Contemplative Bible Reading

Luke 22:3 (New Living Translation)

3 Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot…

This is part of the (hi)story of the death of Jesus which precluded the resurrection of Jesus. The prior sentence tells us “The leading priests and teachers of religious law were plotting how to kill Jesus…”

Right into the plot steps Judas Iscariot. Well, let’s rephrase that one as right into the plot enters Satan. Satan is clever; Satan is smart. Satan had devised an ingenious plot of how to arrest Jesus in a place where there would be no witnesses at a time when people were busy with other things. Satan had “inside information” on the perfect time and place. Satan used Judas, and Judas was ready to be used.

Then Satan entered the hapless Judas. I believe this act repeats countless times each day. Satan enters someone with a little nudge like, “Hey, bump that person so they spill their coffee and curse,” and “Pull over into the left lane real quick right and watch the anger,” and “Let’s all six of us arrest that one little fella’ and teach him a lesson or two.”

And we let Satan enter because what’s the harm? It’s just a little fun. Everyone has a sense of humor, right? As the old saying goes, “It’s good fun until someone starts crying” or something like that. Before you know it, someone has their ear cut off and someone is lying about who they know and what they saw.

Then Satan entered. Please God help me keep that door closed.