Untitled Sermon
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
This morning we are picking back up in our study of the Gospel of Mark.
If you’re new to MCF, it would be helpful for you to know that we practice a form of preaching called “Expository Preaching”. What that means is we believe the Bible is best taught by taking a book of the Bible, and then studying it from beginning to end, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, in order to understand what it means in our lives today.
With that said, we are currently walking through the Gospel of Mark. A gospel that was written primarily to teach us who Jesus is, what he came to do, and what it means for you and I to follow him.
So, if you haven’t been with us, I would encourage you to go online where you can listen to all of the messages leading up to today.
As we come back to Mark’s Gospel today, you could say we are headed into the final stretch as we move into chapter 14. Because now that Jesus’s public ministry has ended, now that Jesus has warned us concerning the future, Mark now transitions to the final days of Jesus’s life.
So, just to give you a little bit of a preview of where we are going, here’s how these final thre chapters are going to play out.
As we begin chapter 14 we’re going to witness the betrayal of Jesus and all the events that led up to that betrayal.
As we move into chapter 15 we’re going to witness the trial and brutality of the crucifixion leading up to his last breath.
And as we cross the finish line in chapter 16, we’re going to witness the miracle of his resurrection and the implications it has for those who have put their faith in Jesus.
So, in order to get us started on this final stretch, and help us set the framework for where we are going, I want to begin this morning by asking you a a couple of questions about Jesus.
Question 1 - Have you ever noticed, when it comes to the topic of Jesus, people tend to have varying responses?
So, in order to get us started on this final stretch, and help us set the framework for where we are going, I want to begin this morning by asking you to consider a a few questions.
For some it causes an awkwardness or uneasiness.
For others, it incites excitement and passion.
And then for some, it even creates feelings of disgust and hatred.
That’s true, right? I mean just like Jim Gaffigan insinuated in the opening video, the topic of Jesus tends to create some tension in the room.
Question 2 - How about this, have you ever been in a situation where the opportunity
In fact, I would go as far to say, that the topic of Jesus is one of the most controversial subject matters in the past 2000 years.
The truth is, the name of Jesus incites all kinds of emotions, opinions, and positions.
Question 2 - When it comes to Jesus, what has been or what is your response to him? In other words, when you hear the name of Jesus, what kind of emotions does it stir in you?
The reason I ask you to consider these questions, is because as we begin Jesus’s journey to the cross, we are going to encounter a variety of responses to Jesus. We are going to witness varying emotions. Varying opinions. And ultimately we’re going to watch as people take a position on Jesus.
And what we’re going to discover as we move into chapter 14 is that there’s really only 1 of 3 types of responses we can have when it comes to Jesus. And with each response come certain emotions, opinions, and ultimately a position on Jesus. Because from this point on, everybody is going to have to pick a side when it comes to Jesus.
So, as we come to chapter 14 and our journey towards the cross begins, here’s what I want to do this morning.
First, I want to read through our passage. Second I want to give some context for the passage. Third I want to highlight three types of responses people tend to have when it comes to Jesus.
Our goal is twofold. First, to identify these responses. Second, to determine what our response will be.
So, let’s get started as we come back to the Gospel today. Beginning in , Mark writes:
“It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, 2 for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.”
Because when it comes to Jesus, you either love Jesus or you hate Jesus.
When it comes to Jesus, you either believe He’s the Son of God, or you don’t believe He’s the Son of God.
When it comes to Jesus, you either stand for Him, or you don’t stand for Him.
When it comes to Jesus, you’re either a Jesus fan or you’re not a Jesus fan.
The truth is, when it comes to Jesus, you’re either in or you’re out.
You want to know what’s interesting though, there are people who try to live in between.
It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, 2 for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.”
3 And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. 4 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 For you
always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9 And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”
Judas to Betray Jesus
Judas to Betray Jesus
10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him. (ESV)
Before we get to far into the passage, what I want you to notice first, is that Mark begins this chapter by giving us a timeframe for the events that are about to unfold. He says, “It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.” (ESV)
First, I want you to notice that Mark begins by giving us a specific time frame for the events that are about to unfold. He says, “It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.” (ESV)
Would you bow your heads and pray with meCouple things I want you to point out before we get to far into this passage. First, I want you to notice the time frame that Mark gives us. Mark says, “It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.” (ESV)
So, a good first question would be, “Why does Mark tell us this?”
