A Predicted Betrayal

It was a creative effort to demoralize the troops, but most American soldiers in the South Pacific found it entertaining to listen to Japanese propaganda broadcasts during World War II. Tokyo Rose, a name given to several English-speaking women, read anti-American scripts to discourage soldiers, but often in a manner that undermined the broadcasts’ intent.

Iva Toguri, a Los Angeles native, became stranded in Japan during the war while visiting relatives. She couldn’t receive help from her family back home since they were placed in internment camps, so she took a part-time job as a typist at Radio Tokyo and was then recruited to speak on The Zero Hour. She was later convicted of treason when she tried to return to the United States, but the evidence against her was slim and she was eventually pardoned.

Thirty pieces of silver became evidence enough to convict the heart of a man known for the greatest betrayal in history. Jesus’ own disciple, Judas Iscariot, turned his back on Christ (John 18:2). The Old Testament foretold this disloyal act and even indicated the price of the betrayal (Zechariah 11:12).

Jesus knew Judas would turn his heel against Him and connected his duplicity with prophecy. “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me’ ” (John 13:18).

But don’t let Judas’ treasonous act demoralize your faith. The sad commentary on this treacherous act is actually an affirmation of the

reliability of the Scriptures, confirming that Christ is the Son of God.

Apply It:

Read 1 Peter 3:15, 16, and think of three ways you can speak up for Christ.

Dig Deeper:

Jeremiah 17:10; Matthew 10:32, 33; 2 Peter 2:1