderer who was set on Christ’s destruction. He belonged to Satan who was a murderer from the beginning. Joh 8:44.
The progressive polarisation of Judas by the ministry of the word, reflected the process of polarisation described by the Lord through the prophet Isaiah. We note that Judas’ unbelief (1) progressed to offence (2), then betrayal (3), oppression (4) and possession (5). Warning those who refused to receive the word with repentance and faith, Isaiah declared, ‘But the word of the LORD was to them, “Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little,” that they might go (1) and fall backward (2), and be broken (3) and snared (4) and caught (5).’ Isa 28:13.
Further Study:
Isaiah 28
References:
Mar 14:3-5
And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, ‘Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.’ And they criticised her sharply.
Mar 14:10
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them.
Luk 22:3
Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.
Joh 13:27
Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What you do, do quickly.’
Joh 8:44
You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
Isa 28:13
But, the word of the LORD was to them, ‘Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little,’ that they might go and fall backward, and be broken and snared and caught.