Judas was like a modern day prosperity preacher or a talent agent for a new star. He was along for the fame, fortune, and predominance. He knew Jesus was important, but he thought too horizontally. He was man centered. He liked the money and wanted everything that he thought would come along with following someone like Jesus, until he realized it wasn’t going where he wanted it to. Once he saw it was leading to the crucifixion of Jesus and the arrest of His followers, he was looking for a way to profit from even this situation.
But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, *said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?” Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it. (NASB) John 12:4-6
The Greek word for, “thief” is “κλέπτης (kleptes) it looks familiar to you because it is where we get our word, “kleptomaniac” kleptes has no other meaning other than thief, and that’s is what he was. He was also the only man personally possessed by satan.
And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve. And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them. They were glad and agreed to give him money. So he consented, and began seeking a good opportunity to betray Him to them apart from the crowd. (NASB) Luke 22:3-6
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