Jesus is Essential
John 13:26–30: Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.
It certainly was the midnight of Judas’ soul. It was the night that would know no morning. Judas had chosen his own place of darkness and doom. I wonder as he left the Upper Room that night whether he paused and looked longingly back at the light. I wonder if he thought about turning back. How alone he was!
How great his loss! He was now separated from the apostolic fellowship, and never again would he sit at table with the Eleven. Their acquaintance and friendship was eternally terminated. Even worse, he was separated from Christ. Never would he see the Master’s face except in terror on the future day of judgment. He was separated from peace of mind too, though his soul-anguish was only an earnest of what was to come. 1
Walking with Jesus
Your sin will keep you from Jesus and from fellowship with His disciples. What is the real cost of sin? How expensive is a broken relationship with family and friends? How expensive is a broken relationship with your Savior and Lord?
Their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; Wasting and destruction are in their paths. Isaiah 59:7
Nothing is more severe than to be eternally separated from Jesus.
Praying
Lord, please keep me from going back into the dark places of my sinful past.
1. Hughes, R. K. (1999). John: that you may believe. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
