April 7, 2023: Devils Also Look For Opportune Times

"And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him." (Mark 14:11, ESV)

Mark does a beautiful job of presenting a contrast between a woman who performs a selfless act upon Jesus, by anointing Him with expensive oil; to Judas, who performs a selfish act of betrayal for a handful of silver.

Luke writes one of the saddest words in scripture: "Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot..." (Lk 22:3). What would prompt a man to allow Satan to enter him. We may never know. But from that point on, Judas sought to betray him. The word sought means to search out or to look for intensely. What was Judas looking for? He was looking for a favorable occasion or time that he might deliver or hand over Jesus to the religious authorities. Interestingly, the religious leaders were also looking for an opportune time to deliver Jesus to the Romans to be killed.

Satan was able to enter Judas and cause him to answer the desire of the religious leaders -- the death of Jesus. Amazing how they found each other! That is how the enemy works. He too, is always looking for opportune times that he might destroy. Judas handed Jesus over to the religious authorities for thirty pieces of silver. And with a kiss, he betrayed the Son of God. “Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.” (Luke 22:7, ESV)