He mentions this because everything that is about to happen is based on the significance of this timeframe and specifically a celebration feast called “The Passover”.
Because the Passover wasn’t just any holiday or feast. The Passover was one of the most important Jewish holidays on the Jewish calendar. In many ways it represented the birth of the nation of Isreal as it commemorated the Israelites exodus from Egypt.
If you’re not familiar with the story of Israel, according to the Bible, prior to Israel becoming a nation, the book of Exodus tells us the people of Israel were slaves in Egypt for 400 years.
But in that all changed as God raised up a man named Moses to deliver the Israelites from bondage.
God did this because back in , He promised a man named Abraham, the father of Israel, that one day his seed would become a great nation. A nation through which the promised deliverer of mankind would one day come.
So, to make good on his promise, in , God sends Moses to deliver his people and establish them as a nation. And if we took the time to read the entire account this morning, what we would discover is in order to deliver Israel, God brought 10 plagues upon Egypt. Ten plagues meant to demonstrate God’s power and force Pharoah to let the people of Israel go.
And so from , we can read about each plague, the devistation they caused, and how Pharoah responded to each wave of destruction. the deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery as God made good on a promise He had made to a man named Abraham.
But after 400 years, God was ready to deliver the Israelites and make good on a promise He had made to a man named Abraham. Because in , God promised Abraham, the father of Israel, that one day his seed would become a great nation. A nation through which the promised deliverer of mankind would one day come.
And while each plague was devastating to Egypt, it was the final plague that ultimately broke Pharaoh’s spirit forcing him to release the people of Israel from bondage.
So, to make good on his promise, in , God sent a man named Moses to deliver his people. And if we took the time to read the entire account this morning, what we would discover is in order to deliver Israel, God sent 10 plagues upon Egypt. Ten plagues meant to demonstrate God’s power and force Pharoah to let the people of Israel go.
And while each plague was devastating to Egypt, it was the final plague that broke Pharaoh’s spirit forcing him to release the people of Israel from bondage.
Listen to how this final plague played out, “ At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. 30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead. 31 Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as you have said. 32 Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also!” (ESV)
Imagine waking up, and finding the first born of everything in your household dead, including your son or daughter. It was more than Pharaoh could bear. It broke his will and he finally released God’s people.
But that’s not the most amazing outcome or point of this final plague. Because while this final plague brought death upon the Egyptians, somehow this final plague passed over the Israelites. In other words, not one first born animal or son or daughter died among the Israelites. Why not? Well, obviously God protected them and shielded them from it. But what I want to point out isn’t that he protected them, but how he protected them.
Because if we took the time to read the entire account, what we would discover is on the night before this final plague, God told Moses to have all the people take a spotless lamb without blemish and sacrifice it. They were then to take some of the lambs blood and put it on the two doorposts of their homes.
That’s kind of weird, right? Why would God ask them to do that? God tells us. Listen to what he told Moses, “12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord.13 The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.” (ESV)
and put it’s blood Let’s find out as we go back to . Beginning in verse 1 we read:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord.13 The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.” (ESV)
12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord.13 The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.” (ESV)
7 “Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. 8 They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts. 10 And you shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. 11 In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord's Passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord.13 The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.
God says, “Moses, put the blood of the spotless lamb on the door posts of your homes. And when I see the blood of the sacrificed lamb upon the home, I will passover the home, and the plague of death will not touch you or your people.”
And God was true to His Word. Because that night, as the plague of death took the firstborn of every Egyptian, the people of Israel were safe inside their homes. So, why is that so significant? Listen to what God tells Moses to do next.
And it was a holiday that the Jews were to celebrate every year to remind them of how God delivered them from slavery.
“This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.” (ESV)
God says, “Moses, this day is to become a holiday for the people of Israel. And every year, on this day, they are to remember what the Lord did for them. How he delivered them from slavery. How he set them free.”
Now, here’s why it’s so important we understand this holiday and this timeframe. In , with the passover just two days away, and with the Jewish nation gathered together to sacrifice and to remember their deliverance from Egypt, God has sent and prepared Jesus.
You see, in the midst of this particular passover, God has sent his Son, the spotless lamb of God. And on the eve of the Passover, in just a couple of days, as thousands of lambs are sacrificed in temple, outside the city walls, on a cross, the spotless, sinless, lamb of God is going to be sacrificed for the sins of mankind.
