Twelve Were Chosen
A Study of the Original Apostles
Judas Iscariot
A Life Wasted
Teaching Strategy
The focus of this lesson is on how the life of Judas was wasted due to poor choices. Of special note is how Judas had every opportunity as the others to experience the spiritual growth our Lord offered. From this example of a life wasted we learn how to put our trust in the Lord and to gain forgiveness as we fail.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Know: Learn the characteristics of the apostles that enable us to influence others for Jesus.
- Feel: Value the apostles as role models in serving the Lord.
- Do: Apply the characteristics of the apostles in our life of faithful service to the Lord.
Body of the Lesson
Discussion Questions
Below are suggested questions to use during the guided discussion portion of the lesson. There are also suggested responses to questions to help students grasp the various concepts. These are provided to assist the discussion and are not considered as “right or wrong” responses.
Judas Iscariot was from the region of Kerioth, south of Judea. He did not have any obvious connections to the other apostles except for his discipleship to Jesus. As with the others, he was chosen by Jesus as an apostle. He is the last named apostle in all the listings. In the references from scripture, he is identified as dishonest, a betrayer, and greedy.
Answers will certainly vary as to why Judas chose to betray our Lord. We are not told in scripture specifically why. Some speculate he was trying to accelerate the coming of our Lord's Kingdom in a physical way. Others feel it was just greed. Regardless of the reason, Judas chose to betray our Lord, and chose to allow Satan to control him.
We learn from this that God has given us the ability to chose and we must chose to serve Him.
Scriptures tell us it was a conscious decision by Judas. Here are some of the references?
- Judas made a conscious choice to betray Jesus: Luke 22:48.
- He was a thief with greed in his heart: John 12:6.
- Jesus knew Judas' heart was set on evil and that he would not repent: John 6:70, John 17:12.
- Although Judas is not named specifically in prophecy as the betrayer, we do see that the act of betrayal was part of God's sovereign plan: Psalms 41:9, Zechariah 11:12-13, Matthew 20:18 and Matthew 26:20-25, Acts 1:16; Acts 1:20.
Matthew tells us of the manner of death following Judas' betrayal. Acts tells us what happened to the body once Judas took his life.
Judas was sorrowful for his actions but he chose instead to go to the Chief Priest for absolution from his sin. That is not repentance. Repentance is turning from ourselves and toward our Lord. Judas did not turn to our Lord for forgiveness.
We all experience remorse. Jesus even considered it a blessing when we mourn (Matthew 5:4). The "mourn" referred to here is the remorse we feel for our sins. Jesus promises forgiveness to those who return to Him and demonstrated this with Peter and the other apostles, the thief on the cross, and many others listed in scripture as He pronounced forgiveness for sins. In our remorse, we must turn to Jesus for the promise of forgiveness.
We recognize that as a faithful disciple, we focus on being and doing what the Master asks of us. Among this is to return to Him in repentance when we fail. In doing so, we will find forgiveness. The granting of forgiveness by our Lord demonstrates our humility, His love and compassion, and our acceptance of Him as Lord.