“Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve.” Luke 22:3 ESV
Reflection: how can you know if Satan is using you for his purposes?
We have now come to Luke’s description of Jesus final suffering, death and resurrection which we will look at over the coming days. The first thing we learn about is a plot made up by the religious leaders, to get rid of, to kill Jesus. “Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.”Luke 22:1-2 ESV. Can you image the hate, the detest for God these religious leaders must have had to plot an innocent man’s death? And remember, we learned that Jesus had just told them who he was, and who they were, by quoting psalm 118. Now, in a plot, there are obviously those that are the plotters, who they are plotting against, and then often some useful bystanders. Or willing participants who may not fully understand what they are doing or part of. Let’s meet one,
Judas.
One of the twelve. Part of the plot was to avoid the crowds who loved listening to Jesus. Who flocked to him for healing the body and soul. But they couldn’t figure out how to do that since it was Passover with huge crowds of people that had come to celebrate the festival. But here we learn something very important that we cannot miss. We learn who was really behind the plot against Jesus. How? Because we see that, while it was the “chief priests and the scribes” who did the planning and wanted Jesus dead, we see in parallel what is going on with Judas. That he, at this very moment, decided to go the religious leaders, to betray Jesus. Exactly the missing piece to make the plot work. Keep in mind, the religious leaders and Judas had not talked up to this point, so who was really behind?
Satan.
It says in our focus verse “Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot,” Luke 22:3a ESV. “Then”, meaning the timing was perfect, for the purposes of Satan. To execute his plot against Jesus. And as a result, he is able to convince Judas to go to the religious leaders and betray Jesus, for a few silver coins. But let’s stop for a moment and really think about a key question here – How in the world was Satan able to “enter” Judas? By the way, the word “entered” here is used to describe entering a house, a country and even a soul as we think about a demonic “possession”. It is pretty scary to think about the way Luke describes what happened to Judas, in such a nonchalant fashion, that
Satan entered into Judas.
And basically had his way with Judas. He convinced him, somehow, to carry out actions that fit Satan’s plot, by using Judas weakness for money, and his emotional state of frustration, perhaps even anger of how things were going. Satan entered thoughts into Judas mind, aligned with this, using him as a tool.
A willing participant.
Now, even though we know the rest of the story here, we must stop and consider how easily Judas was used in this plot. And if I think about myself, I have noticed times where a negative, even dark thought seems to come “out of nowhere”, to say something or do something that is clearly not of God. And not anything I had been planning. Which means, clearly I am in a spiritual attack, taking advantage of a weak moment of mine. And thinking of how Judas was used here, who’s to say we can also be used in a larger plot by Satan.
A very somber and serious thought.
It is easy to look down at, and even scoff at Judas. He clearly fell, and was used by Satan, as a willing participant in the plot. But, we must not think too highly of ourselves here. We must humble ourselves before God, and at all times pray, as Jesus told us to do. James wrote “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 ESV.