The Betrayal Part I
Dr. Paul G. Humphrey
I received an email the other day that told about a really smart crook.
Police in Radnor, Pa., interrogated a suspect by placing a metal Colander on his head and connecting it with wires to a photocopy machine. The Message "He’s lying" was placed in the copier, and police pressed the copy Button each time they thought the suspect wasn’t telling the truth. Believing
the "lie detector" was working, the suspect confessed. [Source Unknown]
This morning we are going to be looking at a thief. As we approach Easter, I thought that it would be good to look at the betrayal of Jesus. Let us begin in Matthew.
MT 26:20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me."
What a shocking statement this must have been to the disciples. These men are like a band of brothers. They may compete with one another and sometimes argue, none-the-less they are close. They have lived together, traveled together, eaten together, prayed together, and served together. They all realize the risk that they face together as followers of Jesus.
Looking in hind-sight, it is probably difficult for us to imagine the perplexity that this statement of Jesus brought to the disciples. “One of you will betray me.” We want to say, it is Judas. You guys should know that it is Judas, he is the sneaky one.
In reality, Judas was likely the last one that they would have picked to be the betrayer. Judas was their treasurer. This seems to suggest to us that he was the one that they trusted most.
Before we go to the next verse, I want you to ponder a question. How would you expect the disciples to react to Jesus’ statement, “one of you will betray me?” I would expect, “just show us the rotten scoundrel and we will have at him.” Instead, the disciples react in a very telling way. Look to verse 22.
I. We don’t need to have an over inflated view of ourselves when it comes to temptation.
MT 26:22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?"
This is probably the most sincere statement that the disciples make during the events that follow.
First and foremost, they were sad. Does it sadden your heart to see a servant of God fall? There have been a number of notable ministers caught in some very troubling situations. Failures run the gamut, theft, prostitution, you name it. Some of these were never really ministers to begin with, rather they were simply con artists who didn’t fall, but rather were never walking in Christ to begin with. Others have truly fallen, some to get back up, others to walk away altogether. Either way, it should make us sad.
Not only were they sad to think that one of their fellow members might fall, they also had the realization: “It might be me.”
They were probably all scared. They knew the risk that went with following Jesus. Each one was probably envisioning how his own betrayal might work out. “Could it be that I would become so scared that I would run?” “Could it be that I might be so afraid that I would turn my back on Jesus in his time of need?” Not only was this a possibility for each one of them, it was going to happen. It was even predicted in the Old Testament that the flock would be scattered. In one respect they all forsake him. But, Jesus is speaking of a much more deliberate action. Not an action done in the midst of fear and uncertainty, but rather a planned out decision.
Come with me in your imagination to the battlefield of Saratoga in New York where in 1777 two battles of the Revolutionary War took place. You will notice on that battlefield an obelisk or pillar standing as a monument to what happened there. At the base are four deep niches for the bronze figures of the generals who fought there so heroically. The first contains the figure of Horatio Gates while the second contains that of Philip Schuyler. In the third niche we see the figure of Daniel Morgan, but when we come to the fourth we see something unusual.
The fourth niche is empty. This one was for a general whose performance during battle merited honor. However, he later committed an act of treason and his name became associated with being a traitor rather than a hero. Yet at the base of that empty niche, we can see the name of this general engraved in the stone. His name is Benedict Arnold, and that niche will stand forever as a monument of one who went from heroism to treason.
In heaven a great monument is there also consisting of twelve foundations on each of which is the name of an apostle. However, on that celestial monument there is a name that is missing, the name of Judas Iscariot. Oh, the tragedy of abandoning noble purposes!
Contributed by: Howard Flynn [SermonCentral]
What can we say about Judas?
As I said earlier, he was a thief and he was their treasurer.
At this point, it appears that Judas has already taken the thirty pieces of silver. Look back for a moment to Matthew
MT 26:14 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 hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
The book of Mark shows us that Judas went to the chief priests right after Mary Magdalene anointed Jesus with very expensive oil. The deal has already been struck as Jesus reveals the betrayal.
John shows us that Judas was extremely disturbed by Mary anointing Jesus with oil.
