Most all of us have seen the newscast – a disheveled, bearded, long-haired man among many other men who look similar. The difference with this man, however, is that he is an American. An American who allegedly had taken up arms for the Taliban and against his own countrymen. Why this young man would betray his own country is difficult for most of us to understand. Betrayal, alas, is not a new thing. In the Bible, we read of Delilah, who betrayed her husband Samson, for eleven hundred pieces of silver. We also read of a son who betrayed his father. Absalom rose up against his father king David of Israel, in hopes of usurping his throne. The most heinous betrayal of all, however, was that of Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus the Christ. For thirty pieces of silver, Judas, with a kiss, betrayed our Lord. To this day, his betrayal is still recognized as the most despicable of all acts.

Countries all over the world observe some type of event which recognizes the treachery of Judas. In Spain, Portugal, and Latin America, life-sized figures of wood or straw are beaten, kicked, cursed, spat upon, and finally destroyed on Good Friday. It is called punishing Judas.

In Liverpool, England, on Good Friday morning children carry a straw-stuffed effigy of Judas from house to house demanding money. They cry, "Judas is short a penny for his breakfast." Later the figure is burned in a bonfire.

Even the word judas has taken upon itself the meaning of a betrayer. The American Heritage Dictionary defines judas as one who betrays another under the guise of friendship. As detestable as the betrayal by Judas Iscariot was, there are still those even today, who would - and do - betray the Lord. Instead of for thirty pieces of silver, they betray the Lord for pleasure, for family, for pride, for careers, and for a hundred other things. The writer of the Hebrew letter penned, "For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame" (Hebrews 6:4-6 ASV). Those who once enjoyed all the blessings which are through Jesus Christ and turned their backs on them are the ones who betray the Lord even today.

Craig Brian Larson once said, "Think of Judas. Judas decided to follow Jesus. Judas heard Jesus teach. He went out two by two with the others, healing the sick and exorcizing demons. Judas did a lot of disciple kinds of things. Yet he is remembered solely for how his relationship with Jesus ended. How a life, a ministry, or a relationship ends is absolutely crucial to everything that goes before it." Have you betrayed the Lord by turning your back to Him? Is this how you want your life to end? Will you - like Judas - stand as a betrayer before the judgment seat of Christ?