Presence or Position: Social issue Leader – Judas. Part 10

A social issue leader is one who is spoiling for a fight, ready to support an uprising; this type of leader is looking to work alongside someone who is willing to lead the battle, but once things change, he or she switches allegiance, and a Biblical example is Judas Iscariot. And yes, you guessed right, one of Jesus’s disciple’s. Judas Iscariot’s initial plan was to tag along with Jesus, since he thought Jesus Christ came to take over rule from the Roman Empire. In a sense, Judas was right with his thought, because Jesus did come to take over, and not take sides. And when he realised and heard Jesus was going to die and be the saviour of the world, and not overthrow the Roman Empire, he freaked out, and started to plan an exit strategy, hence the betrayal. The Bible clearly tells us, Judas’s hands were in the bag; “Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.” Read John 12:6 (NKJV). My point being, Judas had other motives for following after Jesus Christ’s ministry.

Judas Iscariot was a socio- economic and political activist, who felt he could ride on the wave or momentum Jesus’s ministry created. This was a perfect opportunity for Judas’s motive to come to the fore by siding with Jesus, whilst never truly believing in the Messiah. Reading the bread of life account in the Bible in John 6:41, the people felt Jesus’s message was too hard for them, and they started to depart or distance themselves from him, because they knew His background and upbringing and where He came from, so they were offended at what He said in verse 48, “I am the bread of life.” And the Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?” Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you; and the Bible says, therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it.”? Watch this, Judas was hearing all these things Jesus said; and I believe that got Judas thinking again. “For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe Him, and who would betray Him.” Read John 6:64-65 (NKJV). Clearly, Jesus was never deceived about the intentions of Judas, He was well aware, and quite frankly I think, unperturbed about Judas’s motives.

Beloved, a social issue leader’s motive is always about what they can achieve for themselves riding on the momentum of others; and when it does not seem to be going according to how they planned things out, they bail out, and in extreme circumstances seek to destroy. The Lord has given you and I clear paths to walk on, and that is why “His word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.” Read Psalm 119:105 (NKJV). So stay on your lane, and let the Holy Spirit lead you to those whom the Lord has prepared to help you in fulfilling His call and purpose for you.

We write You read Be encouraged.