Podcasts about Judas Iscariot

Lukedoesn't go into detail about the different aspects of the Passover lamb beingeaten, or the different cups that they drink representing certain aspects ofthe Exodus and redemption, but we know several things took place at this time.The Gospel of John tells us in John 13, before the feast of the Passover, whenJesus knew that His hour had come—remember, in verse 14 of Luke 22, alsomentions when the hour had come—"Jesus knew that this hour had comethat He should depart from this world to the Father. Having loved His own, Heloved them to the end” (John 13:1). This was an expression of the love ofthe Lord Jesus Christ to the twelve disciples, who had left all to follow Him.But who still can't seem to get along with each other, and still had so much tolearn. Jesusis going to teach them a lesson about love, humility, and forgiveness. John 13:2-10goes on to say; “Supper being ended, the devil having already put it intothe heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing thatthe Father had given all things into His hands and that He had come from Godand was going to God, rose from the supper, laid aside His garments, took atowel, and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and beganto wash the disciples' feet and wipe them with the towel with which He wasgirded. He came to Simon Peter, and Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washingmy feet?” Jesus answered, “What I'm doing you do not understand now, but you'llknow after this.” Peter said, “You're never going to wash my feet.” Jesusreplied, “If I don't wash you, you have no part with Me.” Peter responded,“Well then, wash me all over.” Jesus said, “You don't need to be washed allover; only your feet are dirty, and you're clean, but not all of you.”  Jesuslater said to the disciples, “I've given you an example that you should do asI've done to you. Blessed are you if you do these things” (John 13:17). Whatwas the Lord teaching them? The Lord was teaching them the power of love,humility, and forgiveness. Jesus knew He was going to a cross, and no matterhow these disciples acted, deny Him, fail Him, or go the wrong way, He would lovethem to the end. They were going to find cleansing and forgiveness of their dailysins through His blood. And as He forgave them, they were to forgive oneanother.  Thisis very important. Jesus didn't mean that we are supposed to have a ceremony inour churches or go home and literally wash each other's feet, wash theneighbors' feet, or other believers' feet. He's speaking of the fact that ourfeet get dirty as we walk through this world. How do they get dirty? Thingshappen with people. People say and do things that offend and hurt us. We sayand do things that hurt others. And daily and we need to ask for forgivenessand give forgiveness. Ibelieve that this is what Jesus is teaching: to get rid of our pride, be humbleand love and forgive others the way we want Him to love and forgive us. At thispoint in the supper, Jesus could have displayed His glory and could have askedthe disciples to fall at His feet and worship Him, but He didn't. He took offHis garment, put on a servant's garment, washed their feet, and said, “NowI've taught you a lesson. You don't understand it now, but you'll understand itlater” (John 13:7). Later, when Jesus went to the cross and they heard Himsay, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” they knewit was about forgiveness.  Godforgives them through Christ, and they were to love and forgive one another. Andas we do that, we keep our feet clean, and honor and glorify the Lord as we loveand forgive those who hurt us. In doing this we display Jesus' love, humility,and forgiveness to the world that desperately needs it! Itrust as you look at this upper room experience, it will transform your life asyou do what Jesus has taught us by His own example. Godbless!

A kiss becomes the ultimate betrayal in this powerful examination of Judas Iscariot's treachery against Jesus. We dive deep into Mark 14:42-65, uncovering the layers of this pivotal moment that set in motion the most important weekend in human history.Discussed in this session is the perplexing question that has troubled believers for centuries—why would Judas betray Jesus? Rather than focusing solely on theories of greed or political disappointment, we examine the deeper character flaws revealed in scripture and conclude that sometimes evil actions stem simply from evil hearts.This episode illuminates fascinating details often overlooked in this familiar story: Peter's impulsive sword attack, the mysterious naked young man who fled the scene, and the stark contrast between the disciples' bold promises and their frightened abandonment when real danger appeared. Each element adds texture and authenticity to this eyewitness account.Perhaps most revealing is the examination of Jesus' trial before the Jewish authorities—a mockery of justice that violated at least 22 of their own legal procedures. False witnesses couldn't align their testimonies, leading to growing frustration from the high priest who finally demanded a direct answer about Jesus' identity. The response would seal his fate but fulfill his divine purpose.Throughout these events, we see Jesus remained silent when falsely accused but spoke precisely when necessary to accomplish his mission. While human betrayal, fear, and injustice swirled around him, Christ maintained perfect control of his destiny.What does Mark's account of this story reveal about human nature, justice, and divine purpose? Listen now and discover how these events still speak powerfully to our world today. Then join us next time as we continue exploring Jesus' profound response to the high priest's question.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

This sermon explores the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot, emphasizing that authentic faith is revealed through obedient living, not just outward declarations or religious or religious activity.  It calls listeners to examine their hearts, abide in Christ, and build their lives on the firm foundation of His Word, assuring them that God's love and grace are greater than any sin.

Complementary Old Testament Passage:Psalm 69:22-28 Sermon Outline: The Apostles bear witness to how the Old Testament is fulfilled Why Judas office needed to be filled Qualifications of the Apostles and the finished work of Christ Family Discussion Questions: What happened to Judas Iscariot? Was Judas betrayal a surprise to God? Was was Mathias chosen to replace Judas? What was special about the 12 Apostles? Why is the way an elder is chosen different than how an Apostle was chosen? How can forgetting about the qualifications of an Apostle leave us to ignore the finished work of Christ? What does this passage teach us about the connection between Gods sovereignty and real human responsibility, choice and sin? How would you respond to a person claiming to be an Apostle? Why did there need to be 12 Apostles at Pentecost? How does the repeated naming of the Apostles show the kindness and clarity of God to His people? In other words, consider how much harder the churchs job would be if God did not name and identify the Apostles?

Luke 22:48, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" Among all the sins that defile the soul, hypocrisy is especially detestable to God. It is not merely sin--it is sin under the mask of righteousness. It is rebellion, dressed in the robes of religion. No man exemplifies this dreadful evil, more than Judas Iscariot. Judas walked with Jesus. He heard His voice, saw His miracles, and shared in His ministry. To all appearances, he was a faithful disciple--trusted enough to keep the money bag. But beneath the surface, his heart was cold, covetous, and corrupt. His outward profession, masked an inward love for self and silver. And in the end, he betrayed the Son of God--not with a sword, but with a kiss! That which should have been a sign of love and friendship, was desecrated to the vilest of purposes. What a solemn reminder that hypocrisy is often found among the religious! "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!" Matthew 23:27 The most chilling aspect of Judas' sin, is how close he was to the Savior, yet how far his heart remained. He called Him "Rabbi," kissed Him as a friend, and yet sold Him for the price of a slave. Judas kissed and killed his Lord. The kiss and the betrayal came together. Hypocrites betray Christ still in this way: they profess to love Jesus, they kiss Him, they worship Him with their lips--but their hearts are far from Him. Jesus' question pierces like a dagger! "Are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" The betrayal was not done in hatred, but in false affection. This is the essence of hypocrisy--using the appearance of devotion, to cover up sin. Many a man has kissed Jesus, and then gone to Hell. Let

