But [then] satan entered into Judas, called Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve [apostles]. (Luke 22:3)
On the evening before His crucifixion, Jesus met with His disciples in Jerusalem to eat the Passover meal. According to John’s gospel account, “satan entered” Judas during the meal (13:27). Luke, however, recorded that “satan entered Judas” prior to the Passover meal (22:1-7). Is this a contradiction?
The truth is, satan easily could have entered Judas more than once, just as evil spirits and demons entered people in the past multiple times.
The Old Testament reveals that King Saul was overcome with an “evil spirit” at various times throughout his reign. After Samuel anointed David to be the future king of Israel, “But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him.” (1 Samuel 16:14).
Then, following David’s battle with Goliath, “an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he raved in the midst of the house” (1 Samuel 18:10, NASB).
Also, “whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would depart from him” (1 Samuel 16:23, NASB).
If an evil spirit could “come upon Saul” and “depart from him” at various times throughout his reign, and if, as Jesus indicated in the first century, unclean spirits or demons could go in and out of someone (Luke 11:24-26), then it is logical to conclude that satan could have “entered” and “departed” from Judas on more than one occasion.
In fact, that is exactly what happened. Prior to John’s mention of satan entering Judas, he noted how the devil had “already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him [Jesus]” (John 13:2). Luke explained how, prior to the Passover meal, Judas met with Jesus’ enemies and made an agreement with them to betray Jesus at some secluded location (22:1-7). Later, during the Passover meal, “satan entered Judas” again (John 13:27).
There is no contradiction here, just accounts of two different occasions when satan entered Judas.
satan himself entered into Judas
I believe the threat was too great and the end result too critical for satan to entrust this job to anyone else. He determined that he personally would make sure that this man, Jesus, was killed once and for all. Little did he know that by killing Jesus, he would bring to spiritual life hundreds and thousands, eventually millions, of men and women just like Jesus.
But Peter followed at a distance (Luke 22:54)
There are some that walk with Jesus and then there are those that follow Jesus at a distance. I am not talking about physical closeness. Some were very close to Jesus physically but their hearts were far away from Him. (Matthew 15:8)
Have you heard of the saying, “So close and yet so far” You could be sitting right in church and yet be far away from the Lord of the Church.
Like Peter there are many Christians that are following Jesus but from a distance. They have not renounced Jesus. It’s just that they are not enthusiastic and excited about following Him.
It’s our choice, to closely walk with Jesus or following Him at a distance. However, scripture urges to draw near to God and not distance ourselves from Him. (James 4:8)
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