By Jon Beaty

Many Seventh-day Adventist Christians feel frustrated by division in the church. We argue over our differences in ways that must make Jesus and angels weep as they look on. Deep down, we ask: How can we stay faithful to truth and still get along? The answer comes from an uncomfortable place—the story of Judas Iscariot, the other disciple Jesus loved.

The Betrayer No One Expected

At the Last Supper, Jesus knew His time had come. He had loved His own “to the end” (John 13:1, NKJV). The disciples reclined at the table. One leaned on Jesus’ chest—the disciple John, “whom Jesus loved.” When Jesus announced that one of them would betray Him, the group looked around in shock. Peter motioned for John to ask who it was. John asked. Jesus quietly revealed the identify of His betrayer as He dipped a piece of bread and handed it to Judas Iscariot (John 13:21-30). Even then, only John saw what was happening.

No one else at the table guessed Judas was the betrayer. They thought he was leaving to buy supplies for the feast or to help the poor. Jesus had kept His concern for Judas so private that even the other disciples could not see any difference in how He treated him. That quiet, selfless love is a lesson for us today.

Lessons from Judas

There are at least three valuable lessons we can learn from Judas’ story. First, we must avoid the mistakes he made. Second, if we slip into those same mistakes, our salvation depends on honest repentance. Third—and this one makes us pause—our salvation depends on loving the “Judases” in our own lives the way Jesus loved Judas.

Judas had every chance to receive Jesus’ greatest blessings. He was chosen as one of the twelve. He preached, healed the sick, and cast out demons. The other disciples respected him. Yet he stole from the ministry money bag. He followed Jesus because it was profitable for the moment, not because he wanted eternal life. When Jesus gave the hard teaching in John 6—“I am the living bread… Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life” v. 51, 54)—many followers left. Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (v. 68). But Jesus added, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” He was speaking of Judas, but no one knew it was him (v. 70-71).

Two Paths at the Same Table

Peter and Judas sat at the same table, but they walked two different paths. Peter followed Jesus because he believed Jesus had the words of eternal life. Judas followed because it paid off right then. Jesus kept Judas close anyway. Why? Because a church without its “Judases” is a church where Satan has already finished his work. Jesus’ remedy for division is simple: Keep the difficult people close and love them anyway.

Judas had already made a deal with the chief priests to betray Jesus before the Last Supper. Yet Jesus washed Judas’s dirty feet, just as He washed the feet of every other disciple. He offered Judas the dipped bread with the same hands that had fed thousands. Even knowing the betrayal was coming, Jesus loved Judas to the end.

Loving Like Jesus Loved Judas

Jesus’ example challenges us. If someone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar (1 John 4:20-21). We cannot claim to love the unseen God while treating a church member with coldness. As Seventh-day Adventists, we treasure our biblical doctrines and the spiritual gift of prophecy. They reveal Jesus’ character. But doctrines and spiritual gifts only bless us when we also bear the fruit of the Spirit: love for our brothers and sisters expressed in the way Jesus loved Judas.

Think about the “Judas” in your life—the person who criticizes, complains, or seems to pull the church apart. Have you washed that person’s feet? Have you loved him or her enough to keep the concern private, just as Jesus did? Jesus did not treat Judas differently in front of the others. Can the church see that we treat every member with the same servant love?

Ellen White’s Clear Call

Ellen White spoke strongly about this very problem. She wrote: “You need more of Jesus and less of self. Think no evil, talk no evil of anyone. Keep your lips as with a bridle… It would be a deplorable thing if everyone were of the same mind… the Lord does not treat us as we treat one another.” She urged, “May the Lord help you all to repent and confess, and let the love of Jesus pervade your hearts. Jealousy is all ready to spring into existence at the least provocation… War against these unenviable traits of character, and not against one another” (11MR 263.2).

If we read our daily devotions and walk away from Sabbath sermons feeling proud of our own rightness and annoyed at others, we have not spent enough personal time at the foot of the cross. The goal of our daily devotions and Sabbath services must be to become overwhelmed with Jesus’ love for me and His love for others, and to think less of myself. We can’t depend on others to lead us there. This only happens as we grow in our understanding of what Jesus did for us at Calvary and we see our own need for repentance and forgiveness.

Eating His Flesh, Drinking His Blood

The only way to love like Jesus is to accept His invitation from John 6. Eating His flesh means feasting on His Word until it becomes our mind. Drinking His blood means receiving His life as a full substitute for our own selfish life. This is righteousness by faith. It is how we are saved from sin.

When we do this, division loses its power. We stop elbowing the person next to us and saying, “He’s talking about you.” Instead, we pray that the Judases in our lives will one day live in the room next to us in God’s eternal kingdom. If the room next door seems to close, we need more of Jesus and less of self.

Will You Choose Love Today?

If division in the church disturbs you, here is Jesus’ solution. The next time a brother or sister complains about someone, ask two questions: Can you convince me this person is worse than Judas? If not, have you washed that person’s feet? Have you loved him or her the way Jesus loved Judas?

The next time you feel pretty good about yourself and your walk with Jesus, think of Judas. Jesus loved him enough to serve him, knowing the betrayal would come. Jesus loves you the same way. He commands us to love each other the same way.

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:44-45 NKJV)

Let us repent of sharp words and cold hearts. Let us feast daily on Jesus’ Word and receive His life. When we do, His church will show the world what it means to be one in Christ. The love of Jesus will pervade our hearts, and we will finally experience the unity He prayed for.

Will you accept His invitation today? Eat His flesh. Drink His blood. Love the Judases in your life. Your eternal life—and the unity of Jesus’ church—depend on it.