"THE MAN FROM KERIOTH"

Well here we are again Wednesday, before we know it the holidays will be upon us. Have you taken time to notice just how beautiful the foliage has become? I for one take a good look at my surroundings daily as I give thanks. I have so much to be thankful for: my salvation, my family, my land and house that my wife and I have made into a home and I have you to pray for daily. Springtime and the Autumn of the year have always been my favorite seasons. Now our message for the day...

God's treasured possession are those faithful to Him. This fulfills the promise He made in the covenant to His people (Ex.19:5). According to (1 Peter 2:9), believers are God's treasured possession. Have you committed your life to God for safe keeping? I'm thinking about Judas Iscariot today. It is unlikely that Judas was a Moabite, because that would mean that he was a Gentile, but he may well have come from Judah, and, if he did, he must have been the only non-Galilean in the apostolic band, a fact which have been extremely significant. If Iscariot means man of kerioth Judas was the only Non-Galilean.

Jesus entered human history when the land of Palestine was controlled by Rome and considered and insignificant outpost of the vast and mighty Roman Empire. The presence of Roman soldiers in Israel gave the Jews military peace, but at the price of oppression, slavery, injustice, and immorality. Into this kind of world came the promised Messiah. We must not forget while Judas betrayed Jesus, all the disciples abandoned Him. Like all the others, Judas shared a continued misunderstanding of Jesus' mission. They were all looking for an earthly King and Ruler. They all expected Jesus to make the right political moves. As Jesus continued to refer to death, they all felt varying degrees of anger, fear, and disappointment. They had to be thinking why was I chosen to back a loser? Why did Jesus not lead a rebellion against Rome and set-up a new political government? How often do you find yourself wanting your agenda know matter the cost? I don't believe that Judas was a bad guy, he was a man of action who truly didn't hear Jesus. The problem of the Jewish authorities was how to get Jesus into their hands without a riot, for Jesus was still popular with the common people. Satan entered into Judas and he went to the Jewish authorities and bargained for the price of thirty pieces of silver to lead them to a place where they could arrest Jesus without the crowds being there.

Whatever his plan, though, at some point Judas realized he didn't like the way things were turning out. He tried to undo the evil he had done by returning the money to the priests, but it was too late. Judas led the authorities to Jesus. At passover time it was a full moon, and night would be almost as the day. But there was always a chance of confusion at this time, so Judas had arranged a signal whereby he might identify Jesus to the soldiers and to the police.

The wheels of God' sovereign plan had been set into motion. How sad that Judas ended his life in despair without ever experiencing the gift of reconciliation God could give even to him through Jesus Christ.

Last points, while most of us have certain feelings about Judas, there are some facts to consider as well. He, by his own choice, betrayed God's Son into the hands of the soldiers. He was a thief, he was a covetous man, who used his position as treasurer of the apostolic band to pilfer from the common purse. Jesus knew that Judas' life of evil would not change. Jesus also knew that Judas would betray him, Judas made the choice. God knew what that choice would be and confirmed it. Judas didn't lose his relationship with Jesus; rather, he never found Jesus in the first place. He is called " The son of Perdition" because he was never saved. Don't be like Judas. We all make and have made mistakes. Jesus Christ loves us all and will forgive all. "Commit your life to God for safe keeping".

Until next time,
Jim