Jesus Betrayed by Judas

(Matt. 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-52; John 18:1-11 )
47 ¶ And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.
48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?
49 ¶ When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?
50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
51 ¶ And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.
52 ¶ Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?
53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

John 18:1-11 (KJV)
18:1When 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.2And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.3Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.4Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?5They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.6As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.7Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.8Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:9That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.10Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.11Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

These two passages of scriptures are written by two different authors about the same scenario. The authors give us details as to what happened on this day.
Judas brings a group (multitude) of people to where Jesus was. How did Jesus know where Jesus was? John said Jesus had a habit of praying in the garden.
These people were the same people that were with Jesus daily in the temple. They gathered to listen to Jesus preach but apparently the words of Jesus didn’t affect them. They chose to listen but they also chose to not allow the words to change them.
They listened to Jesus speak on the mountain. Matthew 5
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Somehow the words of Jesus never caused them to bow a knee. Their hearts were hardened and they found great pleasure in seeing Jesus’ own disciple betray Him.
Judas knew Jesus was an innocent man. He couldn’t even point a finger at him in accusations. He could only kiss him. Judas was so distraught after the fact that he tried to return the money and make things right but it was too late!
Judas walked with Jesus every day. He heard all of His teachings. He heard Jesus say: Matthew 6:24 (KJV)
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (treasure or riches). But Judas was focused on the money. Judas even tried to discourage the worship of Jesus by Mary with her anointing oil.
John 12:1-8 (KJV)
12:1Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.2There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.3Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.4Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,5Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?6This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.7Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.8For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
The hard fact in the word of God is, if you choose to believe a lie God will allow you to. Judas chose unrighteousness in the very presence of Jesus! How can this be?! Except, He was focused on the wrong things. He was in it for the money! He was in it for status! However by the time he woke up it was too late.
2 Thessalonians 2
10 …because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
I know people that fought so hard for a lie, that God has given them a strong delusion. So much so that they will die for that lie. Even when we are in the presence of Jesus we need to be sure we are focused on the truth! We can’t depend on traditions! We can’t take somebody’s word for truth! Instead we need to research! We have to determine WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY! Look up scriptures! Pray and search the Word to know the truth! It is very important that we hear the truth and be obedient to the truth!
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
James 1:22 (KJV)
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Judas died lost because of his choices. We have choices. We can choose spiritual life or spiritual death. Spiritual life takes effort. Spiritual death requires nothing.

Judas kissed Jesus and ran away into the night. Those that were with Jesus were horrified at what they had seen. Peter stood up and fought for Jesus, cutting off the ear of the soldier! But Jesus picked the ear up and put it back on the soldiers head.
Can you imagine how the soldier felt when that happened. He had come to arrest Jesus but got an instant miracle. I would like to think his life was changed forever!
That night Jesus was arrested. It was the beginning of the end!