Trump and WW3: The Options   1) Trump knew nothing of Ukraine's attack on Russian strategic forces. This means that Trump does not control the Executive Branch. 2) Trump knew of the attack and blessed it.  Both options advance WW3. Free Speech: The Purpose of Free Speech is to Preach the Gospel. The Jews fundamentallly oppose "free speech" because they oppose the Gospel: “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood.” Acts 5:28 The Third Temple: Jesus Christ Himself is the Third Temple. Christians siding with the Jews are no better than Judas Iscariot. Fritz Berggren, PhD www.bloodandfaith.com  

Are you running after Judas? It's an unsettling question, but it's one we must ask ourselves. Judas Iscariot pursued money, influence, and his own agenda, yet his story ended in tragic destruction. In Philippians 3, Paul contrasts this path of earthly ambition with the eternal prize of following Christ. He writes with tears in his eyes, warning us that pursuing the wrong things leads to condemnation, shame, and eternal separation from God. In this episode, Stephen Davey explores Paul's heartfelt plea for believers to examine their direction in life. Are we captivated by fleeting pleasures, worldly possessions, or human accolades? Or are we running with endurance toward Jesus, the only source of eternal joy and fulfillment? Stephen unpacks the Apostle Paul's vivid descriptions of the unbelieving world, highlighting the stark differences between those who chase after the temporal and those who strive for the eternal. This message is a call to stop running in the wrong direction. It's an invitation to leave behind the empty pursuits of this world and run toward Jesus, who offers forgiveness, purpose, and everlasting life. Tune in to recalibrate your focus and rediscover the joy of walking with Christ.

Are you running after Judas? It's an unsettling question, but it's one we must ask ourselves. Judas Iscariot pursued money, influence, and his own agenda, yet his story ended in tragic destruction. In Philippians 3, Paul contrasts this path of earthly ambition with the eternal prize of following Christ. He writes with tears in his eyes, warning us that pursuing the wrong things leads to condemnation, shame, and eternal separation from God. In this episode, Stephen Davey explores Paul's heartfelt plea for believers to examine their direction in life. Are we captivated by fleeting pleasures, worldly possessions, or human accolades? Or are we running with endurance toward Jesus, the only source of eternal joy and fulfillment? Stephen unpacks the Apostle Paul's vivid descriptions of the unbelieving world, highlighting the stark differences between those who chase after the temporal and those who strive for the eternal. This message is a call to stop running in the wrong direction. It's an invitation to leave behind the empty pursuits of this world and run toward Jesus, who offers forgiveness, purpose, and everlasting life. Tune in to recalibrate your focus and rediscover the joy of walking with Christ.

There has only ever been one Judas Iscariot—someone who walked alongside God in the flesh, only to betray Him to His death. Yet, the lessons from Judas' life and where he went astray are deeply relevant to all of us. This powerful message by Ed Buch led many to the altar in repentance during our Sunday morning service. We pray the Holy Spirit will use it to search your heart as well, exposing any areas where your devotion to Jesus may be wanting.   Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Join us in this episode with our special guest, Anthony Rocco, as he dives into the life of Judas Iscariot, exploring the dangers of living behind a mask of deception and the spiritual lessons it teaches. Anthony challenges listeners to shed their figurative masks and embrace authenticity in their faith journey. Whether passing by in daily interactions or engaging deeply in church, the message underscores the need for genuine connection and truthfulness before God. Through the lens of Judas's life, discover the contrast between earthly intentions and divine purpose, and how secrecy can be a foothold for the enemy. Anthony invites you to reflect on your own life, encouraging a transformative journey towards honesty and openness, where there's no need for performance or pretension.

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Monday morning, the 2nd of June, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Book of Micah 6:8:”He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?“ Then we go to the Book of Isaiah 1:17: ”Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.” If we look at Genesis 5:27, we see that Methuselah lived on this earth for 969 years. That's a long life but Jesus, He lived on this earth, the Son of God, only for 33 years and then He died. He rose again on the third day, on the Sunday. So, what am I saying? I believe the Lord is saying to you and me this morning, it's not about how long you want to try and live on this earth but rather how you spend your days here on earth, which really counts. It's obedience that the Lord Jesus wants.You know God used Moses to divide an ocean. God used a young shepherd boy of maybe 13 or 14 years old to kill a giant who stood about 7, 8 foot tall. God used Gideon to defeat a mighty army with just 300 men.Oh, but it's not how long you live, it's what you do with the life that God's given you and me. Matthew 26:13 - a woman came in and washed Jesus' feet, and dried His feet with her hair after having anointed Him with oil, and the disciples were not impressed. In fact, Judas Iscariot, the thief said, ”We could have given that money to the poor.” But Jesus said that what this woman has done will be a memorial to her for the whole world to see. So she used what she had for the Lord and I want to tell you to this day, what that woman did is known throughout the Christian world. So it's not how big you do it, it's about how well you do it and it's about using your time wisely.Today, just do what He tells you to do and you'll be surprised how He will use you.Jesus bless you and goodbye.

Those Who Believe See Jesus For Who He Is John 14:22-23 22Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” 23Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

Judas was being called to repent, but sadly he kept hardening his heart and moving toward unrepentance. Let us NOT do the same!

Hosts Pastor Vincent Fernandez and Pastor Lloyd Pulley Question Timestamps: John, NJ (2:22) - Why did God give Cain a mark when Adam and Eve were the only other humans on the planet? Zackary, NJ (5:21) - If God loves you, why did God give you a disability? Jason, SC (9:10) - Hebrews 10:26 says those that sin deliberately don't have a share in heaven, but don't we all sin deliberately? Do you believe in "once saved, always saved?" Is it possible to have your name blotted out of the Book of Life? Colton, NJ (18:43) - Is there a certain time that God will show me my purpose? Do I need to get rid of my anxiety first? Barbara, TN (24:40) - The Lord gave me a message to change out the music part of the church service with prayer. What do you think of that? Should music be playing during prayer? Karl, NH (33:30) - What does it mean to "abide in Christ?" Joseph, NY (37:42) - Based on Matthew 24, we know the temple was destroyed, but what about Jesus's second coming and the Rapture? Erich, VA (46:21) - Does Jesus have a soul? Is his soul the Holy Spirit? Susan, CA (50:00) - Where is Judas Iscariot now? Gigi, Facebook (52:12) - Am I right to be cautious about the teacher Shade Stone? Ask Your Question: 888-712-7434 Answers@bbtlive.org

