The Betrayal
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Judas Iscariot is a thought provoking story.
Judas Iscariot is a thought provoking story.
First a cute little story:
Man jumps overboard on a cruise — “Who pushed me”?
We often give Judas a break, or some grace, because we think he was pushed into betraying Jesus. But what we will see today is that what Judas did was just flat wrong. He was a follower— a disciple, he was supposed to be one of the good guys. But what we will see today is a tragic story— one that will hopefully continue to fill out our understanding of how Jesus loves us, even when we betray him— how he loves us, and knows all about our pain and sorrow.
We are continuing our Passion series—The final 36 or so hours of Jesus’ life-- with these snapshots from the epic ending of Jesus’ life on earth. This is a deeply troubling event in the story— called The Betrayal
Sometimes we may need to return to the big picture— before we focus in on the smaller picture:
Why did Jesus even come to the earth as a baby?
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus came to earth with the sole primary purpose to die for the sin of the world. This saga continues in Matthew chapter 26, we will also utilize a couple other of the gospel accounts to fill out our study today. These events leading up to Jesus’ death and burial, and his resurrection are horrible in so many ways. Hard to imagine. One of these terrible incidents is the betrayal of Judas— Judas, we often think about him as an evil character— “Don’t be a Judas”— we say, really to refer to someone being dishonest, or betraying the cause.
Jesus was betrayed by a close friend.
Jesus was betrayed by a close friend.
9 Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.
48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.”
49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
49
This saga reflects a rare time when Satan and God were actually moving in the same direction. Follow me here— Both Satan and God, after Jesus’ garden resolution, are moving toward the death of Jesus— for very different end goals I might add:
Satan wanted Jesus to be humiliated, discredited, beaten, and murdered so that The Christ would be stopped. The Father wanted Jesus sacrificed for sin, atoning for our disobedience, and rising from the grave victorious forever.
Some say that Judas just played his role in all of this— somehow we want to find a way to redeem Judas, thinking well, hey, if he just did what Jesus knew he would do, and look what ultimate good it accomplished— isn’t that somehow make him just a part of God’s plan?
No- I don’t believe that. Yes, Satan put it in Judas’ mind to take the money— to do the deed. He made his choice, and his choice made him. Judas could have said no. He could have resisted that temptation. Just like we can. We are NOT defined by our temptations. We are defined by our choices.
This guy spent 3 years in the presence of Jesus— he’s been right there. He’s actually even been deeply involved with the ministry. He was put in charge of the money for the group.
Judas initiated the betrayal.
Judas initiated the betrayal.
14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests
15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.
16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
This was in response to an incident where a woman came into their dinner party, and dumped the expensive perfume over Jesus’ feet and cried tears of thankfulness and worship— drying his feet with her hair. Remember this story— it was Judas who was outraged with the Pharisee’s :
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.”
Judas was a lover of money, and suggested a bribe.
We think we could pick out Judas from all the rest of the guys— right? We’ve seen too many movies… This is what I think Judas probably looked like:
That’s not true— you could look at all the disciples and probably not be able to spot the traitor… He was spiritual, but he was a great actor. That’s a true hypocrite. Some people say a hypocrite is a person who says one thing and then does another— no that’s actually being a human! We all make mistakes and fail— we apologize and move on. A hypocrite is a performer, someone who claims to be something that they never even were!
Judas concealed the betrayal.
Judas concealed the betrayal.
21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”
22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”
Leonardo da Vinci captured this moment in his great work “The Last Supper”. Judas is portrayed on Jesus’ left, with his finger raised:
23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.
24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.”
Jesus knew Judas would betray him.
WE cannot conceal anything from Jesus. As God in the flesh- he knows everything!
Judas sealed the betrayal with a kiss.
Judas sealed the betrayal with a kiss.
A signal was needed to identify Jesus to the crowd.
4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”
Jesus was not easily recognizable from the group. He doesn’t glow in the dark. He’s fully human. He’s a middle eastern man, just like everyone around him.
This only further confirms the prophet Isaiah when he describes the Messiah:
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
Jesus was ordinary on the outside. Not notable.
Judas sets up a signal that is particularly sinister. There were several reasons that people would kiss someone in the culture of Jesus’ time. Maybe a slave or a captive would kiss the feet of a king or a master to beg for mercy— one might kiss the hand of a person to show respect and honor— but to kiss someone on the cheek was special, that was reserved for those who were indeed very close. Family members— This is a sign of affection between trusted friends.
50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
50 “Friend,” Jesus asked him, “why have you come?” Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him.
This echos of the prophet Zechariah
6 If someone asks, ‘What are these wounds on your body?’ they will answer, ‘The wounds I was given at the house of my friends.’
There is nothing more painful than the betrayal of a friend.
John Chrysostom (347-407 AD), Archbishop of Constantinople:
“O with what depravity had the traitor’s soul been inflamed? What sign did he devise? With what kind of eye did he then look at his Master? With what mouth did he kiss him? The kiss deprives him of any excuse, for he betrayed one incomparably meek.”
Judas immediately felt remorse for the betrayal.
Judas immediately felt remorse for the betrayal.
3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.
Remorse: “an emotion of regret you feel over the hurt that you have caused”.
Repentance: “contrition that is accompanied by a commitment not to repeat the offense”.
While remorse makes you truly regret and hold yourself accountable for your actions, it is repentance that drives you to take action to change. Repentance is the complete shift in your beliefs, actions, or way of life. Remorse is still focused on the “self”— Repentance focuses on Jesus, his forgiveness, and his power to help you flee from temptation.
We are going to see a difference here between the regret that Judas experienced— and the repentance that Peter will feel, we are going to dive into that next week--
Judas realizes his mistake, and reacted to it the wrong way.
5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
Church can be a very dangerous place. I’m trying not to offend anyone here, but if you are just here as a actor— you’re just going through the motions, you’re just performing here— that’s a problem. That is a very dangerous place to be. There are lots of theological arguments and discussions about whether Judas really was a disciple, or not— whether he really understood who Jesus really was, and why Jesus really came. Each time Judas heard the Truth speak— literally with his own ears— his heart became harder and harder— hard enough to sell Jesus out for 30 silver coins.
If you’re here each week, and you just keep hearing the truth of Jesus’ love and his mission on earth, and his power in our lives, and you’re not believing it— or you’re just here out of duty, that’s a problem. Don’t do that. I want you to live in integrity— in the truth. If you don’t believe, then why are you here? Seeking? Sure—let someone know so we can encourage you— but if you’re here— no if you’re just following Jesus as an act. Don’t do that.
Put all that aside for a moment— and just reflect for a minute on your own heart.
Some of us today are feeling the weight of this— we know we have betrayed Jesus too. We are acting like a Christian--
But don’t let the story end like Judas’ did. Worldly Sorrow.
You can get yourself right with Jesus. Godly Sorrow.
Remember Jesus died for that very sin. Yes, the betrayal that you have committed.
Simply say your sorry. Repent— Surrender— just like Jesus did in the garden.
10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
By godly sorrow he means when we not only tremble at the punishment, but hate and abhor the sin, because we know it is displeasing to God.
John Calvin
I surrender all.