The Crowd -- Judas

I. The Betrayal  

Judas nervously chewed his lip.
 
As he waited in the candlelit hallway, a chill slipped down his spine. “Was he doing the right thing?”

For so long, he had thought Jesus to be his leader. He was kind. He was convincing. He had claimed to be the Messiah. He had promised to start a new kingdom. He had promised the treasures of God himself!

To Judas, that was appealing. He knew he would look great in an expensive, purple robe. He loved the idea of showing off his fine collection of art to the merchants of the area as they sat down listening to his hired harpists and sampled the finest wines from the outskirts of the Middle East. He longed for the moment that he would have more wealth on his fingers than his entire neighborhood had in their local bank. 

But the wealth never came. Judas kicked at the dirt. The wealth never came.

To be fair -- It could have! Oh how it could have! People loved Jesus. They were excited about Jesus. They respected Jesus. After he had fed thousands of them with another one of his unexplainable miracles, the people were ready to make him king and they wouldn’t have been that hard to ask them to finance his political campaign.

But Jesus wasn’t interested in money. He was interested in “spiritual wealth.” He talked about giving to the poor and taking care of widows. He went from place to place – not knowing where he would sleep each night. Oh how he hated that feeling.  As the group treasurer, he knew all too well that they didn’t have a lot. In fact, if Judas had not taken advantage of his position and snuck a coin here and a coin there, for his own pension…all of that time, years of his life, would have been a total waste!

Judas clenched his fist.  That would have been ok. Except. Except…Jesus had contradicted himself. When a woman spent thousands of dollars to take a bottle of vintage, top shelf perfume as a gift to Jesus – a gift which she promptly wasted by pouring out onto his feet, Jesus – defended her! There she was dumping liquid gold – Judas’ ticket to easy street – on to the floor where it seeped into the dust and slowly evaporated into nothing. And Jesus didn’t scold here. He didn’t tell her to give to the poor.

He scolded Judas!

“APPROACH!” One of the guards motioned with his scabbard. “The chief priests will see you now.”

Judas nodded. Nodded as if the speed of his neck’s movements would increase the likelihood that he was in the right.  

4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

Wow.

It’s crazy isn’t it? Gathered together as Christians one thing we can agree on is Jesus was awesome. He was a nice guy. He did miraculous things. Can you imagine one of his own disciples throwing his relationship away for a couple months’ wages?

I can.

See the story of Judas isn’t not about how crazy it is that Judas would betray his Savior. But how crazy, easy it is, for us to do the same.

• Oh no. Some of my friends on Facebook are bashing the Bible and its views on sexuality. I like Jesus. I want his approval, but…I really need the approval of my friends more. I better click – LIKE and UNLIKE the Gethsemane Facebook page. And…Jesus is Betrayed for a few Facebook friends. 

 

• Pastor is asking for offerings again? Ugh. I know I should give to Jesus, but I really want to save up for the new XBOX game. SORRY JESUS. I’m saving my funds for the New Star Wars game and I’m done hearing that you want my money! And…Jesus is betrayed for a few extra dollars in my wallet.

 

• It’s the alarm? Church time already? Ugh!!! I’m too tired this morning. Tell the kids’ we aren’t going. I know Jesus says it’s important to find rest in Him but…I need some rest in my bed. And…Jesus is betrayed for an extra hour of comfort.

 

• I get it Jesus. You want me to devote your life to you. But this boyfriend of mine…we aren’t married, but well…the sex is good. I know I should. But I can’t. I won’t. And…I won’t be coming to church anymore either. I don’t need the guilt. And…Jesus is betrayed for a little excitement.

 

• It’s nice that everyone is complimenting me right now. Granted. I couldn’t have done it without the abilities God has given me, but…I really like the adulation. I could thank God, but…I think I’ll let it soak it for a bit more. And if you call me out! I’ll go to a church that appreciates how great I am, never talks about sin, and leaves me feeling wonderful.  And…Jesus is betrayed for a few pats on the back.  

Here’s the truth.  If you look for fulfillment in things other than Jesus, you will inevitably betray him. It’s not a matter of if, but when. Your sinful heart will become too much and you will turn your back on your Savior.

