Session 4

Wednesday: The Wrong Kind of Surrender

From Holy Week Devotional

Jesus eating the Passover supper with twelve of His closest friends and followers reminds us that Jesus was a Jewish man following Jewish customs. But Jesus’ remarks at that supper remind us that He was about to change everything by ushering in a new covenant between God and His people. His disciples didn’t understand what this new kingdom would be, but they wanted it—or at least most of them did. 

Judas wanted the kingdom of God, but he wanted it through ordinary means. He was bound and determined to see a traditional restoration of power, just like the crowds on Palm Sunday. As the treasurer of the group, Judas was preparing to see this kingdom come through power, wealth, and politics. Jesus showing up to redeem the world through sacrifice and love was confusing to him. Ultimately, he couldn’t let go of his plans and surrender to the way of Jesus. He ended up surrendering Jesus instead. 

What causes someone to spend three years by Jesus’ side and yet betray Him? Even after seeing countless signs and miracles, even after hearing the divine authority in Jesus’ voice when He preached to the crowds, even after experiencing His compassion and kindness… Judas would soon hand Him over to be arrested and crucified. The new kingdom Jesus described was just too hard to comprehend or accept. Judas wanted the new thing the old way. When it came time to choose a camp, he sided with the familiar religious leaders over the new thing on offer to him. 

Like Judas, we all reach a point when we have to choose a camp—fully surrender to Jesus, or follow our own agenda. Judas chose his own way, and everything in his life crumbled. After Judas made the choice to betray his Messiah, his worldly sorrow ultimately led to his self-destruction. He didn’t experience true conviction; he experienced the worldly guilt that keeps us bound by sin. The only real freedom is found in surrendering to the way of Jesus, even when we don’t fully understand it. 

Journal: Have you reached a pivotal moment in your own relationship with Jesus? If you’ve never surrendered to Him, make that decision today. Freedom is waiting on the other side of your yes.