Prophetic Word 2024 - Day 23: Loving the things of this world will keep you from staying the course with Him.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.“

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Earlier (Day 21) we referenced the Passover meal Jesus shared with His disciples (Last Supper), just before His betrayal. We discussed how the disciples were confused and wondered who He was referencing when Jesus said that one of them would betray Him. Today we look at another scenario played out at that same meal.

Because of their consternation, Peter asked John to find out who Jesus was referencing.

“Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” 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.“

‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭23‬-‭30‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Yes, the person Jesus was referencing, was Judas. And, whereas Peter denied Jesus, we know that he did later return and finish well. However, this was not the case for Judas. In fact, it would seem that Judas, leaving the Passover meal, probably went straight to the priests to make good on his offer to betray Jesus. Apparently, he had found the opportunity he was looking for to complete his betrayal.

“Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.“

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

We could wonder how someone who spent so many days in close fellowship with Jesus, watching Him minister to the crowds, watching Him healing the sick, watching Him raising the dead and comforting the comfortless, could turn around and betray Him. Yet, that’s exactly what Judas did, never returning to follow Him, choosing rather to kill himself.

To perhaps get some better insight into what brought Judas to the point of betraying the Lord, let’s look at a scene that happened not long before Judas’ betrayal of Jesus:

Jesus had come back to Bethany, where Lazarus—whom He had raised from the dead—lived. Jesus was having a meal there being served by Martha. At some point, Mary did something that got mixed reviews.

“Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.“

‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

There it is! Judas objected to what Mary did, on the basis of the “waste” of something of such great value. And, as we see, John makes it clear that Judas had been embezzling from the disciples’ funds. It would appear that Judas’ offer to help betray Jesus, came very close to this scene with Mary.

Additionally, we know that things were probably already getting very tense. You see, from the point that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, the religious leaders determined that He had to die. In fact, they had even plotted to kill Lazarus!

Let me say this: Pressure won’t bring out of a person something that was not there; but it certainly will reveal something that was there “hibernating.” Like pressing of grapes, pressure will bring out into the open what was hiding inside. For Judas, it seems that Mary putting this very expensive ointment on Jesus’ feet, was sort of a “last straw. Judas possibly began to suspect that he would not get out of his association with Jesus, what was most important to him: MONEY. How tragic it is that Judas betrayed the best Friend he would ever have. Yes, God-made-flesh,

 was sold out for 30 pieces of silver.

So, even though we don’t have it spelled out in the scriptures as such, we can safely glean from what we are told, that Judas was a thief, motivated by greed.

In our opening scripture, we see Jesus instructing that where we “treasure-up,” indicates where our heart is focused. For example, if you look at on what someone spends most of their time, most of their money, most of their attention, most of their life, you will know what matters most to them. And, eventually, that love of “things,” will completely overtake love for the Lord.

Consider the warning from John, concerning affection for the things the world can offer:

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.“

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Indeed, in terms of the great Apostasy proceeding the return of Jesus Christ, many will diverge from following Christ, because of their love for what the world can offer. And yes, money is right up there on the top of that list.

We do well to take inventory of ourselves to see if our “money is where our mouth is.” The profession of Christ, in one who overvalues possessions, will only hold up as long as it doesn’t touch what they treasure.

We’ll talk more about this tomorrow.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

#resolveforhim