March 27
Bible Reading: John 13:21-30
John 13:21-22, “After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, ’Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.’ The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke.”
An art forger made millions by painting and selling fake duplicates of expensive works of art. His forgeries looked so authentic that no one could tell they were frauds. He was finally “found out” by a forensic art detective who discovered that the forger had used a paint that was not available at the time of the painting he had forged. His paintings were near perfect but were faux representations.
Jesus broke the news regarding the imminent betrayal of one of the twelve. While it’s not surprising that Jesus knew—for He was well aware of all that was soon to happen—it is surprising that the disciples didn’t know.
Judas was a faux disciple. That was true of him, though he was a privileged recipient of unique spiritual advantages. Judas walked with Jesus. Judas saw Jesus do things that no man had ever done. He heard Him speak as no man had ever spoken. Jesus’ words worked to calm storms and raise the dead, but they did not work to move Judas’ heart. Judas associated with a unique company of God-chosen men partnered together in a glorious enterprise. Despite these special privileges, Judas was not and was never a true disciple. He spoke “disciple words” and did “disciple things.” He accompanied Jesus and the others and was with them day and night and day-after-day. They saw in him nothing that would set him apart as a phony. He was a chameleon. He blended in. He feigned interest. He mimicked what the others were doing. He serves as a reminder of the hazards associated with mere external religion. Religious profession and religious practice, no matter how impressive, are not a suitable substitute for possessing a personal relationship with Jesus (Matthew 7:21-23).
Judas’ example serves to remind us that religious profession and practice alone are no guarantee regarding a person’s salvation. A person can grow up in a Christian home, attend church, hear Christian teaching, and do Christian things. They can be baptized and even share in communion. They can do all these things and yet remain unsaved. The question is not whether a person has associated himself with Christians or heard or done Christian things. The question is, does that person possess a personal relationship with Jesus (John 1:12; 2 Corinthians 13:5; 1 John 5:11-12)? The other disciples were far from perfect. All fled at Jesus’ arrest. Peter denied Jesus three times. But they belonged to Jesus and “none of them (were) lost except the son of destruction” (John 17:12). How blessed, then, are those who know, and are known, by Jesus! For that blessed reality, there is no suitable imitation!
You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool Jesus at all! How important it is then, to be known by Him as one of His own!
JESUS LOVES EVEN ME
I am so glad that our Father in heaven
Tells of His love in the Book He has given;
Wonderful things in the Bible I see,
This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me.
Refrain:
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me;
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves even me.
Though I forget Him and wander away,
Kindly He follows wherever I stray;
Back to His dear loving arms would I flee,
When I remember that Jesus loves me. [Refrain]
O, if there’s only one song I can sing,
When in His beauty I see the great King,
This shall my song in eternity be:
O, what a wonder that Jesus loves me! [Refrain]
