By Jon Beaty
There was nothing in Judas character that qualified him to be counted among the 12 disciples. Yet, Jesus gave Judas the same access and privileges he gave to the other 11 disciples. Anyone who knows the story of Judas knows his story has a tragic ending. However, the story of Judas is a case study on how Jesus wants His church to relate to tares among the wheat.
Last week I introduced Jesus' Parable of the Wheat and Tares from Matthew 13. The parable reveals Jesus' plan for converted and unconverted Christians to co-exist in the church. One reason this coexistence is needed is our inability to read people's motives. We cannot reliably distinguish between the converted and unconverted soul. A second reason for this is that people who are acting as Satan's agents in the church may be converted to the truth before it's too late.
Please read that article before reading this article, if you haven't already. Jesus' parable explains that the wheat and tares are not ripened until the harvest. Until we die, or until Jesus' pre-advent judgment ends shortly before his second coming, our destiny is not sealed. Each person's character traits, symbolized in the Bible as fruit, are in various stages of development. It's not until the fruit is ripe that the harvest takes place. Until then, our limited human abilities aren't able to discern the difference between the wheat and tares.
If You Love Your Neighbor, This Happens
God's desire is for all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). Converted Christians will have this same desire.
Have you ever had someone say to you “I wish someone would tell so-and-so to do such and such,” or “I wish someone would tell so-and-so not to do such-and-such.”
As the receiver of that message, what’s the best way to respond?
You could say, “Maybe it’s just me, but since you noticed it, I think you’re the best person to give that message.”
They might respond, “I couldn’t do that. So-and-so would be upset.” Or “So-and-so would be angry,” Or “They don’t listen to me,” Or, “I don’t want to hurt their feelings.”
All those things may be true. But the outcome is going to be the same no matter who delivers the message. If you love that person. I you believe the message is important. You’re the best person to deliver it. If they don’t listen to you, pray. Then try listening to them. Maybe they’ve been saying something you need to hear and understand.
Avoid That and Do This
James encouraged patience with those whose fruit is not as ripe as we think it should be:
"Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near. Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!" (James 5:7-9 NLT).
We are called to conduct ourselves in the same way Jesus did with Judas.
"The Saviour did not repulse Judas. He gave him a place among the twelve. He trusted him to do the work of an evangelist. He endowed him with power to heal the sick and to cast out devils. But Judas did not come to the point of surrendering himself fully to Christ. He did not give up his worldly ambition or his love of money. While he accepted the position of a minister of Christ, he did not bring himself under the divine molding. He felt that he could retain his own judgment and opinions, and he cultivated a disposition to criticize and accuse" (Ellen White, Desire of Ages, p. 716.4).
"[Judas] expressed doubts that confused the disciples. He introduced controversies and misleading sentiments, repeating the arguments urged by the scribes and Pharisees against the claims of Christ…He would introduce texts of Scripture that had no connection with the truths Christ was presenting. These texts, separated from their connection, perplexed the disciples, and increased the discouragement that was constantly pressing upon them" (Ellen White, Desire of Ages, p. 719.2).
It seems Judas had a toxic influence on the other disciples.
"But Judas was not yet wholly hardened. Even after he had twice pledged himself to betray the Saviour, there was opportunity for repentance. At the Passover supper Jesus proved His divinity by revealing the traitor's purpose. He tenderly included Judas in the ministry to the disciples. But the last appeal of love was unheeded. Then the case of Judas was decided, and the feet that Jesus had washed went forth to the betrayer's work" (Ellen White, Desire of Ages, p. 720.3).
Jesus patiently endured with Judas, and lovingly worked to lead him to repentance.
This Power Moves the World
Judas was tragically lost. But the gospel of Jesus still holds the power to transform tares into wheat by the power of the Holy Spirit working in their lives.
While this didn’t happen for Judas, it did happen for a Pharisee named Saul, who persecuted Christians until Jesus got ahold of his unconverted soul, changed his heart, and Saul became Paul.
Jesus' example is for us when we are sharing space with other church members who by our standards aren't living up to their potential.
The only way we can be like Jesus is if we have the mind of Jesus. The mind of Christ is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
That’s a gift we are promised to receive when we ask for it.
Ellen White reminds us, "Character is power. The silent witness of a true, unselfish, godly life carries an almost irresistible influence. By revealing in our own life the character of Christ we cooperate with Him in the work of saving souls."
She adds, "And the wider the sphere of our influence, the more good we may do. When those who profess to serve God follow Christ's example, practicing the principles of the law in their daily life; when every act bears witness that they love God supremely and their neighbor as themselves, then will the church have power to move the world" (Ellen White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 340.2).