Demoniac possession sounds like some type of made up idea. Yet until you meet someone who truly evil perhaps one cannot understand the power the devil is allowed on earth. The power to control certain individuals for a purpose, and to allow the plot of the enemy to destroy does not seem, like an act of God, but it was. God had kept the enemy at bay for so long a period of time. Even allowing Jesus to just walk away or go to the next town before soldiers could seize him. Jesus had done no harm but to insult the leaders a few times. Judas had watched the entire goings on and was also in charge of the moneybags of Jesus. He knew what was in that bag and how much was spent on a regular bases for food, and what were miracles and what were not. People that follow ministers of faith that have been given the gift of healing in their ministry are often hounded by those truly seeking a miracle and those there only to be a deceiver and to claim something that is not. The Bible never talks about those following Jesus actually coming to see if they could betray or trick the crowd or even Jesus, though in my heart I believe they must of existed. With Jesus ability to turn a few loaves into enough bread to feed a huge crowd, why would Jesus needed money for his group of followers? Jesus simply did not do miracles all the time. Though it appears in Luke and John to have had many miracles, it was not always the case. Jesus ministry was also about teaching and talking to the elders both religious and legal leaders of a city. He did minister to the poor as well as rich though. He brought hope of salvation through repentance to the people he taught. In Jesus’ ministry, He did meet several demoniac possessed people and even had to instruct the disciples that much pray and fasting had to be done to take care of some demons.

Judas was possessed by the devil, and not by choice. Perhaps knowing the money need for the trips and travel of Jesus had deadened his heart some to the miracle and hope Jesus message brought. Maybe Judas heart was harden enough that he was easy target to be control by the enemy called Satan. What did Judas know that the others did not? What kept him at a level of unbelief with all the signs and wonders? Was Judas a literalist in nature with hearing the talk that Jesus would die that he had decided to help make this happen, not fully understanding who Jesus was. Whatever had brought Judas to a place for the devil to enter him to carry out the plan of destruction on Jesus life was all by the power of God. The Devil had permission to use Judas to betray Jesus. It matters little about anything else but that God had given permission. If God allows the devil to betray, to kill, and/or to test you rest assured it is for a purpose. This time of demoniac control is not a normal possession, but one ordained by God. The devil also has to obey God when it comes to things of God’s will. If we claim God’s will in every aspect of our life does it mean every evil befalling us is the will of God? The answer is perhaps no, for all kinds of bad things happen and I hate to think God gave the devil permission every time to do evil. I like to think the devil acted on his own in some situations by the authority already given by God to do evil upon the earth. Otherwise some evil could never be stopped by man beyond the simplest crimes or criminals.

Judas was under the control of Satan to betray Jesus, for following Jesus in general did not cause evil to arise in one heart or mind. A person is often what they listen and hear all the time in life. Men and Women in the legal system without refreshing of their minds and hearts of the things that are correct to do, because the criminal they capture, they become people hunting ways to do illegal things without being caught. The devil had his own belief system of his way and not God’s way, except when it came to things God asked him to do and then he had to obey God to do evil. Evil that devil was asked to do was to control Judas so that he would betray God’s only begotten Son name Jesus. He was going to allow the enemy a day of destruction by allowing the death of his Son. The devil had permission to try and destroy. Once the task of the person the devil was using, the person was given the ability to repent, yet they had to seek Jesus/God to do it. Judas would not seek Jesus after his betrayal for forgiveness; he only sought those he took money from, because they were a part of religious council and they plotted originally to kill Jesus. Judas despite his possession still knew not Jesus. Nor did he know Jesus’ love and forgiveness for mankind. Judas we know knew Lazarus was raised from the dead, yet he believed not the Son of Man would rise in three days. Had the journey with Christ, because of the moneybags, caused some unbelief? Had his greed caused his unbelief and ability to repent to God? Judas knew not who to go to after the error of his way was discovered. The fact is Judas’ task was ordained by God and even prophesied about in the Old Testament. Judas could not repent for he only knew what the moneybags of Jesus could buy and not the saving grace of Jesus could establish in one’s life.

One more thing to note about Judas as he dipped his bread into the wine with Jesus it was a sign of outward friendship, friendship that was only inward by companionship of time and travel. It had nothing to do with being close to Jesus. Judas laid his life down for a betrayal that He could not pick up his life again, but sought to harm himself instead. If Judas had known he could of gone to God and repented, or to Christ, yet his friend was dead, maybe he would not have killed himself. Knowing we serve a loving God and to repent is one of greatest gifts of love God gave along with His Son being the price paid for sin, that man has ever received with faith in God. Yet why does God allow the devil to do some things? This morning I had to lay my computer keyboard down and turn off the computer to sort out my thinking once again. Do not think I am exempt from anger at times when I think about what God allows even the devil to do it for His will. It means man has to suffer in someway. Man suffered at knowing the price Jesus paid for us. Yet we receive it with grateful hearts knowing because He lives we to will live. It is our choice to serve God in obedience to Him, despite our own will. That our suffering is for the benefits of those that will come to know Jesus and His forgiveness. Tall order to share what God has done for us, because of our own embarrassment of our mistakes. Our own guilt of sin even after forgiveness, but the need to share to help someone else along life road is often necessary at some point. To know the humanity of those we talk to is to know Jesus power to forgive and to love us. One does not have to be like Judas. God’s grace is sufficient when man’s grace is not.

Dear Heavenly Father help us never to be a Judas succumbing to the will of Satan power but always knowing the grace of Jesus and His forgiveness. Let us stand in your power to forgive and your love. In Jesus precious name, Amen.