Presented by Lauren Stibgen We know we are to renew our minds daily! How can we focus on being ambassadors of Jesus? What happens when we are overcome and fail to be the best representatives of Jesus? Let's look at two examples of this. One ends in despair, and the other ends with beautiful redemption and an even deeper commitment to being an ambassador for Jesus. Temptation is around every corner in this world. It was back in the time of Jesus, and it is today. We got a sneak peek into the heart of Judas yesterday with his rebuke of Mary in the anointing of Jesus feet. We also know Judas betrayed Jesus. In Matthew 26:14-16 we see Judas's greed take over. Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over (Matthew 26:14-16). In the end, after Jesus' death, we know Judas is grieved and tries to return the money! When he cannot, he ends up taking his own life. He had betrayed Jesus! But we also see the other side of this in the story of Peter's denial in Luke 22:54-62. Not only did Jesus predict Peter would deny knowing him, we see how grieved Peter is when he realizes this! The rooster crows three times, Peter sees the Lord, remembers the Lord's words, and weeps bitterly. Peter's heart was grieved. One can consider he had a repentant heart. When Peter meets the resurrected Jesus on the shores, we see Jesus question him in John 21:17. Do you love me? He does this three times. And then Jesus commands him to feed my sheep. Your role as an ambassador will not be easy. Temptations will come and sometimes it will be easier to deny Jesus than it will be to boldly speak of your faith. If you do end up like Judas (hopefully not) or Peter, your repentance and return to Jesus are critical to your future kingdom work as an ambassador for Jesus! Jesus sees your heart; he knows and feels your repentance.

Backsliding is destructive.Preached May 25, 2025Pastor Aaron Frasier

Presented by Lauren Stibgen One of the ways we can show up as ambassadors for Jesus at work is in the sacrifices we make for others. This can show up in different ways. Maybe it is a financial sacrifice or perhaps it is the sacrifice of time or even placing yourself aside to shine the light on someone other than yourself. All of this can feel costly! And most of the actions we will take as ambassadors of Jesus in this world will be counter to what the culture of this world tells us we should do. In John 12:1-8, we see a costly and counter sacrifice. Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it (John 12:1-6). In the remaining verses we see Jesus rebuke Judas and tell him to leave her alone for he would not always be with them. In this time, her sacrifice was costly. What about today? If you are a leader with a budget and times are tight with the company, how will this impact pay increases and rewards for your people? Would you be willing to forgo an increase, so your team can be properly rewarded for their hard work? This would be counter to what culture tells you to do. Perhaps your team had a big win for the company. In a meeting, the CEO praises you very specifically for this win. Rather than accepting all this praise, how are you shining the light back to the contributions of your team? Perhaps it is as simple as time, which also can be costly. Are you seeing a colleague struggle with a project? Perhaps you offer to help them. Maybe the cost is defending your faith at work. In a way, we see Mary representing her faith in Jesus with the costly sacrifice of this anointing. She did what was counter to the culture. Is someone making fun of people who believe in Jesus? It may feel costly to speak up, but it is one way you can be an ambassador for the kingdom you serve.

The introduction of Acts ends with a surprising scene. In the wake of Christ's ascension, intriguing attention is given to the apostles returning to Jerusalem, praying as they wait for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and seeking to replace Judas Iscariot—the apostate apostle. This peculiar passage appears obscure to many. How does it connect with Christ's ascension? How does it relate to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit? What significance does it have in the book of Acts? Why does it take up so much space and form the conclusion to its introduction? This sermon seeks to unfold these and related observations in this important passage to show that the ascended Christ is reigning from above.

Judas Iscariot is an Archtype, not an anomaly. Christians must lead the fight against the devil's children. Fritz Berggren, PhD www.bloodandfaith.com www.x.com/bloodandfaith  

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every single day. And a big shout-out today to Jeffrey Brewer from Festus, MO. William, thank you for being a part of this movement through Project23. You are making a difference. This one's for you. Today, we're looking at Mark 3:13-19: And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. — Mark 3:13-19 Jesus went up a mountain, away from the crowds, and called a group of disciples to himself. Not to witness his miracles—but to be with him. That's where all true Christian mission begins: with presence, not performance. After all, Christian mission has Christ in the name. Jesus calls them in before he sends them out. Don't miss that basis. Before they ever preached a sermon or cast out a demon. Before they healed. Before they traveled. Before they led. Before they were sent. Jesus called them in to be with him. It's easy to miss that in a world that celebrates productivity. We often think God is most pleased when we're doing something for him. But Jesus modeled that relationship with him always comes before responsibility for him. We must experience his transformation from within to accomplish his duty without. Jesus's mission always starts with this: sit with him—then step out for him. Our mission is rooted in presence, not performance. It's about being formed by the one we follow—not just doing ministry in his name, or worse, doing it in our own strength and slapping his name on top. For example, consider the men mentioned in this text today. They were ordinary disciples, like you and me. There was nothing extraordinary about them. Except for the fact that they had been with Jesus and he empowered them to extraordinary things because of him. They were not impressive men. Not one of them. But they did extraordinary things. Take John Mark, for example. There was nothing extraordinary about him. He bailed on Paul, and then Paul refused to take him on another mission trip. In this Gospel, he writes down the story of Jesus told by Peter, who was very impulsive and even denied Jesus. Today, we hold an extraordinary book in our hands because men like the ones listed here have been with Jesus. Today, focus more on being with Jesus than doing for him. Let that time fuel the work he wants to do with you—and through you—tomorrow. ASK THIS: How has your busyness overshadowed your time with Jesus? What keeps you from simply being with Jesus before serving? In what ways do you rely on your strength instead of his? Who are you seeking to impress—Jesus or others—and why? DO THIS: Sit quietly with Jesus for ten minutes today before doing any task for him. PRAY THIS: Lord Jesus, thank you for calling me into your presence before sending me out. Help me rest in your nearness so I can serve from your strength. Amen. PLAY THIS: Abide.

5-18-25

Matthias is chosen to replace the vacancy left by Judas Iscariot, reminding us that God continues to choose disciples today. (Lectionary #564) May 14, 2025 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com  

