Disciple: Judas

 {Disciples} JUDAS ISCARIOT_ 

Turning away 

 
The most notorious of al the disciples – and the one universally scorned – is Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Jesus. His name appears in every list of the disciples (except in Acts 1), and it always appears last. 
The other eleven are an encouragement to us because they show how common people can be used by God, even with all their faults and failures, to do remarkable things. 
Judas, on the other hand, stands as a warning about the power of spiritual carelessness and pride, which can drag us away from loyalty to Christ. 
Judas lived in close proximity to Jesus for three years. 
He heard every teaching; he saw every miracle. 
But in all that time his heart only grew harder. 
The other disciples were being transformed, by Jesus, into passionate followers; Judas was being changed too... 

 
[Group discussion starter] Have you ever had a friend or colleague that appeared to be loyal, but in the end was a betrayer? 
Share your story with the group. What emotions still come to the surface when you remember that person? 

 
The name ‘Judas’ derived from the Hebrew name ‘Judah’ and his surname ‘Iscariot’ means “man of Kerioth” and probably points to the town of Kerioth Hezron, his home town in Judea. This means that Judas was the only one of the Twelve that didn’t come from Galilee. Judas must have been trusted and well-liked among the group, since he was in charge of carrying the money. Judas’ call to follow Jesus isn’t recorded in the Gospels. Like most Jews of that day, Judas was looking for the Messiah, and he believed that Jesus was the promised One. Judas had given his life to follow Jesus, but he never gave Jesus his heart. Instead, he sought out Jesus’ enemies with one intention... 

[Read Matthew 26:14-30] 

 
What evidence do you see in this passage that shows Judas’ treachery and hypocrisy towards Jesus? 

What evidence do you see of Jesus’ grace towards Judas? 

 

Why do you think Jesus selected Judas, in the first place, to be one of his closest followers? 

 
[Read Matthew 26:47-50] 

 
What sign did Judas use to single out Jesus, and how is that act a continuing demonstration of Judas’ deceit and betrayal? 

 
Put yourself in the garden as one of Jesus’ followers. How would you have felt as the crowd approached and what do you think your reaction would have been? 

 
[Read Matthew 27:1-10] 

 
What evidence for Judas’ sorrow for his actions do you find in this passage? 

 
Do you think his repentance was genuine? Explain. 

 
If Judas had come to you with the admission of verse 4, what would you have encouraged Judas to do? 

 
What can you say to a friend who is feeling guilty and depressed over something he/she has done? 

 
Over what issues or mistakes do people decide to kill themselves? 

 
Is that ever a good choice? Why or why not? 

 

 
*(Additional information)* Theologians have debated for over two thousand years about Judas. 
Some Christians believe that Judas was never truly a believer, that he was a hypocrite from the beginning and that his false profession of faith was finally revealed in his betrayal. They conclude that Judas was never saved. Other Christians believe that Judas was a genuine believer at the beginning but he gradually drifted away from faith, and in the end he made a deliberate act of apostacy from the Lord. He denied Christ and in the process renounced his faith. So, in their minds, Judas was a genuine believer who rejected God’s grace and ultimately was lost. 

Which of these views seems most consistent with the biblical evidence to you?