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Jul 19, 2024 06:00am

Jesus Isn’t Fooled

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Frank Abagnale Jr.

Does the name sound familiar? You might recall him as the main character in the movie “Catch Me If You Can”. This man was a doctor, a lawyer, and a pilot, all before he turned 19.

He was the master con artist. He had everyone fooled. Or so he thought. Eventually, the truth would come out and Frank’s years of pretending came to screeching halt as he faced reality and the consequences of his actions.

Acts 1:15-19
“In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)
16 and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus.
17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”
18 (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out.
19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)” – NIV

After meeting with the disciples and promising the coming of the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned to Heaven. The disciples closest to Him gathered together to pray about the future and their mission.

One of the commands Jesus gave to the disciples was that when they went out, they were to go in pairs. It was for their safety, their abilities, and to encourage and support one another. Peter knew they needed to fill the vacant spot in this inner circle.

It stops and makes you think, doesn’t it?

How could someone so close to Jesus betray Him? How did they not know?

Judas had them fooled. He was a master con artist, driven by selfishness and greed. All of the disciples were blind to the truth of who he really was.

But not Jesus.

Jesus knew Judas. He saw his heart, his mind, his intentions. He knew what would come and yet He still offered Him a chance at redemption.

But Judas made his choice. He took the money he received for delivering Jesus into the hands of the guards and the religious leaders and bought a field. He had big plans for that property. He thought he was walking away as the victor, but the guilt was too much. When he faced the reality of the situation and what he had done, he felt there was only one solution.

Judas took his own life. He hanged himself, and in the process, somehow his body fell to the ground with such an impact, that he split open and his blood poured out over the ground. This is why they call it “the field of blood.”

Who do we think we are fooling? We march around with a mask on, pretending to be something we aren’t. We think we have everyone believing. But Jesus knows.

He knows our hearts. He knows our thoughts. He knows our intentions.

And He still loves us. He still offers us a chance at redemption.

Today, drop everything and run to Jesus. Don’t make the same mistake as Judas. Jesus isn’t fooled.

Run to Him. Fall on your face before Him and cry out for forgiveness. Ask Him to save you and allow Him to change you from within. Surrender to His will, His way.

No more pretending. Salvation awaits.

When you make that decision, the next step is learning what it means to follow Him. I’d love to show you what that looks like. Go to follow.lifeword.org. Learn what it means to become a truly devoted follower of Jesus.