Sunday, 11 May 2025   Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. Matthew 10:4    “Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, the ‘also having betrayed Him'” (CG).   In the previous verse, the list of the twelve named apostles continued with six names. The final two are mentioned next, beginning with, “Simon the Kananaios.”   The name Simon has been explained. The title that is given to him is Kananaios, sometimes translated as a Canaanite. At other times, it is translated as a Zealot or some other word indicating being zealous, like the word Patriot. The word is found only here and in Mark 3:18, again describing the same person. In Luke 6:15 and Acts 1:13, the same person is described with the word zélótés, to be zealous.   The reason for all the variances is that there is a dispute about where the word is derived from. One supposed root is the Hebrew word qanna, which means jealous. It is a word used six times in Exodus and Deuteronomy when referring to the Lord, speaking of His jealous nature. Some apply this root to indicate a zealous nature for the Lord.   That would make sense based on Luke's use of zélótés as a comparable meaning word. However, it is questionable if a title given only to the Lord would later be applied to people. If it were, it would be as an honorific, saying something like, “He has the Lord's jealousy guiding his life.”   However, as noted, others translate the word as Canaanite. This seems to be less preferable because he would have been a Jew, but it could be that he associated himself with the land of Canaan as being the home territory of the Jews and wanted to restore it to Jewish control. However, another word group is used in Greek to indicate Canaan. Thus, this translation is rather unlikely.   Another option is the occasional translation of this word as a Cananaean. That would mean he was from Cana of Galilee. This is not improbable. As it is a transliteration, this rendering doesn't do any harm. It simply gives an Anglicized rendering of the Greek.   Leaving the Greek directly transliterated into English avoids a mistranslation, and so that is what has been done here. Next, it says, “and Judas Iscariot.”   The name Judas is derived from the Hebrew Yehudah, meaning Judah. Judah was the fourth son of Jacob, born to Leah as recorded in Genesis 29:35.  His name means Praise. The name in Greek includes Jude, the author of the book of Jude. It is also translated as Judah in Matthew 1 and Luke 3. Each time, it is in Jesus' genealogy.   The title Iscariot is from the Greek Iskariótés. It is believed to be a transliteration from the Hebrew words ish, man, and qirya, city or town. Thus, he would be a man of the city or a man of Kerioth, a city in Israel noted four times in the Old Testament. If he were from Kerioth, he would be the only non-Galilean apostle because Kerioth was a city found in the territory of Judah. Of him, it next says, “the ‘also having betrayed Him.'”   He is introduced into Scripture with the sad epitaph attached to him. Later, using the word apóleia, meaning destruction, ruin, loss, etc., other than the antichrist, he is the only person called a son of perdition in Scripture –   “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” John 17:12   “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4   It is as if these two notorious men were born to be destroyed. Such is the nature of misusing one's freewill to work against the Lord.   Life application: The names of the apostles are recorded, some with descriptors to give further hints about their nature. From there, some of them will have various things said about them. Peter is recorded as having denied Jesus and been weak in his stand for proper doctrine, as recorded in Galatians 2.   Thomas is forever known as a doubter. He is used as an example of this quality today, such as, “Come on, man! Stop being a Doubting Thomas.” David is known as a man after God's heart. Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet. Nabal the Carmelite is known as a fool.   We will all be remembered before others and before the Lord for how we conducted our lives. What is it that you want to be remembered for? “He was a faithful Christian.” “He was a loving father.” “He was one greedy dude.” Like the designation of these apostles, we are generally summed up with a very short thought when remembered by others. What few words do you expect people will remember you by?   Lord God, we are living our lives out before others and in Your presence. How will we be remembered when we are gone? Help us to consider this and to do our best to live our lives in a manner that will honor You and reflect the positive qualities of faithful followers of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Send us a textIn this episode, Pastor Tom Brown shares on how to handle toxic church members. We realize that Jesus Himself had a toxic member, Judas Iscariot. We will always have members who will give us problems. But we need to avoid condemnation. Thoughts will come to us how could someone act this way after teaching them the Word of God for a number of years.Don't get under condemnation if there are some church members who are giving you problems and they have not changed by now. It has nothing to do with you, as you are the sower. You can't make the seed grow but it depends on the heart of the recipient how the seed grows and produces fruit. Hebrews 5:12: "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food."Pastor, remember, when people get saved and come to your church, they are babes in Christ and will need milk. Those who are new in Christ are not toxic church members, but instead they need to grow in Christ. 1 Cor. 3:1: "And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ."When you have someone who has been saved for a number of years and they are still acting carnal and like a babe in Christ, we are possibly dealing with a toxic church member. What do you do to help them? As pastors, we need to be patient with church members and give them a chance to grow in Christ. We can't cut people off if they are not contributing to the growth of the church but we need to feed them. All church members should be growing in the Lord. A toxic church member is simply a carnal church member, a worldly church member, one who is letting their flesh gain the ascendancy over their life, rather than the Holy Spirit producing fruits like love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, humility, self-control and faithfulness.  Pastor Tom Brown will share characteristics of a toxic church member, along with Scripture. The most important thing for pastors is to be patient with everyone, but make sure above all things that you as a pastor will guard the unity in your church.

Are You Willing To Follow Without Recognition Mark 3:16-19 16These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), 17James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), 18Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Luke 10:38-42 (Verse 42) Matthew 6:32-33; Matthew 6:19-21, 24 (Treasures in Heaven)This brief text underlines two main points: first, that Jesus looks to both men and women to be dedicated disciples; Second, that in our physical, societal lives our goals and priorities are more easily earthly, the heavenly goals are more difficult and ethereal. This is part of our fallen human nature and it's focus that's why the Gospels present such episodes our text where earthly practiced good duties are considered important but we should also include and make room for the spiritual and as difficult as it may be for us fallen humans, Christ's Kingdom and calling should be prioritized not only by full-time ministers, but for every believer and as I emphasized many times before, God promises to provide needed help( Matthew 6:32-33; Luke 11:3) This brief episode in Mary and Martha's (Lazarus sisters), lives demonstrates that what can distract us from our expected devotion to Christ, His calling and Kingdom are good, practical earthly things, in this case a cultural expectations for honorable women to prepare a feast for an honored rabbi; what would be wrong with this? But, this text interprets this good thing being done as a distraction(verse 40) in contrast to Mary's adoration of Jesus “... (sitting at the Lord's feet listening to what He said(His word)? While Martha was covering all the basis of societal, cultural expectations for such an event Mary seemed to not be doing her part for the honored guest and this bothered Martha. And she demanded that He command Martha to “help me”. Jesus' response to Martha is culturally counter intuitive in that society. Martha Martha… you are worried about many good things but compared to them there are more important things, summarized as only “a few or even one.” Mary has come up short for the expected societal demand, but has chosen what is better and even if the soup prepared gets cold, her taking time to worship Jesus will be accepted. This does not mean that Martha, Mary don't also have good earthly duties beyond hospitality and even more important societal responsibilities to family, careers, comfort, upward mobility, but these come also because they are not easily detectable distractions as to our calling from Christ. While we strive to not commit clear heinous sins that are obvious to all, there exist other demons behind the so-called respectable actions that take up too much of our time and energies and they then become a distraction to our relationship with God and our service to Him. Satan's temptation of Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4, Luke 4) included some good practical earthly suggestions for a fasting, starving Jesus: “Jesus turn the stones to bread, for you are physically hungry, this would be a good thing, even a good thing to do, but Jesus said No! (“It is written, humans and even Jesus, shall not live on bread alone (Luke 4:4).” It would have been a good thing but Jesus taking this road would have led to a distraction from His mission. Other stories of women ministry to Jesus make similar points: first, a sinful woman anoints Jesus feet with tears, even pouring expensive perfume on them in the supper at the Pharisee's house. Jesus becomes a display of repentance but for the Pharisee, this was a distraction from holiness and proof that Jesus may not be a true prophet. After all and possibly a waste of something very expensive. Second, possibly the same event in Mark 14:3-9 Jesus becomes was rebuked by those present as a waste of a years wages that could have been sold and given to the poor; but to Jesus it was a “beautiful thing she did to prepare for His burial,” as out of worship, their seeming reasonableness in this situation became a distraction. Judas Iscariot was one of the critics who shortly after the betrayal of Jesus (verses 10-11). Third, a similar strong reprisal in Matthew 26:6-13 Jesus' indignant audience spiritually could not see beyond their legalistic no