Here’s why it’s so important we understand this. In , with the passover just two days away, the Jewish nation has gathered to sacrifice a lamb. To commemrate Jesus, the lamb of God is being prepared for the sacrifice. Let me put it like this. In just a couple days, on the eve of the Passover, Jesus, the spotless lamb, the one who has no sin, is going to be sacrificed so that those who put their faith in Jesus can be set free. So that those who put their faith in Jesus can escape . And for those who put their faith in him.
And the good news of the Gospel is this. For those who put their faith in Jesus. For those who believe his blood was shed for our sins, God promises that death will passover them. That through faith in Jesus, we can obtain eternal life. We can escape the plague of sin that was unleashed on mankind when Adam and Eve fell. The writer of Hebrews puts it like this, “And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” (ESV)
That’s why this timeframe is so important. It represents the fulfilment of God’s promise. The final sacrifice is here to deliver us from sin and death. And His name is Jesus.
To commemrate Jesus, the lamb of God is being prepared for the sacrifice. Let me put it like this. In just a couple days, on the eve of the Passover, Jesus, the spotless lamb, the one who has no sin, is going to be sacrificed so that those who put their faith in Jesus can be set free. So that those who put their faith in Jesus can escape . And for those who put their faith in him.
So, as a result, every year, thousands of Jews traveled to Jerusalem in order to celebrate the passover. It’s estimated that during the time of Jesus, about 250,000 Jews would
But here’s why this information is important. The Passover wasn’t just any holiday or feast. The Passover is one of the most important Jewish holidays because it commemorates the exodus from Egypt and was instituted by God back in .
In
In a way, the passover represents the beginning of the nation of Israel.
But the fact of the matter is, as we move into chapter 14, not everybody is going to accept God’s lamb. Not everybody is going to respond well to Jesus. And with the passover just a couple of days away, Mark now introduces us to three types of responses to Jesus. Here’s the first response. When it comes to Jesus:
1. Some will hate Jesus and plot to kill Him.
As the passover approaches, notice again what Mark says, “And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, 2 for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.” (ESV)
We see the first response play out in verse 1. Listen again to what Mark tells us, “And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, 2 for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.” (ESV)
Mark says with the passover just a couple days away, there’s a group of people who really don’t like Jesus. In fact, they want him dead.
So, first question we probably need to ask is, who were these people and why do they want to kill him?
Well, let’s start with who these people are.
As we’ve learned throughout our study of Mark, not everybody was a fan of Jesus, especially the religious leaders of His day. Specifically the Pharisees and the Sadducees. And here we find them, once again, trying to find a way to get rid of Jesus.
Next question, “Why do they hate him so much and why do they want to kill him?” Two reasons:
The reason they hate Jesus is the same the same reason people hate Jesus today.
First, they hated him because he threatened their power and position.
For the Pharisees, he threatened their religious authority. He undermined their position as religious leaders. Jesus was pointing the people away from religion and towards a relationship with God. He was showing them a better way, God’s way. No longer were the people looking to the Pharisees. No longer were they following their man made system and rules. The people had their eyes on Jesus. And the Pharisees hated Jesus for this.
For the Sadducees, Jesus threatened the political alliance they had built with Rome. And if Jesus grew in anymore popularity, and the people possibly revolted, it could spell major problems for the Sadducees. A revolt would mean a loss of position. A revolt would mean a loss of power. And they cared more about their position and power than they did about their own people. As a result, Jesus was a threat, and he needed to go.
Second, they hated Jesus because he threatened their belief system and lifestyle. In other words, what Jesus taught contradicted the way they lived.
Jesus said crazy stuff like, “Love your neighbor as yourself”.
Jesus hung out with drunks and prostitutes, people they wanted nothing to do with.
Jesus ministered to everybody, including the Samaritans, a people group they hated.
If people kept following Jesus, their whole worldview was going to come crashing down. And they weren’t about to have it. Jesus had to go.
Now, you might be wondering, “Why is so important for us to understand this?” It’s important because the reason people hated Jesus then, is the same reason people hate Jesus today.
First, Jesus threatens our power and position. Because, if you want to follow Jesus, you have to be willing to make him Lord of your life.
And if Jesus is Lord, you and I have to be dethroned from our position of self rule.
If Jesus is Lord, we have to let go of our power.
If Jesus is Lord, we are no longer the ones in charge. We are no longer the ones in control.
