The Road He Chose: The Disillusioned

WARNING: Today’s message ties relatable real-life choices to Judas’s journey, offering examples that can help us connect his story to our own daily decisions and reflections. Get ready, we’re not so different from Judas sometimes… 

As we continue our Easter series, Encounters with Jesus: The Road They Chose, we reflect on the choices made by the people Jesus encountered during His time on earth. Each story brings lessons, reflections, and sometimes challenges that confront us with our paths in our own lives. We’ve already met Nicodemus, the woman at the well, and Zacchaeus. Each of their stories reminds us of the incredible grace Jesus offers and the transformative power of a single encounter with Him. But today, we come to a more sobering and difficult figure: Judas. 

When we think of Judas, it’s impossible to separate his name from betrayal. He’s often viewed as the one who made the ultimate wrong choice—the one who, for thirty pieces of silver, led Jesus to His arrest, setting the stage for the crucifixion. Judas’s road is one that ultimately led to destruction, but how did he get there? What choices did he make along the way that led him to the darkest point of his journey?

The Road of Disappointment and Disillusionment 

Judas’s story begins like many others. He was one of the twelve disciples, hand-picked by Jesus Himself. Judas had the privilege of walking with Jesus, witnessing His miracles, hearing His teachings, and experiencing the love and power of God firsthand. Yet, somewhere along the way, Judas’s path took a turn. Maybe it was unmet expectations.

Perhaps, like many of the disciples, he longed for a different kind of kingdom—one of political power and earthly victory. Jesus, though, was not the Messiah Judas expected. His kingdom was not of this world.

Judas’s choices reflect a common struggle many of us face. Perhaps you’ve experienced disappointment when things don’t go as you hoped. Maybe you’ve worked hard for something only to find it slipping through your fingers, or you’ve prayed for something that didn’t come to pass in the way you imagined. These moments of disappointment can often lead to feelings of disillusionment, even anger. If we're not careful, those feelings can start to grow, feeding bitterness in our hearts.

For example, consider how we might react in our own lives when our career doesn’t progress the way we planned or when a relationship we value begins to falter. It’s easy to grow frustrated with God, with others, or even with ourselves. Judas’s path wasn’t drastically different. He too experienced disappointment—perhaps not in his career, but certainly in his expectations for Jesus’s earthly kingdom. 

John 12:4-6 – "But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray Him, objected, '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."

Matthew 26:14-16 – "Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, 'What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?' So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on, Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over." 

The Choice of Betrayal 

The Bible tells us that Judas didn’t simply stumble into betrayal. It was a choice. A decision that grew out of the bitterness, the resentment, and the sense of disillusionment that had been brewing within him. It’s easy to demonize Judas—after all, his actions are seen as the ultimate form of betrayal. But as we look at the choice Judas made, we are reminded of the power that choice has in our own lives. Every day, we are faced with decisions that shape the course of our journey. Judas’s path was marked by a gradual turning away from Jesus’s heart. He allowed small seeds of dissatisfaction and discontent to grow into something far more destructive. 

We make similar choices in our own lives every day. When we allow a small resentment to fester instead of letting go, it builds a foundation for larger problems. When we allow selfishness or greed to take root in our hearts, it shapes the way we view and treat others. Judas’s gradual decision to prioritize money over Jesus might seem extreme, but in our own lives, how many times do we make similar choices by prioritizing personal gain over our values or relationships? When we choose to ignore God’s prompting to forgive, or when we let bitterness linger, we are taking small steps that move us further away from His heart.

Matthew 26:47-50 – "While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now, the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: 'The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.' Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, 'Greetings, Rabbi!' and kissed Him. Jesus replied, 'Do what you came for, friend.'"

Luke 22:48 – "But Jesus asked him, 'Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?'" 

A Warning and a Call 

Judas’s story serves as a stark reminder that even those who are closest to Jesus can make choices that lead them away from Him. It’s a warning to guard our hearts against disillusionment and resentment. It’s easy to point to Judas as the ultimate example of failure, but in truth, every choice we make—every moment of discontent or disappointment—can lead us down roads we never intended to walk. 

We may not all face an opportunity to betray someone as Judas did, but our small daily decisions matter. Think about your day-to-day actions: Do you choose to speak words of kindness, or do you find yourself gossiping or speaking harshly? Do you prioritize relationships and time with God, or do you let other things—work, entertainment, stress—take precedence? These small decisions, whether in moments of anger, frustration, or temptation, are the seeds that can shape the direction of our hearts. 

But even in Judas’ tragic end, there’s something we can learn. Judas’s story is not just one of betrayal; it’s also a story of missed opportunities for redemption. While Judas chose betrayal, Jesus never stopped loving him. In fact, even during the Last Supper, Jesus offered Judas a chance to turn back, to choose differently. “What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus said, knowing Judas’s heart. But that wasn’t a dismissal. It was an invitation—one that Judas ultimately rejected. Yet the heart of Jesus still reached out, offering grace even in the face of betrayal.

John 13:21-27 – "After He had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, 'Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.' His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them He meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to Him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, 'Ask Him which one He means.' Leaning back against Jesus, he asked Him, 'Lord, who is it?' Jesus answered, 'It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.' Then, dipping the piece of bread, He gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, 'What you are about to do, do quickly.'"