Looks Can Be Deceiving

A few years ago, I came upon this picture:

It's from a children's devotional we read each night as a family.  The picture is an artist's illustration of the disciples.  As soon as I saw it, I chuckled immediately.

Look closely, all the disciples look like great guys.  They have bright faces, big smiles and clear complexions.  They look like your friends and buddies and just all around great guys.

Well, all except one.  Look at the photo closely.  All the disciples look like fun-loving guys except for Judas.  (I circled him so you could see it clearly.)  He looks like a shady character, with a sinister smile, an angular beard, shifty eyes and a dangerous-look about him.  In the illustration, he is clearly the odd-man-out.

I laugh because this illustration must be grossly exaggerated. If Judas really looked sinister compared to the fun-loving disciples, he would have stuck out.  Someone would have taken notice and warned the others.

No one did.

In fact, the disciples trusted Judas more than any other.  He kept the money, which is something you only give to the most trustworthy person (and even though he secretly stole from it.)  He went on the missionary journeys.  He assisted the ministry.  He was there when Jesus cast out demons, healed the sick, and performed miracles.

How trusted was he?  When he left the dinner, no one suspected him as the betrayer, though Jesus clearly indicated he was. 

Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?" Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him, but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him.  Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor.  As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. - John 13:25-30 (NIV)

No one at the meal understood why Jesus said Judas would betray him.  They thought he was heading out to buy more food for the feast.  That's how trusted Judas was among the disciples.

Certainly he didn't look sinister or evil or menacing.  He looked just the like the rest, down to what he said, how he acted and how he performed in the service of Christ.  No one suspected him, even after Jesus pointed him out.

What's the point?  Looks can be deceiving.  No one suspected Judas as the betrayer.  No one knew he stole from the money.  No one thought twice about his leaving for supper.  All of them must have been shocked when he showed up later that night in the company of soldiers to arrest their teacher.

It's a hard, but true fact.  Sometimes, Satan will use those close to you to hurt you.  He did it with Jesus and the disciples.  It's part of the spiritual battles he plays.  He knows betrayal hurts the most because it comes from someone we trust.  Gossip, cheating, lies, and divorces always leaves us wounded, reeling and spiritually low.

When that happens, remember that Jesus always tells the truth and is never taken by surprise.  No one else suspected Judas, but Jesus knew what he was about to do.  Jesus wasn't surprised.

And despite the pain of betrayal, Jesus still loved Judas, all the way to the cross.