If Jesus is Lord, then we have to submit our lives to him.
And the truth is, there are just some people who are never going to do that. Nobody is going to rule them. Nobody is going to tell them what to do. They’re the lord’s of their life. So, Jesus is a threat to them. Jesus undermines their position and power.
Let me put it like this. If you’re unwilling to make Jesus Lord, then you will hate him. That’s just how it works.
Second, Jesus threatens our belief system and lifestyle. The truth is, if you’re going to follow Jesus, it requires a rewire of your worldview. The way you view your decisions. The way you view your priorities. The way you view your lifestyle. The way you live. The choices you make. All of that has to change.
Not only that, but Jesus requires us to acknowledge that our way to God does’t work. That our religious efforts are useless. Jesus forces us to acknowledge that his way is not only the right way, it’s the only way. In Jesus puts it like this, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (ESV)
Jesus says, “It’s my way or the highway.”
And it shouldn’t surprise us that there will be people that kick against that. People who will refuse to let go of religious thinking. People who refuse to acknowledge he is the only way. People who will hate Jesus because he stands in opposition to their worldview. He stands in opposition to their belief system. He stands in opposition to the way they live life. So they hate him.
And here’s the real kicker for you and I. If the world hates Jesus for those reasons, it’s going to hate those who follow him for the same reasons. The world is going to hate us as well. The world is going to want to take us out.
That’s why Christians are persecuted. That’s why a couple loses their bakery because they won’t bake a same sex marriage cake. The world hates who and what we stand for.
Which leads us to the second question. How are they planning on taking Jesus out? Mark tell us. He writes, and because they hated him, “They were seeking for a way to arrest and kill him.”
And Mark says, “They were seeking for a way to arrest and kill him.”
The word translated “seeking” here comes from the Greek word “zeteo”. It’s the idea of an ongoing search to look for or try to accomplish something.
What that tells us then, is this plan and this desire to kill Jesus is an ongoing and carefully formulated plan. In other words, it was a strategic plot to take Jesus out.
In fact, Mark says, not only are they plotting, “they were seeking away to arrest him by stealth.”
How many of you have ever seen a stealth bomber up close. Its’ a big black airplane that looks like a boomerang. Do you want to know what the sole purpose of the stealth bomber is? It’s to purpose is to sneak up on an enemy undetected in order to destroy them.
And the reason we need to undertand thi
That’s what these religious leaders are trying to do. They’re trying to find a way to infiltrate Jesus’s airspace undetected so they can destroy him before he knows what hit him. These guys are some sneaky snakes.
So, a good question might be, “Why all the secrecy? Why do they need to plot? Why can’t they just take Jesus out?”
Mark tells us, “2 for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.” (ESV)
Mark says they are trying to do it in secrecy so that nobody knows it was them.
Why? Because if the people knew they were behind it, it could backfire, and the people might revolt, which could cause problems with Rome. So, in order to maintain their power and position with the people and with Rome, they resort to snake like tactics.
Now, you might be wondering, “Pastor, that’s all very interesting, but how does this apply to us?”
It applies in the same way. Because not only do people still hate Jesus today, people are still plotting to get rid of him.
If you want proof, just look at the culture we live in. Turn on your television. Check out the latest network television shows. Turn on the news. Listen to what is happening in our country.
First, as I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, when it comes to Jesus, you’re either going to love him or hate him
We live in a culture that is committed to stamping out Godly values. A culture that is committed to erasing Godly morals. A culture that wants nothing to do with Jesus and is working desperately to erase him from our cultural history.
And don’t think for one moment it hasn’t been strategic. The fact of the matter is, our culture didn’t get to this point by accident. Same sex marriage didn’t show up on accident. Abortion didn’t show up on accident. The devaluation masculinity and the father didn’t happen by accident. For years the forces of darkness have been plotting and working to eradicate Jesus from the American landscape. The apostle Peter pets it like this, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (ESV)
Jesus says, “Listen, I’m not going to be the most popular person in history. There are going to be people who hate me. People who try and take me out. People who want to eliminate the very thought of me.”
And it’s been subtle. It’s been done in stealth mode. And guess what, it’s working.