JN 12:4 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. " 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
From John, we see that Judas made his deal with the religious leaders right after he had been angered over loosing money that he could have stole. A year’s wages could have been placed in the bag that Judas stole from. Many today attempt to provide some noble reasons for which Judas betrayed Jesus, Scripture seems to tell us a very different story.
The book of John also shows us demonic activity associated with Judas. Look to John 13:2.
JN 13:2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.
We are going to be looking back to Matthew, in a moment, but first, I want to show you a couple more verses in John.
JN 13:26 Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
"What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him, 28 but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
Scripture tells us that Satan entered into Judas, but I would remind you that he was a greedy thief long before this event happened.
Look at verse 30 again: JN 13:30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
When we turn our back on Jesus darkness is a pretty good description of life.
I have heard a lot of different views concerning Judas. Some believe that Judas was a Zealot, who belonged to a secret sect called Sicarii. They were assassins who stalked and killed Roman victims. Some of the movies that I have seen have expanded upon this opinion and have showed him to be one who wanted to push the envelope if you will. One who through turning Jesus over to the Priests would instill a great revolt and usher in the promised kingdom. But, every bit of this is based upon Iscariot meaning Sicarii. Others believe that Iscariot comes from the Hebrew word saqar which means liar. His father is also called Iscariot… either of these theories would suggest both worked as assassins, or both were known as liars.
Think about that for a minute. By Judas and his father both been known as secret assassins, would that be public knowledge? Wouldn’t that be kind of like having “terrorist” written on your mailbox?
John 6:70 shows us that Judas’ father was also called Iscariot.
JN 6:70 Then Jesus replied, "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!" 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)
I can’t buy into both father and son bearing the name liar or assassin, it just doesn’t sound right.
I would say to you that Iscariot is derived from Judas’ hometown. I believe that they were probably from a place called Kerioth. Just as Jesus is called Jesus of Nazareth, so it is with Judas and his father, and likely a far reaching lineage.
What we can say in regard to Judas is that he was a thief. He was greedy, but portrayed himself well to all who knew him.
In essence, he has already betrayed Jesus, but, he is about to finish up the deal. There is still time to turn back.
Let’s get back to our passage in Matthew.
The disciples want to know who it is. Look to verse 23.
MT 26:23 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."
It was predicted, yet, that did not do away with Judas’ free will or responsibility.
A demon entered Judas, but he was a thief, and he had already made the deal even before this time. He can’t say, “the devil made me do it.”
People argue some strange things regarding Judas’ eternal destination. But, I think that this verse speaks loudly. “It would be better for him had he never been born.” We can’t know Judas’ final destination, but things certainly don’t look good.
MT 26:25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?"
Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you."
We are going to hold off on the reading of verses 26 and 27 for a moment, because we are going to use them as we take communion this morning.
There is something more that I want to show you before we take communion. Look down to verse 31
Judas has already left at this point.
MT 26:31 Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:
" `I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."
MT 26:33 Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will."
MT 26:34 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."
MT 26:35 But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same.
II. The major difference between Judas and the other disciples was where they sought atonement.
Each and every one of them fell away and had to eat their own words. Yet, all but one was reinstated. Tonight we are going to be looking further at the betrayal. For now, it is enough to say that Judas did have remorse, but went to the Chief Priests to find his atonement, and there was none to be found. What if he had went to the cross?
We each and everyone have fallen short. But there is a way of forgiveness.
Many will never really hear the words of redemption. Judas certainly seemed to dismiss Jesus words. Oh, but if he had listened to what Jesus said as he broke the bread and gave the cup. Even Judas could have found redemption had he turned to Jesus rather than turning to the Priests. A lot of people have different notions about the salvation or demise of Judas, but I can’t help but reflect on a verse we already looked at this morning that said, “it would be better for him had he never been born.”
Our forgiveness comes at a great cost.
I invite you to hear these words that Judas seems to have dismissed.
MT 26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
MT 26:27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom."
MT 26:30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
I invite you to partake of this bread and cup. Let us pray.
Holy Communion
The second part of this message will be tonight. I hope that you can attend.
