Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. 2 And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.

3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd. (ESV)

There is something horribly sinister about verse 5. The NIV translates this as: ”They were delighted…” The things that delight us reveal our hearts. The religious leaders wanted their religion, but they did not want Jesus! This gets replicated many times over today. We are fine with a religion, and rules, we feel we can control. But Jesus cannot be controlled, and He is perceived as a threat. This happens in religious and non-religious circles. In religion we have many subtle ways of ‘getting rid’ (see v.2 NIV) of Jesus. We file down the sharper edges of His character and teaching. There is a poem by Gordon Bailey, with the shocking title, ‘Will the real Jesus please get lost.’ Still today, many do not want this Man to reign over them.

It is salutary that ”Satan entered” the heart of Judas who was one of ”the twelve”. Although the implications may not always be quite so serious, and the downfall quite so catastrophic, may we realise that the evil one is always seeking an entry point into our hearts. Let’s determine to be vigilant, to stand guard, to post sentries at any point of access.

”…and do not give the devil a foothold. ” (Ephesians 4:27)