Barna research recently released these statistics concerning Generation Z, the next up and coming generation. Concerning their worldview of God, here’s where they stand:
Maybe a good question to ask then is, “Why? Why is Jesus so hated? Why
-13% of teens ages 13-18 consider themselves Atheist
-37% Believe it’s impossible to know if God is real
-46% say they need factual evidence to support their beliefs
-49% say that the church (and the Bible) seems to reject much of what science tells us about the world
-59% say that church is not relevant to me personally
-48% - say I can find God elsewhere
I want you think about that. Do you think these kids obtained this worldview by accident? Do you think they came up with that thinking on their own? No. It’s been a subtle attack of the enemy on our culture. He has strategically plotted to erase Jesus from the American landscape.
You can plot against Jesus.
So, on a broad scale, it applies to us because a day is coming when the name of Jesus won’t only be unpopular in America, but it may be non existent in future generations. I think that’s something we should be concerned and motivated by.
So, on a broad scale, it applies to us because a day is coming when the name of Jesus won’t only be unpopular in America, but it may be non existent in future generations. I think that’s something we should be concerned and motivated by.
Betray
You can betray Jesus
But it also applies on a personal level. Because the truth is, if you’re going to follow Jesus, there are going to be people who plot against you. People who will look for ways to derail you. People who will look for ways to destroy your reputation. People who will look for ways to discourage you. People who hate what you represent. Jesus said, “If they did it to me, they’ll do it to you.”
Jesus said, “If they did it to me, they’ll do it to you.”
Illustration - This never became more real to Denise and I when we first came to Marysville 6 years ago this weekend. It started as people who we thought were friends ridiculed us and tried to discourage us from coming to MCF. They said things like, “Why would you want to go backwards. Why would you want to go to pastor in a small church in the middle of nowhere.”
It continued as certain personalities in the church worked against Denise and I that first year.
As we dealt with individuals who were afraid of losing power and position.
Individuals who didn’t like the kind of people who started attending our church. One of them referred to them as “Those People”.
Individuals who held secret meetings and people plotted to undermine us and at one point, get rid of us.
People who tried to destroy our reputation.
People who didn’t like the direction the Lord was leading our church.
For the first time in my ministry, I could feel the enemy plotting against us, trying to take us out. Trying to destroy what God was wanting to do in Marysville.
And what was true for us is true for you as well. If you love Jesus, the enemy is plotting a way to take you out.
To take your kids out. To take your marriage out. He hates what your represent and he’s formulating a plan to destroy you.
Some of you are like, “Well thanks pastor, that’s encouraging.” Listen, I know it’s a little grim, but it’s the reality of being a Christ follower. That’s why Jesus warns us to be on guard.
But there is some good news. The good news is, we serve a God who is bigger than our enemy. We serve a God that can thwart the enemies plans. And if we’ll trust him, if we’ll keep our eyes on him, he will help us navigate the minefield the enemy has laid for us. Even though the enemy is plotting against us, we serve a God with a bigger and better plan. So, we can find hope in that.
However, at the end of the day, we can’t forget there is an enemy. We can’t forget there are always going to be people who hate Jesus. People who plot against Jesus. People who are bent on taking him out. People who don’t respond well to who He is and don’t respond well to those who follow him.
This leads us to a second type of response:
With the passover around the corner, Jesus has a minefield ahead of him.
2. Some will pretend to follow Jesus, but ultimately betray Him.
Jumping down to verse 10, Mark writes, “10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.” (ESV)
You can anoint Jesus
Apparently
Mark now introduces us to a second response from a man named Judas. And from what Mark tells us, this man’s response is one of deception and betrayal, as he conspires with Jesus’s enemies in order to take Jesus out.
I don’t know about you, but the story of Judas has always bothered me. It bothers me because it’s hard for me to understand how a person could spend three years literally walking with Jesus, and then betray him.
Three years listening to his teaching.
Three years watching him heal person after person.
Three years witnessing him at times raising people from the dead.
Three years watching him multiply food so people could eat.
It blows my mind that a person could spend all that time, witness all those miracles, hear all that teaching, and then betray him.
Have you ever wondered how Judas could have done this? Was he just a jerk. Was he bi-polar? Was Jesus a Chiefs fan? I think we need to know that answer to that question.
So, why did Judas betray Jesus. Well, truth is, the Bible doesn’t give us an exact reason. It gives us some hints. It points to some possibilities. But not a definite reason.
However, by what it does give us, we can draw some conclusions to why Judas did what he did, and most scholars agree there are at least three possibilities.
