(Study Outline sourced from “The System Bible Study” – “The Book of Life” [Zondervan])
(5). Judas’ Bargain With The Sanhedrin
Ever since the creation and the fall of mankind, the devil had been seeking a way to destroy the “holy seed”, and here we see him making yet another attempt to do so. “Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot…”. Judas had never displayed any loyalty or devotion to his Lord, and was always concerned with the money that he carried for the Lord’s and the disciples’ expenses. We see an example of this in his comment at Mary and Martha’s home in Bethany when Mary anointed the feet of Jesus, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages. He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.” .
Going to the chief priests he asks – “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” , whereupon, they counted him out thirty silver coins, equivalent to 120 denarii: a labourer in those days earned 1 denarius for a days work, so Judas sold His Lord for less than a years wages in comparison to Mary’s sacrifice. Judas then “..consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them.” .
Here we see the full working of Satan as he entices an individual to sin, just as he did in the garden at the creation. First the thought enters the mind, then the desire grows, and finally the sinful act. James in his epistle speaks to this: “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”. So we see that Judas committed the greatest crime of all – that of betraying his Lord and saviour. A warning to us all – how do I betray my Lord?
Although Satan may have been looking for a way to destroy God’s holy seed, and although Judas fell for the temptation, God had control, for it was all governed by His will and plan for His Son to be crucified for the sin of mankind and to be raised again on the third day after.
(6). The Preparation For The Passover (Thursday Afternoon)
“Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.”
The Passover, as Moses introduced it, began on the 14th day of the month (Nisan). Regarding the Lamb(s) for the meal, the Israelites were instructed to “Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.” . On that same night they were to eat the Passover meal and God said that He would bring judgment upon the gods of Egypt, and it is further recorded that “At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt…” . So it is evident that the Passover actually began on the evening of the 14thday of the month, thus our Lord Jesus instructed His disciples to begin the preparation for the Passover on the day of the 14th. It is also evident that the Passover feast and the feast of Unleavened Bread were combined. Our Lord knew that this Passover feast would be the last that He would celebrate with His disciples as His “appointed time” was near; the time when He would become God’s Passover Lamb for all mankind. God the Father was putting in place all the details for the eternal sacrifice for the sins of mankind for it is also recorded that the disciples “found things just as Jesus had told them…” .
(Continued…..)