“That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! ‘Peace be with you,’ he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!” (John 20:19–20 NLT) If we were telling the origin story of the Christian church, this would be a compelling first scene. A handful of Jesus’ followers hiding behind closed doors, shell-shocked, confused, and too scared to show their faces in public. Suddenly the risen Jesus miraculously appears in the flesh, victorious over sin and death, confirming the truth of everything He taught and promised them. At some point, either while Jesus was in the room or after He left, the truth must have dawned on them. If the One they served is more powerful than sin and death, then (1) they had nothing to fear, and (2) the world needed to know. We see their newfound boldness and sense of purpose in the passages that follow. That’s the power of the resurrection. Armed with that power, this small group of believers changed the world. And most of them sacrificed their lives to do it. According to church tradition, Peter took the gospel to Pontus, Galatia, Bithynia, Cappadocia, and Asia. He was crucified upside down because he told his executioners that he wasn’t worthy of being crucified in the same manner as Jesus. Andrew spread the gospel through what is now Russia, Turkey, and Greece. He, too, was crucified. Thomas wasn’t present when Jesus first appeared to the disciples in John 20. And he doubted their story. But when Jesus appeared again, and Thomas saw Him, his doubts disappeared. He took the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection all the way to India. He died after being impaled by the spears of four soldiers. Philip spread the gospel in North Africa and Asia Minor. After he converted the wife of a Roman official, the official had him put to death. Matthew, the tax collector, traveled to Persia and Ethiopia to spread Jesus’ message. He was stabbed to death. Bartholomew accompanied Thomas to India and also shared the gospel in Armenia, Ethiopia, and Southern Arabia. He was crucified. James, the son of Alphaeus, shared the Good News of Christ throughout Syria. He was stoned and then clubbed to death. Simon took the gospel to Persia. He was put to death there when he refused to make a sacrifice to the sun god. Matthias was the man chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. He shared the gospel in Syria, where he was burned to death. John is believed to be the only disciple who died a natural death. He was exiled to the penal colony of Patmos. The apostle Paul traveled extensively to share the gospel. He was beheaded in Rome. The apostle John ended his Gospel with these words: “Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25 NLT). Among the “many other things” was the impact Jesus had on a small group of ordinary people. He changed their lives forever. And, in turn, they changed the world in His name. As Jesus’ followers, we’re still called to change the world—one life at a time. We have Good News to share—the best news, in fact. If we’re faithful to our calling, we can impact lives for eternity. Reflection question: In what ways would you like to be bolder in sharing your faith with others? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jesus has a massive following, so much so that when he arrived in Jerusalem people shouted his praise as he entered. The chief priests and the scribes have been rebuked by this new teacher time and again, and are actively looking for a way to murder Jesus to put an end to this growing movement. Judas Iscariot, one of the 12 chosen from among the disciples to be an apostle, decides to betray Jesus to these men. While Judas is plotting evil, Christ celebrates the Passover with the twelve. He breaks the unleavened bread and takes the cup, saying that they are his body and his blood. Finally, Christ predicts that Peter will deny him three times. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Send us a textThis week we look at Judas Iscariot. We will see who he was and why he betrayed Christ and how it is a warning to us.Main Scripture:Matthew 26:14-16Additional Scripture:John 6:60-71John 12:4-8Luke 22:3-6Zechariah 11:7-14Matthew 27:6-8Matthew 27:3-5Deuteronomy 21:22-23Luke 14:25-33

Send us a textGood morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)Youtube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comJohn 13 Jesus gathers with His twelve Apostles for a Passover meal just hours before He is arrested. He begins by washing the feet of each of the men. Peter is reluctant to allow this, but Jesus insists. Jesus teaches them that the service of others is at the center of His kingdom. Jesus then tells them that one of His own will betray Him. No one knows that He is referring to Judas Iscariot. Satan fills Judas' heart, and he flees. Jesus then explains that His time of departure and glorification has come. He tells them the most important thing they can do is to love each other. Peter insists on going with Jesus, but he is told that He is not ready and that he will deny Jesus that very night.  This is the night in which Jesus would be betrayed and arrested, and yet His focus is on teaching His disciples to care for one another. By washing their feet and later teaching them about the crucial need for love, He is demonstrating what makes His kingdom strong in the face of any trial. In our shared walk, there will be betrayers who give in to this world. There will be ignorance, like the Apostles who had no idea who would betray Jesus. There will be disappointment, like Peter's predicted denial of Jesus. God's people can remain united and strong if we sacrificially serve, deeply love, and tirelessly support one another. That is the kingdom of believers Jesus died to establish.   Great Father, we praise Your glorified Son, and we lament that He was subjected to betrayal, suffering, and death on our behalf. We know He now rules in glory because of His incredible sacrifice. It endears us to Him to see Him washing feet and teaching love in the moments before His arrest. Help us to have a spirit like His. Teach us how to serve one another so that the world may know us by our love. Like Peter, we often fall short due to a lack of understanding and pride. Forgive us and help us to grow together.    Thought Questions: -       Jesus said disciples “ought to wash one another's feet.” What should that look like in your life and relationship with Christians?  -       Judas was so crafty that no one, except Jesus, knew of his sins.  If only Jesus knows of your sins, is that enough reason to repent? -       Peter wanted to die with Jesus, but he was not yet ready. How are you developing the kind of faith that would give your life for Jesus?    

To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ TELL SOMEONE ABOUT THE MORNING MINDSET - Your personal recommendation can make an eternal difference in the lives of the people you know! STEP ONE: Go to http://YourMorningMindset.com STEP TWO: Share that page with someone you know! ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Mark 3:13–19 - [13] And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. [14] And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach [15] and have authority to cast out demons. [16] He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); [17] James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); [18] Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, [19] and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen -- Support our SPANISH TRANSLATION: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/supportSpanish -- Support our HINDI TRANSLATION: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/supportHindi -- Support our CHINESE TRANSLATION: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/supportChinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/ ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate.

Scripture: John 12:1-8 Jesus Anointed at Bethany 12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages.[b]” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you,[c] but you will not always have me.”