I think it’s purposeful. I think it’s mean to show us that anybody for a multitude of reasons could, would, or might betray Jesus.
The first and maybe most common theory is that Judas did it for the money. This idea is largely based on two passages of scripture. The first is here in Mark where Mark tells us there was a promise of money made to Judas. And if we were to read ahead we’d discover that he was paid 30 pieces of sliver for his act of treachery. That’s the equivalent of about $3000 in today’s economy.
And if we were to read ahead we’d discover that he was paid 30 pieces of sliver for his act of treachery. That’s the equivalent of about $3000 in today’s economy.
The second indicator of this theory comes from the Gospel of John. In John’s gospel, John describes Judas as a thief who was money hungry. Listen to what John says about Judas, “but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.” (ESV)
John says Judas had sticky fingers. So, the first theory goes, Judas did it for the money.
The second theory is that Judas did it for political purposes. While there is some disagreement among scholars, this theory is based on Judas’s last name “Iscariot”. Some scholars believe “Iscariot” simply identifies where Judas was from. For example, Jesus was from Nazareth, so they called him Jesus of Nazareth.
But some scholars believe the name “Iscariot” is tied to an Aramaic word that can be translated “Assassin”. As a result, some theologians believe Judas was part of radical Jewish terrorist group of his day that was bent on getting rid of Roman rule. They were like Alquida. And some believe, the reason Judas followed Jesus, was like so many Jews of his day, Judas may have had hopes that Jesus would be a warrior like Messiah that had come to overthrow Rome.
But as we’ve learned through this study, that’s not the kind of Messiah Jesus came to be. He didn’t come to be an earthly deliverer. He came to be a spiritual deliverer.
And so the theory goes, that maybe Judas had become frustrated with Jesus, and so he decided to force Jesus’s hand. He orchestrated a situation that he would force Jesus to use his power to deliver himself and the people of Israel.
And the fact is, Jesus had the power to do that. Matthew tells us when the guards came to the garden to arrest Jesus, Peter pulled out a sword to defend Jesus. But listen to how Jesus responded to Peter’s actions. Matthew writes, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” (ESV)
Jesus says, “Peter, put your sword away. If I wanted to I could wipe these guys out. But that’s now why I came. That’s not the kind of savior I came to be.”
So, it’s possible Judas was frustrated with Jesus’s lack of action, so he orchestrated a scenario where Jesus would have to use his power to defend himself, and reveal himself as the deliverer of Israel. So, that’s another theory. Judas did it for political purposes.
And then there’s the spiritual theory, the belief that Judas did it because he was either demon possessed or demonically influenced. Both Luke and John point to this. In Lukes account he writes, “Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve.” (ESV)
Luke says the devil himself possessed Judas. The Apostle John doesn’t go that far, but he definitely points to a demonic influence. He writes, “During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him...” (ESV)
So, that’s the third theory. Judas was demonically influenced to betray Jesus.
So, which is it? Was it the money? Was it the politics? Was it spiritual? Why did Judas betray Jesus. and why doesn’t the Bible make it clear?
Here’s what I think. I don’t think the Bible wants it to be clear. Because the truth is, betrayal happens in a number of ways and for a number of reasons. And maybe that’s part of the point of not telling us why he did it. Because Judas could have done it for a combination of reasons, we don’t know. And maybe instead of focusing on why he did it, what we need to focus on is the fact that somebody who said they loved Jesus betrayed him.
Maybe what the Bible wants us to focus on isn’t so much the why he did it, but the fact that he did.
Now, at this point you might be thinking, “Ok pastor. That’s all very interesting. I appreciate the history lesson and insight into Judas. But how does this apply to us? Why should Judas’s betrayal and the reason Judas betrayed Jesus be so concerning to us?”
Now, at this point you might be thinking, “Ok pastor. That’s all very interesting. I appreciate the history lesson and insight into Judas. But how does this apply to us? Why should the reason Judas betrayed Jesus be so concerning to us?”
Great question. Here’s how it applies. If Judas, one of the twelve, a man who witnessed the miracles of Jesus. A man who literally walked with God on earth, could betray Jesus. Then what makes us think we’re above such betrayal?
Now, you might be thinking, “Oh come on pastor, I would never do something like that. I would never be a Judas to Jesus. I can’t believe you’d even suggest something like that.”
