Benedict Arnold and Judas Iscariot

By Darrien DeFederico

Personal betrayal is universally recognized as shameful and cowardly. However, despite how much treason is despised, sometimes the promise of personal gain or glory can overwhelm one's sense of societal obligation. Benedict Arnold, trusted with West Point in New York during the American Revolution, secretly planned to give it over to the British before his plot was discovered. It is believed he chose to defect because he felt unappreciated by the Continental Army, and was in financial distress. Sometimes when one has nothing left to lose, they will try anything to better themselves. Even though many of us do not work for the government, we are no strangers to betrayal and treason. For some of us, it may be the reason why a friendship or intimate relationship ended.

Holy Wednesday (sometimes called Spy Wednesday) commemorates the Bargain of Judas as a clandestine spy among the disciples. On the Wednesday before his death, Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the Leper (Matthew 26:6-13). As he sat at the supper table with his disciples, a woman named Mary anointed Jesus' head and feet with a costly oil of spikenard. The disciples were indignant, asking why the oil was not instead sold and the money given to the poor. But Judas Iscariot wanted to keep the money for himself. Then Judas went to the Sanhedrin and offered to deliver Jesus to them in exchange for money (Matthew 26:14-16). From this moment on, Judas sought an opportunity to betray Jesus.

Being two thousand years displaced from the events in Scripture, we know the ending of Judas' story. He went through with his betrayal, and sold Jesus over for judgment. However, Jesus knew Judas planned to betray him, and went through with it anyway. Jesus did this in order to go through with his undeserved punishment, in order to ransom us from our sins.

The Gospels do not reveal why Judas chose to betray Jesus. The only hint we have comes from the Gospel of John, (John 12:5-6), which indicates that Judas was a greedy person. It is little more complicated though, as Matthew 27:5 indicates that Judas felt some type of remorse for selling out Jesus, and sought to return the money. As a result, it is likely Judas did not only betray Jesus for money. Regardless of his reason, the reason he got to a point where he was willing to betray Jesus was because of his personal sin.

Hebrews 12:15, mirroring the same warning in Deuteronomy 29:18, warns us of a root of bitterness that is able to spring up in our souls and defile us. The story of Judas, while tragic, is a reminder that any of us can be corrupted by the deceitfulness of sin. This Wednesday as we reflect on the events leading up to Easter, let us make sure we are keeping our hearts and motives pure before God. Let us lay aside hatred, greed, pride, and any other sinful ambition that we have. Today, let us emulate the command found in 1 Peter 1:16: "you shall be holy, for I am holy."

Prayer

Lord, there have been times where we have betrayed you and others with our sinful lifestyles. Please forgive us, and help us to live faithfully for Jesus. Give us a new heart, and constantly renew our desires. Amen.