Intro: Someone’s last words seem to echo in our ears, don’t they? Whether famous or infamous, their last words tend to be ones of transparency and often clarity.
I want to share some famous last words from history and see if you can identity them.
1) This famous chap said, ‘I’m bored with it all.” Sir Winston Churchill
2) According to his sister Mona, this founder/inventor shared these last words, “Oh wow. Oh Wow. Oh wow.” Steve Jobs
3) While her housekeeper was praying for her these last words fell, [blank] Don’t you dare ask God to help me! Joan Crawford
4) While facing the ammunition of an enemy sniper he said, “They couldn’t hit an elephant at this dist -- General John Sedgewick shot in midsentence.
5) Known for his witty statements this successful playwright was known for the line, “Be nice to people on the way up because you’ll meet the same people on the way down.”
When on his deathbed, a priest said, “I’m sure you want to talk to me.” He told the priest, “Why should I talk to you? I’ve just been talking to your boss.” Wilson Mizner
6) Upon being stabbed by a friend it is reported he said, “Et Tu Brute” – Julius Caesar
7) After one of the most diabolical betrayals of all history he said, “I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood.” Matthew 27:4 He then went out and hanged himself. Judas Iscariot
We as Americans know a powerful story of betrayal. What comes to your mind when I mention the name Benedict Arnold? There are probably not a lot of positive words. Did you know that he was a 5-star general known for his patriotic zeal and was respected and well like by George Washington himself? After being wounded and passed over for promotion by 5 subordinates something changed in Arnold. Bitterness and rejection led him down the road to revenge. His plot was to turn West Point over to the British. He could have gone down in history as a hero. Instead, his name is shared as a synonym for traitor!
You may not know it because of the black shadow of treachery that hangs over Judas’ head, but He too was a man of promise. Jesus personally chose Judas to be one of His 12. His apparent integrity, number skills and respect led the disciples to choose Him to be the money man.
I. The progression of betrayal
A) His parent’s expectations
Judas’ name means traitor, betrayer today.
Judas’ name in the time of Jesus was popular and well used.
Judas’ name comes from a word that means to hold out and praise. His parent’s vision for Judas’ life
was to worship God. Jesus calls Judas the son of perdition(destruction) in John 17:12. It’s a word that
means waste. How could things have changed so drastically? How could a person named for worship
become a waste?
B) His teachers understanding
The remarkable thing is Jesus knew about Judas all along! You can fool your parents, you can fool your
preacher, you can fool you peers, you cannot fool the master!
Scholars and preachers have attempted to discover what Judas’ motivation for betraying his teacher
was.
1) He was hypocrite – Appeared to be a devoted follower of Jesus but was only devoted to Himself.
2) He was greedy – John 12:1-7 when Mary anointed Jesus’ feet it was revealed by John the reason
Judas protested the extravagant display of worship was because he stole from the money bag.
John 13:21 Jesus made clear that one of his 12 would betray Him. Do you find it surprising that no one
looked at Judas and said, “I knew it! He looks like a creepy crook. Look at those beady little eyes!
John 13:22 They looked at one another uncertain of who it was!
3) He was impatient – Some think Judas believed that Jesus was the Messiah but couldn’t wait any
longer for Jesus to flex His muscles and call in the troops. What Jesus needed was encouragement to
begin destroying Rome.
C) His personal decisions
If you look to scripture you will find that it wasn’t because he was a hypocrite, greedy, or impatient.
Matthew 27:3 “Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was full of remorse and
returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. 4 “I have sinned by betraying innocent
blood,” he said.
Judas is not as easy to figure out as some preachers and scholars would like us to believe. He returned
the 30 pieces of silver and appeared to regret betraying Jesus.
John 6:64 “But there are some among you who don’t believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning those
who would not believe and the one who would betray Him.)
Judas was close to Jesus but not close with Jesus. He was around Jesus but not abiding in Jesus.
Treason is never spur of the moment it is built minute by minute!
He was greedy because He didn’t believe, He was impatient because He didn’t believe, He was a
hypocrite because He didn’t believe, He was a betrayer because – He didn’t believe. Judas biggest
failure was not turning on Jesus it was His failure to turn to Jesus.
II. The procession of betrayal
The progression of betrayal leads us to Matthew 26:47 Jesus had just spent @ 3 agonizing hours in prayer in
the Garden of Gethsemane.
Matthew records in 26:47 “Judas, one of the twelve.” (Judas comes adding insult to injury)
It seems redundant doesn’t it? Nine times in the gospels we have this statement and 8 of those refer to
Judas. What is Matthew trying to communicate? He is trying to share the shock, sadness and the
heartbreak their brother and friend caused them.
