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 Visit
a “Sale Barn” in sheep country, and you may join with the
buyers on “grand -stand” type seats, arched about and
elevated above the sales corral, facing the auctioneer’s box.
Behind and to either side of the auctioneer are waiting pens,
where the stock to be sold has been gathered. A sale is about to
begin, so let me warn you about raising your hand, even to
scratch your ear. You may buy twenty or thirty sheep, and not
know it until they present you with the weight ticket and a
bill.
When
all is ready, the auctioneer signals, and a gate is opened
between one waiting pen and the sales corral. The first animal
through the gate is usually a goat, perhaps a large Billy, that
rushes confidently into the arena and crosses to the far side.
He is followed by a flock of trusting sheep, eager to be led,
knowing not they are being led to sale and slaughter. Now keep
your eyes on the goat!
As
the sheep crowd the pen, you will see that he is no longer the
bold confident leader. Head lowered, moving to one side of the
milling sheep he slinks quietly toward the entrance gate. Just
as the last sheep comes streaming into the sales corral the
Billy goat slips quietly out, and the gate is closed. He has
done his job well, and while the hapless
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sheep are being sold he munches a
piece of “cake” and awaits his next turn at “leading the
sheep to the slaughter .“
Do
you understand why he is called the “Judas Goat”?? (Matt.
26: 14-f)
Jesus
knew of his betrayal (Jn. 13) and freely gave Himself for us —
but the stigma and responsibility of his betrayer remains. Nor
did the odious office of betrayer cease when Judas Iscariot
hanged himself. The world is filled with “Judas Goats” who,
for a piece of “cake”, will lead unsuspecting followers to
their doom.
He
makes bold pronouncements on delicate subjects. While his
followers are tangled in argument and confusion, he sneaks out
by saying he was mis- understood, and didn’t mean it that way.
He proposes great projects, unmindful or ignorant of their
ultimate cost in money and souls. The good shepherd leads
boldly, but’ will die for his sheep. (Jn. 10:) The hireling
flees when the wolf comes.
Judas
Goats prosper because sheep will not think and act
independently.
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