To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ Get a copy of the MM Companion Journal: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/journal ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:   ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen -- Support our SPANISH TRANSLATION: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/supportSpanish -- Support our HINDI TRANSLATION: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/supportHindi -- Support our CHINESE TRANSLATION: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/supportChinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/ ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate. To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ Get a copy of the MM Companion Journal: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/journal ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Mark 3:13–19 - [13] And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. [14] And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach [15] and have authority to cast out demons. [16] He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); [17] James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); [18] Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, [19] and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen -- Support our SPANISH TRANSLATION: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/supportSpanish -- Support our HINDI TRANSLATION: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/supportHindi -- Support our CHINESE TRANSLATION: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/supportChinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/ ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate.

Just like all those involved in the Easter story, we've been given the opportunity to participate with Jesus in His Kingdom. In this sermon, Pastor Allen Jackson discusses four characters involved with Jesus' trial and crucifixion who missed the invitation to a better future: the high priest Caiaphas, Pontius Pilate, Judas Iscariot, and the Roman soldiers. They all believed something else, like money, power, or status, was more important than God's invitation. We have the same choice to make. Will we be deceived by the world, or will we have the courage to answer Jesus' call on our lives?   To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world, visit this link: allenjackson.com/podcastdonate

Send us a textGood morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)Youtube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comJohn 12 Jesus and His disciples come to Bethany to dine with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Mary anoints His feet with costly perfume. Judas Iscariot grumbles about this because he is a thief and hopes to plunder money from the sale of the perfume. A large crowd gathers to see Jesus and the resurrected Lazarus. This infuriates the Jewish leaders, who plan to kill Lazarus. Jesus then enters Jerusalem, and His followers worship Him as King. Many come to Jesus, including Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. Jesus teaches them that personal sacrifice is needed to be in His kingdom. The people then hear God, from heaven, proclaim Jesus and His glory! Some follow Him, while others who believe are silenced by their fear of the Jews.  The approval of men, and fear of others, are serious tests of faith. To believe in Jesus is to follow His teachings, leaving darkness for light, no matter what anyone thinks. The world, in so many ways, tries to weaken and silence believers. Judas was weakened by greed, and he betrayed the Lord. The Pharisees were blinded by jealousy and selfishness. Though God from heaven pronounced Jesus as worthy, others feared the actions of men and would not confess Jesus as King. In all of this, there are servants like Mary, who poured her expensive oil on Jesus' feet with no concern for what anyone thought about it. Only those who believe like Mary will be saved on the last day.  Holy God, we love You and desire to grow in our service to You and Your Son. Help us to see how that must resemble Mary pouring oil on Jesus' feet. Help us to see ourselves bowed down to worship Jesus as He rides in on a colt. This world and its darkness seek to overwhelm us and make us ashamed of Jesus. Give us the strength to fight against greed and jealousy. Help us develop the courage to live out a sacrificial faith in Christ, regardless of what anyone says or does. We know “that His commandment is eternal life.” Thought Questions: -       We cannot replicate Mary pouring expensive oil on Jesus' feet. But what does it look like for you to be more like her? -       Jewish leaders rejected Jesus, while Greeks sought to speak with Him. What does that say about where faith might be found? -       Jesus had to “be lifted up” in death to save us from our sins. Might you also have to face public ridicule in following Jesus?

12:1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 12:2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. 12:4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 12:6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. 12:7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. 12:8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always. 12:9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.

JUDAS ISCARIOT … FACE OF THE BETRAYERJohn 12:5-6; John 6:66-71; Matthew 10:1-8; Luke 22:1-6; Matthew 26:14-16; John 13:27-30; Matthew 26:47-50 and finally Matthew 27:1-7. It has always amazed me that Judas Iscariot followed when others deserted Christ. And though he heard every message that Jesus preached and saw every miracle —he did not believe in Jesus as the Son of God who could forgive sins. There is much that we can learn from the one who betrayed Christ.

“And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:17 NLT) The day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is known as Silent Saturday. Silent because the Bible has little to say about it, aside from a passage in Matthew 27 in which the leading priests and Pharisees ask Pilate to post guards at Jesus’ tomb to keep His disciples from stealing His body and claiming that He rose from the dead. Silent because Jesus’ lifeless corpse had been sealed in a tomb. Silent because it seemed there was nothing left to say. Death, it appeared, had gotten the final word. Think about where Jesus’ disciples were on Silent Saturday—not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well. Judas Iscariot was dead. After he learned that Jesus was going to be put to death, he tried to return the thirty pieces of silver he’d been paid to betray Him. And then, unable to live with his guilt, he hanged himself. Peter was disgraced and demoralized. After all his bold talk, he had hidden in the shadows while Jesus faced His accusers. Three times people had recognized him as one of Jesus’ disciples. And three times had Peter denied knowing Him. John was taking care of Mary, as per Jesus’ instructions on the cross. The other disciples were scattered, hiding out in their safe houses. They were dumbfounded, terrified, and wondering whether they had wasted the previous three years of their lives. Think about where the rest of the world was on Silent Saturday. The religious leaders and Roman authorities were congratulating themselves for taking care of their Jesus problem once and for all. No doubt they were looking forward to a return to normalcy. The people of Israel were looking for the next would-be messiah they could celebrate and then abandon. The world was a place with no hope. A place where sin and death still reigned supreme. A place where Jesus, His teachings, and His miracles would soon fade from memory and be lost to history. The apostle Paul wrote, “And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world” (1 Corinthians 15:17–19 NLT). If the cross was the end for Jesus, we would have no hope for reconciling with God, no hope for eternal life, and nothing to look forward to beyond our brief time in this world. And the people to be pitied on Silent Saturday are the ones who understood those implications. Silent Saturday was a dark day. And they say it’s always darkest before the dawn. Nowhere was it darker than inside Jesus’ tomb. But as the first lights appeared in the sky on Sunday morning, there was a stirring in that tomb, a rustling of grave clothes, as the promise of eternal life became a glorious reality. Reflection question: In the silence of this Saturday before Easter, what is on your heart?Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A meditation preached at Kintore College on April 15, 2025, Holy Wednesday. Matt 26, 25: One of the Twelve, the man called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you prepared to give me if I hand him over to you?' They paid him thirty silver pieces, and from that moment he looked for an opportunity to betray him. Such painful words, at an agonizing time for our Lord. He was chosen as one of the apostles. One for who he had dreams. The most painful realities are not physical. It is the weight of abandonment, betrayal and rejection.Music: Michael Lee, of TorontoThumbnail: Giotto, Betrayal of Jesus, fresco in Padua, Scrovegni chapel 1304.