Nothing hurts the soul like the bitter pain of betrayal. It is difficult when you are hurt by an enemy, it can be
debilitating when you are wounded by family or friend. When someone trusted turns on you it tears up your
self-esteem, it hinders your ability to trust, it hamstrings your ability to be in close personal relationships.
Judas had abandoned friendship for force. He came with a company of soldiers. This was about 1/10 of a
full legion. A full legion would be 6000 a company about 600.
It’s dark there are no streetlights, no android or IPhone lights, he has to give a sign. What will it be? The sign
of affection! Matthew 26:48 “The one who I kiss, He’s the one arrest Him!”
The Greek word for kiss here is not a peck on the cheek! This is the way the Father of the prodigal smothered
his son with kisses. He makes a spectacle of the sign! A show!
Hear me, your PDA, public displays of affection for Jesus mean nothing more than Judas’ if you are don’t
and receive Jesus!
Understand Jesus knows what its like to be betrayed!
Psalm 41:9 “Even my friend in whom I trusted, one who ate my bread, has raised his heel against me.”
You may have faced the music of this mob before. It may have been led by your spouse, a child, a dear
friend. Maybe at home, work, or school. Jesus and David both give us a way not out of the pain but
through it!
III. The reaction to betrayal
Maybe you are there now. Wrestling with the pain of betrayal. What should we do? Do we seek revenge,
or do we release those responsible? If you are the one who betrayed have your offered repentance or more
resistance?
If we follow Jesus, we seek help and healing. Jesus knows how to turn the burden of hurt the blessing of
healing!
A) Refuse to retaliate (Matthew 26:5 “Friend”)
Jesus is the Lord. Deuteronomy 32:35 “Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay. In time their foot will slip, for
their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.”
If anyone has the right to retaliate its Jesus! Even at this point I believe that Jesus is reminding Judas of His
grace! My mind just thinks Jesus just said frenemy!
As he reminds Judas of an invitation to know Him as friend, He reminds us of truth.
If you are to love anyone you must take risks is to love and forgive real people.
The challenge is to love and forgive real people
There is no guarantee that you will not be hurt.
When you trust someone, you will at some point be trampled.
Anybody can love an ideal person; the most important truth. God can use the betrayal of another to make
sure you are in the middle of His will!
B) Release your hurt to God (Psalm 55:1-2)
David is having trouble dealing with his hurt. He can’t seem to get his mind off of it.
Psalm 55:7-8 David was willing to give up his throne, kingdom, power because of the heartache. Psalm
55:12-13 makes clear it was someone who went to church with Him, their kids had played sports
together!
James Merritt wisely says the worst thing you can do is harbor hurt. The best thing you can do is take it
to the Lord. As I have told you in the past Let God have it!
God is always available, never judgmental, and always able to help!
C) Realign your heart to God (Psalm 55:16-19)
When you are thrown under the bus, stabbed in the back, left holding the bag, you can choose to be
trapped by your betrayer or set free by your savior. Betrayal can quickly become bitterness unless you
realign your heart with God’s grace.
David is rehearsing who God is! He believes God rescues, listens, liberates!
55:17 Morning, noon, night – 24:7 I am rehearsing who God is!
Jesus gives us a powerful example, focus on God and forgive your betrayer.
D) Rely on your God to heal your heart! (Psalm 55:20-21)
That will take a revelation of who your friend is. This “friend wasn’t just a back stabber but was a gossip. Here’s a revelation for you, if you hang out with people that talk bad about others, they will talk bad about you! There comes a point when God will direct you to leave behind the one who left you! Forgiveness does not mean you welcome them back into your trust.
Psalm 55:23 God I will trust in you. You can face the deepest hurt and the meanest hurter if you will trust God!
E) Rein your hope to God!
Betrayal feels a lot like death. A friendship or relationship may be over forever. However, that doesn’t mean your life is over. Christian, we learned in Colossians your life is hidden in God!
Psalm 55:22 Some of us know what its like to tie our hopes to relationships that didn’t last. David directs us to cast our line of hope on Jesus.
When you are blindsided by someone that was going to block for you it is difficult to stand. However, it is not impossible. God will never allow His righteous to be shaken! If you tie your troubles to Him, you can always stand!
Which are you today? Betrayer or betrayed. Both need to come to Jesus.
Betrayer repent, turn to Jesus
and turn to the others you betrayed and ask forgiveness.
Betrayed, turn toward Jesus and turn loose those that hurt you!
