Lenten Perspective: The Slanderer Returns

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The Slanderer Returns

Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve; he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers of the temple police about how he might betray [Jesus] to them.

Luke 22:3-4 (NRSV)

It's all been a lie
And I'll never come to know why
Awoke to discover you leaving me now
It's all been a lie
I don't ever want to know why
You've mastered the art of deceiving me now

From "Deceiver" by Disturbed

Toward the beginning of the Gospel of Luke, we read that Jesus spends forty days fasting in the desert before He begins His public ministry.  In the desert, He is met by the devil, who unsuccessfully tries to tempt Him.¹  A few weeks ago, I noted that I had recently learned that the Greek word diabolos, which is usually translated into English as "devil," could also be translated as "slanderer," as it is in Sarah Ruden's translation of the Gospels.²  I suggested that perhaps the devil presents Jesus not only with temptations but also with lies and that perhaps Jesus responds not only with Scripture He has memorized but also with what He knows to be true.

St. Luke ends his account of Jesus' confrontation with the devil in the desert, "When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time."³

Toward the end of the Gospel of Luke, we read that "an opportune time" eventually comes.

When Jesus arrives in Jerusalem for the week of the Passover celebration, He causes an uproar among the people, and some of the religious leaders, in their fear, start looking for a way to eliminate Him.  At the same time, Jesus' disciple Judas Iscariot falls under the influence of Satan, and he begins conspiring with the religious leaders who want Jesus out of the way.  Judas agrees to turn Jesus over to them in exchange for a sum of money.⁴

If the entity that takes hold of Judas is indeed the same entity Jesus previously faced in the desert, then he is escalating his attack and employing a new strategy.  Instead of merely trying to get Jesus to betray His ideals in order to lead Him in a different direction, the enemy is going in for the kill by getting one of the Disciples to betray Jesus.  As "the slanderer," the devil attempted to sway Jesus in the desert by calling His identity into question and also by calling God's sovereignty into question.  Perhaps the same entity manages to take hold of Judas by slandering his Teacher.

Satan might slander Jesus by once again attacking His identity.  Maybe he says to Judas, "Jesus clearly isn't who He says He is.  He wants people to think He's the Messiah, riding into the city like a king.  If you really listen to Him, though, it's obvious that He has no intention of restoring your nation to it's former glory.  Look, He's already gotten the attention of the religious leaders.  Maybe, if you strike a deal with them, you can help them get rid of that fraud and get something in return."

Or maybe Satan employs a more insidious strategy, not attacking Jesus' identity but rather attacking Jesus' teachings.  Maybe he says to Judas, "Jesus is too naive.  If all that 'Kingdom of God' nonsense He keeps preaching actually worked, then Caesar wouldn't be in charge, would he?  Kingdoms aren't made by 'loving your enemies'; they're made by destroying them!  Look, you saw the crowd that cheered for Jesus when He rode into the city.  He has an army ready to go to war for Him if He would just give the word.  Maybe, if you can find a way to kick off the revolution, He'll finally see the light."

Whatever Satan says or does to Judas, he manages to get him to betray Jesus.  Within a few days, Jesus will be arrested, put on trial, and executed by crucifixion.

I wonder if "the slanderer" has found an opportune time in our day.  So many people claim to follow Jesus, yet they don't seem to take His teachings seriously.  So many have betrayed the Kingdom that is "not of this world" in favor of an earthly kingdom of their own making, all the while claiming to do the Lord's work.

Are we listening to the truth Jesus speaks, or are we listening to slander against Him?  Do we see Him for who He really is, or do we see Him for who we want Him to be?  Are we taking His teachings seriously and taking up our crosses daily, or are we dismissing them as naive and taking up our swords instead?  Perhaps, as this season of Lent draws to a close, we can take some time to consider whether we are faithfully following Jesus or just betraying Him.


Notes:

1. Luke 4:1-13
2. Sarah Ruden.  The Gospels: A New Translation.  2021, Modern Library.  pp. 177-178
3. Luke 4:13 (NRSV)
4. Luke 22:1-6

The Taking of Christ was painted by Caravaggio in 1602.