A Lenten Spiritual Journey with Discerning Hearts: From Ashes to Glory – Discerning Hearts Podcast Day 43: The Price of Betrayal Scripture Reading: (Jerusalem Bible) Matthew 26:14–25  One of the Twelve, the man called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you prepared to give me if I hand him over ... Read more The post Day 43: The Price of Betrayal – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Matthew 26:14-25 - One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand Him over. On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, "Where do you want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?" He said, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says, "My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with My disciples.""' The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover. When it was evening, He reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, He said, "Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray Me." Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to Him one after another, "Surely it is not I, Lord?" He said in reply, "He who has dipped his hand into the dish with Me is the one who will betray Me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born." Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?" He answered, "You have said so." Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2) There can be no altering of the faith or scripture https://www.knightsrepublic.com/single-post/there-can-be-no-altering-of-the-faith-or-scripture 3) Archbishop Vigano exposes why Pope Francis is pushing back on President Trump's immigration polices: It's all about money https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/archbishop-vigano-exposes-why-pope-francis-is-pushing/ 4) The spy mission of Judas Iscariot https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/the-spy-mission-of-judas-iscariot

Thank you for tuning in for another episode of Life's Best Medicine. This is a special Easter episode! Do you know who Judas Iscariot is? He is one of the most tragic characters in all of Scripture and literature generally. How could a person who walked with Jesus and saw his miracles turn against him and betray him in the end for a few silver coins? What can we learn from his story? For more information, please see the links below. Thank you for listening! Links: Dr. Brian Lenzkes:  Arizona Metabolic Health: https://arizonametabolichealth.com/ Low Carb MD Podcast: https://www.lowcarbmd.com/ HLTH Code: HLTH Code Promo Code: METHEALTH • • HLTH Code Website: https://gethlth.com

Welcome to Day 4 of our Passion Week series. Today we reflect on Silent Wednesday, a day where the surface seems calm, but two powerful stories unfold behind the scenes: Judas' betrayal of Jesus and Mary's extravagant act of worship.In this short devotional, we explore Matthew 26 and John 12, where we contrast Judas Iscariot's betrayal for 30 pieces of silver with Mary of Bethany's costly offering. What does it mean to truly worship Jesus—even when it costs us everything? When following Jesus gets difficult, do we lean into surrender, or do we pull away in self-preservation?Join us for this reflection as we prepare our hearts during Holy Week to walk closely with Jesus on the road to the cross.

Read OnlineOne of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over. Matthew 26:14–16The desire for money can become a powerful incentive to betray our Lord. In this Gospel passage, it seems clear that Judas' betrayal was based on his desire for money. He most likely had some level of faith in our Lord, or he wouldn't have become His disciple. But even if Judas did have some level of faith, his desire for money appeared to overshadow the faith he may have had.One of the central lessons we can learn from Judas is that the desire for money is a powerful incentive for the decisions we make. So many of the great saints have taught us that the path to holiness consists, first, in a purification of all our disordered affections. And since one of the most powerful attachments that many struggle with is an attachment to money, this is an important desire to purify in all of our lives.It's true that material possessions are not evil when they are used for the fulfillment of God's will. But the desire for more, for an excess, will always cloud our ability to see clearly the will of God and live for His glory alone.Once Judas had betrayed our Lord and Jesus was arrested, recall that Judas “deeply regretted what he had done.” And during Jesus' trial, Judas went back to the chief priests and said “I have sinned in betraying innocent blood” in an apparent attempt to stop the trial. But Jesus' death was set in motion and could not be stopped. As a result, Judas returned the money and sadly went off to hang himself (See Matthew 27:3–5).The desire Judas had for money clouded his thinking. And his sin did to him what sin always does. As soon as his sin of betrayal was done, Judas saw the consequences of that choice. And the consequences grieved him deeply. He learned that choosing sin ends with an empty promise. He realized that thirty pieces of silver was not worth the value of his soul. But of course, even then Judas could have repented and received the mercy of God. But he didn't. He simply ended his life in ultimate despair. Reflect, today, upon the witness of Judas. Use him as a source of meditation and self-examination this Holy Week. What is it in your life that you desire more than our Lord? What temptation clouds your thinking and leads you to choices that you know will end in emptiness? Strive to eradicate every disordered desire within you this day and choose wisely the will of God instead. Do not let yourself continue to believe the lies that keep you from making Jesus and His holy will the one and only focus of your life. My divine Lord, You and You alone must become the focus of my life. You and You alone are of the greatest value in life. Help me to shed all earthly desires in life so that I will not fall into the temptations that lead to empty promises and so that I will embrace the true and fulfilling promises that come from You. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Giotto, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Friends of the Rosary,In today's Gospel reading (John 13:21-33, 36-38), we see Christ, the Suffering Servant of the Lord, in the Last Supper with Judas Iscariot present, when Satan entered the betrayer.Jesus, deeply troubled, announces that one of the Twelve will betray Him and that even Peter will repeatedly disown Him. (“I say to you, the cock will not crowbefore you deny me three times.”)When Judas had left, Jesus said,“Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself,and he will glorify him at once.”This passage shows the striking contrast between Judas' rejection of the light of the world and Peter's repentance, which brings forgiveness.As with the prodigal son, his filial dignity is restored, and the outpouring of the Divine Mercy turns him into the rock on which the Church of the Risen One is built.Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will. Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot | RosaryNetwork.com, New York• ⁠April 15, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

Fr. Mike points out the secrecy in Judas' life, and highlights Jesus' words of conviction to the disciples before his death on the cross. He also explains how important it is to bring Jesus into our temptation, and to not hide our hearts from him like Judas did. Today's readings are John 13-15 and Proverbs 6:6-11. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