You know what I think? I think you might be surprised. Peter didn’t ever think he’d deny Jesus, but he did, three times. Here’s the truth, any one of us has the potential to betray Jesus, and we would do it for a multitude of reasons, maybe even for some of the same reasons Judas did.
And let me be clear. When I say betrayal, I’m talking about the idea of exchanging your relationship with Jesus for something that’s more valuable to you. Because that’s what betrayal is, right? That’s what happens when a
For example, I’ve met a lot of people who want to follow Jesus, who like the idea of following Jesus, but their real love is this world. Their real love is their money. Their real love are their possessions. And if push came to shove, and they had to choose between Jesus and wordly possessions, they’d choose worldly possessions every time.
In fact, Jesus says that’s the case for some people. In his parable of the sower, Jesus says God’s word is like seed the farmer has planted. And he says some seed falls on the path, some on the rocky soil, some among the weeds, and some in good soil. And as a result, each seed produces different results. For the seed that falls among the weeds, Jesus says this, “As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” (ESV)
Jesus says, “There are some people who have good intentions to follow me. But their heart doesn’t really belong to me. It belongs to this life and their riches. And so in the end, they betray me. They choose their riches over me.”
(ESV)
I’ve also met a lot of people who want to follow Jesus, but like Judas, they want a Jesus that fits their mold. A Jesus that meets their expectations. He’s genie Jesus. A Jesus that gives them everything they want. A Jesus that fulfills all their fleshly desires. A Jesus that allows them to live how they want. A Jesus that says, “It’s ok to sleep around. It’s ok to party it up. It’s ok to live together. It’s ok to be gay. It’s ok to live however I want.”
All that to say, the Bible doesn’t paint a very positive picture of Judas. He was a pretender. Someone with false motives who will forever be known as the one who betrayed Jesus. The one who couldn’t bare the shame of what he’d done, and hung himself. The one for whom Jesus said, “ The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” (ESV)
But here’s the problem, Jesus isn’t a genie, Jesus is Lord. He didn’t come to grant wishes, he came to accomplish His will. And because he’s Lord, and because it’s His will, you and I don’t get to decide who and what Jesus is in our lives. We don’t get to set the terms of agreement. He’s God, we’re not. It’s not our way, it’s his way.
But the truth is, Judas doesn't’ stand alone. The truth is, history is full of men and women who have pretended to follow Jesus. Pretended to be faithful. But in the end, they betrayed Jesus.
And the truth is, the reason a lot of well intentioned Christ followers betray Jesus, is because they soon discover Jesus isn’t the kind of savior they thought he was. They wanted an earthly savior. Somebody who would fulfill earthly desires. But Jesus isn’t an earthly savior, he’s a heavenly savior. He came to save you from this life of sin and death, not to help you indulge in it more.
And finally I’ve met people who betray Jesus because they’ve allowed demonic influence in their life. They’ve given into the temptations. They’ve allowed porn. They’ve allowed immoral behavior. They’ve given themselves over to worldly desire. They’ve jumped onto the cultural band wagon. And as a result, they’ve allowed the devil to have a foothold in their life. In the battle between the spirit and flesh, the flesh is winning.
And this is why I believe the majority of American Christians struggle in their walk with Jesus. It’s not because Jesus isn’t present in their lives. It’s not because they don’t go to church enough. It’s because they keep allowing the enemy back in. They keep going back to the vomit. Back to the sin. Back to their old life. And in doing so, they invite the enemy in as they push God’s Spirit out. So, what do we do? How do we avoid such betrayal? Paul writes this:
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” (ESV)
You avoid the betrayal by giving yourself fully to Jesus, which leads us to the final type of response.
3. Some will plot, others will betray, but some will crown him Lord
With only two days until the passover, while one group is plotting to kill Jesus, and a so called follower is planning to betray Him, Mark says there’s another person who has a totally different response to Jesus. In verse 3 Mark writes:
3 “And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. 4 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9 And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” (ESV)
Mark says in these final days, as some are plotting, and others are planning to betray, Jesus takes a moment to sit down and eat. And as he’s sitting at the table, a woman approaches carrying a large flask full of expensive perfume. And as she walks up behind him, she breaks the seal of the perfume, and pours it over his head.
And apparently, it’s not just any kind of perfume. It’s pure nard. A very costly perfume that according to the passage was worth over three hundred denarii, which would have been a years wages. In today’s economy it would have been worth $30,000-$40,000.
And as you can imagine, her actions evoke an emotional response at the table as people watch in disbelief.
