John 18:1 – When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.

John 18:2 – And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.

John 18:3 – Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

John 18:4 – Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

John 18:5 – They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.

Hello readers, another blog today. I once listened to a sermon called “Who are you standing with?” I can’t really remember anything other than the title, but I know it was taken from John 18:5 when Judas “stood with them” and I think of that title whenever I read this verse. Read the verses, get the context, and just think of this scene, and Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve… not standing with Jesus who he’d been with the past few years, but standing over there with his real mates in the big group that he had let out against Jesus to arrest him. This was Judas’ big “coming out”, coming out against who he said he believed in.

And Judas “stood with them”, not with him. What a scene it is. It’s a timeless scene of betrayal. Ultimate betrayal, sealed with a kiss. Can you get more treacherous than to betray the Saviour of the world with a kiss? The Bible says in 1 Timothy 3:4 that in the last days there will be “traitors” and that’s what Judas Iscariot was… a traitor. He betrayed Jesus Christ for thirty pieces of silver.

There is an old saying “everyone has a price”. What is your price? Do you have one? Most do. Judas Iscariot’s price was thirty pieces of silver. That was his price of betrayal. What will you sell out the truth for? What will you sell out Jesus Christ for? What will you sell your soul for?

Please note, this blog is not about looking at anyone else bar ourselves. All my blogs are designed for introspection first and foremost. It’s useless applying it to everyone else’s lives except our own. Because we can all be Judas Iscariot. When Jesus told his disciples as they sat at supper that one of them would betray him, they all asked “Is it I?”. Is it me? Am I the traitor? Am I the betrayer of my only true Friend and lover of my soul?

Nobody could have even picked Judas Iscariot as the traitor. He was a trusted member of the twelve. So trusted he had the money bag, he was the treasurer. Generally that kind of job goes to someone who is thought of as having integrity. But Judas had no integrity, he had a devil… all along too. He was never right with God, it’s not like he was good all the way until he went bad. He was in the number, he fit in… but he was never truly in.

And that night when he betrayed Jesus, he enacted a plan that had been in the works for a while already. It was in his heart what to do, just he had not had opportunity yet until that night. It’s absolutely amazing what’s in our heart, just waiting for the right set of circumstances to come out. Betrayal can be in your mind and heart a long time before the right set of circumstances come.

And when you think about this, it’s a profound truth in here. Because a long time before most people commit adultery, it’s because they had already been cultivating those thoughts in their heart. Sin is conceived and can be growing a long time before it is born. And what’s in our heart can be really quite scary, because while we make the outside look never so good, at the same time our heart can be never so black. We can be the most treacherous of creatures.

Yeah sure, betrayal may not be today, but it’s already in your heart. And although betrayal was not yet, he was always a traitor right from the start. He was not what they thought he was. He was not what he looked like. He was not who he claimed to be. He was with them… but not WITH them. And that cold dark night of the grand reveal is coming when Judas Iscariot took his place not with Jesus Christ, but with those who had come out against Jesus Christ.

There were two groups that night, those with Jesus, and those against Jesus. Today, those same two groups stand across from each other. You are in one group or the other, make not mistake. And if you are not for Jesus Christ, if you are not with him, then you are against him. There is no middle ground. There is no foot in both camps.

And many people are standing against Jesus Christ, even professing Christians. Judas professed a long time… but he was always the Judas the traitor. He didn’t speak like a traitor those years, he didn’t look to them like a traitor those years.. but he was the traitor. Traitors don’t say they’re traitors… while they betray. Judas said Hail master, Judas kissed Jesus… in betrayal.

Is betrayal worth it? Jesus said it would have been better for Judas if he had not been born. That’s a pretty incredible statement, for God in the flesh to say that of someone. Because to whom much is given, much is required. More is required of Judas Iscariot, think about the opportunity he had in life to be part of Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry… out of all the humans to have been born into this world, he got to be one of the twelve.

Judas Iscariot shows you can grow up in church, you can know your Bible, you can do your religious duty and even go above and beyond with it… yet have a devil and be a traitor. Just because you are around and familiar with the Bible and truth, it doesn’t mean you’re saved. Judas knew the place it says. Judas knew, just what he knew never translated to repentance and faith. And hint: salvation doesn’t rub off on you just by being around someone who’s saved. You can be amongst saved people your whole life, and not be saved. He was around Jesus… yet full of Satan.

I talked about everyone having a price earlier, and that does worry me. What would cause me to sell out, what is my price? It’s easy to say you won’t sell out while the right price hasn’t been put before me. Satan offered Jesus what he thought would be the right price… but Jesus didn’t betray his Father. But this world is full of people with the right price. I’ve asked God that he would give me the grace to never sell him out. There is no price on priceless truth, priceless blood, priceless forgiveness and priceless salvation. I’m reminded of Esau’s price… a bowl of food. Man, his right price wasn’t too high was it.

The title of this blog was “Who are you standing with?” Are are you standing with the King James Bible or against it? Are you standing with what God’s word says or against it? Are you standing with truth or against it? Who and what are you standing with? Are you for Jesus or against him?

I’m reminded of when Moses came back to find Israel worshipping the golden calf and he asked “Who is on the Lord’s side?” Because while he was away, they had gotten deep into sin, and very quickly and enthusiastically at that. It’s amazing the struggle and grind for people to obey God… but how we don’t need to be motivated to pursue our lust. And that day some stood with Moses… but some did not. And it’s the same today.

The thing that’s staggered me with my exposure to Christians is how many of them plant the kiss on Jesus with their mouth, they call him master… while they stand over against him in issue of life. “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him,” And Jesus said “Why call ye me Lord, Lord and do not the things which I say?” May God help us all not to be a Judas Iscariot standing with those against the Lord Jesus Christ in these last days.

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