“Then Jesus spoke to the leading priests, the captains of the Temple guard, and the elders who had come for him. ‘Am I some dangerous revolutionary,’ he asked, ‘that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me?’” (Luke 22:52 NLT) The scene in Gethsemane when Jesus was arrested is chaotic and confusing in the Gospel account. Imagine how much more chaotic and confusing it was in person. Judas Iscariot, who knew Gethsemane well because of the time he’d spent with Jesus, led the arresting party. With him was an odd mix of characters: Roman soldiers, temple guards, Jewish officials, and assorted servants. Strange bedfellows, to say the least. John 18:4 says, “Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them” (NLT). It must have been a little unsettling for Judas and his cohorts to plan Jesus’ surprise arrest, only to find that He was expecting them. That may explain why “they all drew back and fell to the ground” when He identified Himself (verse 6 NLT). By taking control of the situation, Jesus aimed to avoid a violent confrontation. But Peter didn’t get the memo. He drew his sword and took a wild swing. He missed the armed soldiers and guards but managed to cut off the ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave. Jesus healed the injured man and then helped Peter recognize who was really pulling the strings. “Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?” (Matthew 26:53–54 NLT). There’s our takeaway from this story. Despite the chaotic nature of the scene and despite the unpredictability of human nature, there was never a moment when the Lord wasn’t in control. When did Judas and his cronies show up? After Jesus had finished praying. They didn’t catch Him by surprise. They didn’t interrupt His conversation with His Father. They made their entrance when they were supposed to. They didn’t disrupt the plan that was unfolding; they were part of it. They played the roles God intended them to play. The disciples didn’t see it that way—not in that moment, at least. Matthew wrote, “At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled” (Matthew 26:56 NLT). He should know; he was one of them. Jesus was abandoned in the garden by all His closest friends—except, of course, for the one who betrayed Him. Yet, despite the optics of the situation, Jesus was still in control. And that’s important for us to remember today. Because if we face a situation that seems to be beyond the Lord’s control, we should look at it from a different perspective. Reflection question: What’s an area of your life that you need to remind yourself is under the Lord’s complete control, even though it may not appear that way? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, ‘My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.’” (Matthew 26:42 NLT) Jesus’ last stop before His arrest was the Garden of Gethsemane. The garden was located on a slope of the Mount of Olives, just across the Kidron Valley from Jerusalem. When the events of Jesus’ arrest took place, the garden was likely an olive grove surrounded by walls. Some scholars believe it was owned by a wealthy follower of Jesus who allowed Him and His disciples to use it when they were in Jerusalem. Jesus likely chose this familiar spot because He felt the enormity of what was about to happen. The sins of every person who ever lived—and every person who ever will live—were about to be placed on Him. He was about to face God’s full wrath—alone. He was about to suffer as no one had ever suffered. He needed a place to pray, to spend time with His heavenly Father before He endured His Father’s punishment. All the disciples except Judas Iscariot accompanied Him to Gethsemane (although Judas would show up soon enough). At some point, Jesus asked Peter, James, and John to go with Him to a remote part of the garden. He asked them to keep watch so that He wouldn’t be interrupted while He prayed. But even that simple request proved to be too difficult for them. Three times during His three-hour prayer session, Jesus returned to His trio of “watchers.” Three times He found them all asleep. The Bible’s description of Jesus’ prayer time makes it clear that His suffering started long before He was tortured and crucified. Hebrews 5:7 says, “While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death” (NLT). Luke 22:44 says, “He was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood” (NLT). Jesus begged His heavenly Father to take the cup of suffering from Him. He wanted to know if there was another way for God’s plan of salvation to be fulfilled. God heard Jesus’ prayers. He sent an angel to comfort and strengthen Him (see Luke 22:43). And then He said no to His Son’s request. There was no other way. Jesus was the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Him (see John 14:6). His Father’s answer was all Jesus needed. “I want your will to be done, not mine,” He said (Luke 22:42 NLT). Submitting to God’s will renewed His strength and sense of purpose. That’s why, in the chaos that followed, Jesus was the calmest person in the garden. He knew He was doing God’s will. Refreshed and ready for what lay ahead, Jesus woke His sleepy friends and went out to meet the men who had come to arrest and kill Him. But in those hours in the garden, He revealed three life-changing truths about prayer. One, talking to God gives us the strength, courage, wisdom, and comfort we need to face any situation. Two, God sometimes says no because He has something else planned for us. Three, “Your will be done” is the perfect way to end every conversation with our heavenly Father. Reflection question: What important truths about prayer do you see in the story of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, ‘As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.’” (Matthew 26:1–2 NLT) At the same time Jesus was breaking the news of His imminent death to His disciples, the leading priests and elders plotting His death were trying to work around a snag in their plans. Jesus was still popular with the Jewish people. (Their meeting was taking place only three days after Jesus’ triumphant arrival on Palm Sunday.) Complicating things even further was the fact that Passover was one of the holiest celebrations on the Jewish calendar. Executing someone many people believed to be the Messiah during Passover was a good way to start a riot. And a riot was the last thing the Jewish religious leaders wanted. Their goal was to maintain the status quo. The Romans were extremely tolerant of Jewish worship practices. Roman leaders understood that respecting the religious traditions and customs of conquered territories promoted stability in the empire. As long as things remained peaceful and orderly—and taxes were paid, of course—the Romans were content to let the Jewish priests and elders lead as they saw fit. Jesus threatened not only the status quo with Rome but also the leadership of the priests and elders. Throughout His ministry, He challenged their authority and exposed their hypocrisy. As He neared the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus became bolder in His challenges. He was forcing their hand so that they had no choice but to kill Him. Their task was made easier by the help of someone in Jesus’ inner circle. “Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests and asked, ‘How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?’ And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus” (Matthew 26:14–16 NLT). The Bible doesn’t say why Judas betrayed Jesus—only that “Satan entered into” him. What we do know is that Judas regretted his decision. When he heard that Jesus had been condemned to death, he hanged himself. The blood money he received was used to buy a potter’s field. Judas’ betrayal may seem like the ultimate surprise plot twist—the blindside that no one saw coming. But there’s one problem with that interpretation: His betrayal was prophesied centuries before it happened. David wrote, “Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me” (Psalm 41:9 NLT). The prophet Zechariah wrote, “And I said to them, ‘If you like, give me my wages, whatever I am worth; but only if you want to.’ So they counted out for my wages thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter’—this magnificent sum at which they valued me! So I took the thirty coins and threw them to the potter in the Temple of the Lord” (Zechariah 11:12–13 NLT). Everything that led to Jesus’ death on the cross was carefully orchestrated by God. It was all part of His perfect plan of salvation. And it was driven by His amazing love for us. Reflection question: Why is it sometimes hard to see God’s plan at work? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the truth about Judas Iscariot? Has he truly been misunderstood all this time? Pastor Greg Laurie makes a biblical case for just how evil Judas actually was. Notes: Focus verse - Matthew 26 Judas Iscariot was perhaps the most paradoxical and wicked man in the Bible. Was Judas Iscariot misunderstood? Satan put the idea into Judas’s mind to betray Christ.John 13:2 Judas could have resisted that temptation. Judas initiated the betrayal of Christ.Matthew 26:14–16 Judas was a pretender, an actor, a performer. Don’t let someone else’s inconsistency keep you away from following the only one who is consistent, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was the perfect example. Read Matthew 26:21–24 Even though Jesus knew what Judas was up to, He demonstrated love to Judas to the very end. Read Matthew 26:39–50 Jesus was considering the load of sin He would bear. Jesus cried out "Abba, Father,"Mark 14:36 When worry causes you to choke, cry out to God. Jesus was a model of what to do in times of uncertainty. Jesus demonstrated His divine power and gave a glimpse of His glory when the Roman soldiers came to arrest Him. Jesus was in complete control of everything.He was going to the cross as a Victor, not as a Victim. Judas ignored all the warnings that Jesus gave. The way Judas betrayed Christ was so abhorrent.Matthew 26:49 Judas was a hypocrite. Jesus reached out to Judas with love.Matthew 26:50 Jesus offered Judas one last chance to repent. Read Matthew 27:2–5 Judas did not have a friend in the world except for Jesus whom he just betrayed. Judas was remorseful.Matthew 27:3 God will not violate the will of man.He will affirm us in the decisions we make. But a true child of God will not continue to live in a pattern of sin.1 John 3:9–10 Two men failed Jesus on one night, Judas and Peter. Judas Iscariot turned away and walked into eternal remorse.Simon Peter walked into the open arms of God. --- Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.