Schemes of Satan-17

Sorry for last week as we had to bring my aging mother-in-law to VA. This is the second to the last study on the schemes of Satan, as next week should be the last. We will then study the contradictions, confusion, and challenges in the gospels as they pertain to Jesus last few days before the cross.

John 13:21  When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me." 13:22  The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking. 

The first challenge is that none of the disciples suspected any other disciple, but were concerned that it might be them! This is clearer in Mark.

Mark 14:18  As they were reclining at the table and eating, Jesus said, "Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me—one who is eating with Me." 14:19  They began to be grieved and to say to Him one by one, "Surely not I?" 

13:23  There was reclining on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 13:24  So Simon Peter *gestured to him, and *said to him, "Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking." 13:25  He, leaning back thus on Jesus' bosom, *said to Him, "Lord, who is it?" 

Neither Peter or John had a clue. What does this mean? First, Satan’s slaves, much like their evil master, are very good at deception. Even those who had been together with Jesus did not know who He was talking about.

13:26  Jesus then *answered, "That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him." So when He had dipped the morsel, He *took and *gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 

Jesus gave a very clear sign, yet even then they did not seem to know.

13:27  After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus *said to him, "What you do, do quickly." 13:28  Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him. 

This was far too important for Satan to delegate it to one of his thousands of demons or evil spirits. Also, the other disciples still could not bring themselves to think ill of Judas.

13:29  For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, "Buy the things we have need of for the feast"; or else, that he should give something to the poor. 13:30  So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night. 

They even fashioned their own denial of the truth, much like many churchgoers who can’t come to the reality that their shepherd is a false shepherd.

Satan picked Judas. Satan inspired Judas to strike a deal with the ‘Jews’, and then he entered Judas to make sure it was down right.

We only see Satan taking on a person three times in Scriptures. Once when he attacked Job. Once when he tempted Jesus and now with Judas. You could say that Satan leaves nothing to chance.

Our final study on this next Saturday.