Point for Meditation: Luke 22:3 - “Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.” Stand firm against the devil, and if we resist him, he will flee from us.

Instead of going back to Bethany to stay the night after the lengthy preaching and Olivet Prophecy, Jesus probably stayed on the Mount of Olives overnight. The next day is recorded in Matthew 26:1-5, Mark 14:1-2 and 10-11, and Luke 22:1-6, where we will read what happened:

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover. ²And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people. ³Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. ⁴So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. ⁵And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. ⁶So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.

Jesus knew from the beginning of His ministry, when He called Judas to be a disciple, that he would be the one to betray Him. Sadly, it played out that way, and Judas’ willpower crumbled under Satan’s influence.

We’ve got to make sure that we are resisting Satan’s influence. Do we ever fool ourselves into thinking “It’s just you and me, God,” oblivious to the ways we’re actually warring against Him? Are there aspects of our life that we allow not to be in full obedience to Him? Nobody thinks to themselves, “I could see myself betraying Jesus like Judas did.” Nobody. But we don’t have to outrageously flaunting unrighteousness to still have sin—by Satan’s influence—take hold in our life.

Examine yourself, and think deeply on those aspects of life that you have not yet laid hold of and made captive of God’s complete influence.

Today’s Point for Meditation: Luke 22:3 - “Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.” Stand firm against the devil, and if we resist him, he will flee from us.