And as a result, Mark says some began to act indignantly. In other words, it ticked them off? Why? Because they thought it was a waste. They said, “The ointment could have been sold and given to the poor, and here you are dumping it on Jesus.” So Mark says, “They scolded her, they chastised her.”
But in the middle of their chastisement, Jesus speaks, and he says, “Leave her alone. What she’s done is right. What she’s done is beautiful. You’ll always have poor people who you can help, but you will not always have me.”
So, what’s going on here? What is the significance of this moment?
What’s going on here is this woman gets it. She understands. She see’s Jesus for who he is. How do we know? We know based on her response to Jesus.
First, we see it as she pours the the oil over Jesus, a significant OT act of kingship. You see, in the OT, when kings were put in place, they were anointed with oil.
We see it in as Samuel anoints Saul King. “Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, “Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people Israel?” (ESV)
We see it again in as David is anointed King. Samuel writes, “And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.”13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward.” (ESV)
This woman understands. She sees Jesus for who he is. Jesus is a king. He’s the King. So,, she acts accordingly, she anoints him.
Not only that, as she anoints him, she gives Jesus everything she has. As I said, the value of the perfume was a years wage. It was probably her life’s savings. It was her emergency fund. It was her earthly security. It was her future. But in that moment, she understood Jesus was is valuable than any earthly possession. So she gave everything she had to Him.
You want to know what the irony in this moment was. As this woman pours the oil over Jesus, as she anointed him, Judas sat there and watched. The person who was getting ready to betray Jesus for $3000 watched as this woman poured $30,000 over Jesus. And it bothered him. It bothered him a lot. How do we know? Listen to what the Apostle John says about this moment, because John identifies the ones it bothered.
4 “But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.” (ESV)
You see, this woman got it. She recognized Jesus for who he was, and in response, she anointed him gave him everything she had.
So, how does Jesus respond? Jesus says, because this woman did this, she will never be forgotten. In fact, throughout time, in the ages to come, wherever and whenever people hear the gospel, she will serve as the example. She will be the one to point to and say, “Respond like she did. If you want to follow Jesus. Recognize him as the king He is, give everything to Him, and you can follow Him.”
Here’s what this is saying to us. If you truly want to follow Jesus. Then it starts first with you making him king. It starts with you surrendering your power and your position. And that means you put him in charge. That means you let him sit in the drivers seat of your life. That means you live by his rules, not yours.
You see, to follow Jesus, you have to anoint him Lord of your life. If you can’t do that, and you can’t surrender your life to him, then you can’t follow him. And here’s the truth. If you try to follow Him, without making Him Lord, eventually you’ll hate him. And if you don’t believe me, take a good look at the world around you. A world that refuses to make Him Lord, and hates him.
Second, if you want to follow Jesus, you have to be willing to give him everything. You have to let go of this world. Let go of its desires. Let go of the false security it offers. Let go, and give it to Him.
You have to be like this woman, who saw that Jesus was more valuable than anything she had. Who understood he’s worth giving everything too.
Because the truth is, if you’re not willing to do that, then you risk betraying him. You risk as some point putting more value in something else. Your risk exchanging the eternal for something temporal that this world offers.
In order to follow Jesus, you have to surrender your life to Him, and give him everything. Every hope. Every desire. Every decision. Every choice. You surrender everything to Him.
You see, there are only three types of responses when it comes to Jesus, and it all depends on how you view him.
If you don’t see him as Lord, you’ll hate him. If you follow him half heartedly, you’ll betray him. Or, you can see him for the King he is, and give him everything.
As we close this morning, I guess my question for you is, “What is your response to Jesus?”
Because there are only three types of responses when it comes to Jesus, and it all depends on how you view him.
If you don’t see him as Lord, you’ll end up hating him and plotting against him. If you follow him half heartedly, you’ll never fully embrace him, and one day, you’ll betray him. Or, you can see him for the King he is, and like the woman in Bethany, you can give him everything, and like this woman secure your place in His Kingdom.
Because the good news of the gospel is, if you’ll make Jesus Lord of your life, and if you’ll give your life fully to him, then death will passover you. Through faith in Jesus and his sacrifice for you, you can have the assurance that when you die, you won’t die. Instead, you’ll continue to live with Him in His Kingdom.
But for that to happen, you have to make him Lord. You have to give yourself fully to him.
Let’s Pray