Just like Judas. He found fulfillment in money, and wealth and the idea that the Messiah would bring him money and wealth. When it became clear that Jesus wouldn’t do that, Judas threw him away...

II. The Warning
 
It was as Judas was pondering that very thing when suddenly a gruff voice caused him to jerk in his seat.

"Do you want to get him?”  

A few drops of sweat formed beneath Judas’ beard.

“I said, “Do you want a biscuit?”

Judas nodded vigorously in order to hide his nervousness from Bartholomew. “Sure.”

But that kind of thing had been happening all night. Did they know? Did they know it was him? Did they know he was planning on betraying Jesus?

Batholomew handed him a piece of warm flatbread. “Here you go.” He smiled and patted Judas on the back.

They didn’t know. He had been so secret about it. They didn’t know and they wouldn’t find out. He was safe. He was in the clear. He could remain a part of these close friends and still get his reward for betraying Jesus. No one would ever know!

Then – Jesus caught his attention.   
 
Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you going to betray me.”

Judas gulped. How did Jesus know? Did he send spies? He couldn’t possible have done so? He had been so careful. He had been covering his tracks. This secret was his secret and his alone. Jesus didn’t know. “Breath deeply. I’m in the clear.”

Thankfully – his demeanor fit in with the mood of the room. The other disciples were nervous too. “Lord, who is it?” “It isn’t I, Lord.” “ I would never Lord.”

“It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.”
 
As the thick gravy seeped into the pores of the bread, It gave Judas a chance to think. Was this really the right thing? He could still stop it. Was betraying his friend and colleague really the right thing to do? He still had time to stop it. He still had time to tell the Pharisees no. He still had time to throw the silver back into their faces. He still had time to ask for forgiveness. He still had time to seek God’s mercy.

Then, Jesus gave the bread to Judas.

Back in college – I took Hebrew. Hebrew is not an easy subject. Because of that,  I think to properly learn Hebrew you need a hard-nosed Hebrew Professor. One who requires hard work and demands that you pay attention. Professor Nass was definitely that. He assigned pages of memorization. It took hours to prepare for his class. AND...he had the OVERHEAD. 

Do ya’ll remember overheads? You could put up pictures and outlines and word problems. Overheads were supposed to be used to guide learning They were the old school versions of Powerpoint.

My Professor used it for public shaming. He would turn on the overhead and slowly write down the number of A+’s, the number of A’s, the number of B’s, and so on and so forth.

I’ll never forget the time that my 70% was the only 70% in class. UGH. I felt like a fool.

When Jesus gives the bread to Judas, his goal is not Judas’ public humiliation.  He isn’t getting some kind of joy in pointing out Judas’ heart.

This is Jesus is calling out to Judas. It is Jesus panged that He is losing one of his own.  It is Jesus pleading with Judas to stop before it’s too late. To be saved from this sinful, path he was on!

If you’ve been betraying Jesus, understand this – God has been reaching out to you too!

How?

A commandment that you suddenly remember. A Bible passage that scrolls across your screen on Twitter. A friend who mentions that they are concerned for you. That nervousness you get when talking to a pastor – “I hope he doesn’t mention. Please don’t mention it. Please let me get away with it.”

This sermon. Right now.

That’s God. He’s calling on you to do what’s right. He’s calling on you to repent.

Listen to Him! Stop betraying your Savior. Instead…betray your sinful heart. Betray your sinful desires. Betray the things that lead to death and hold onto your Savior who leads to life.

The Apostle Paul wrote this, “I strike blows to my body and make it my slave so that…I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” Meaning he didn’t let his sexual urges control him. He didn’t let his greed control him. He didn’t let his laziness or anger or jealousy or need to be liked control him.

He betrayed those desires in order to follow Jesus.

That’s what Paul did.

That’s what God wants you to do.

But that’s not what Judas did.

III. The Betrayal

With a small army behind him, Judas and his mob marched through the garden. This time there was no nervousness. They were armed with clubs, torches, and small swords. There would be no fight. They converged on Jesus’ favorite quiet place. They overtook Jesus and his small group. They surrounded the disciples. Tension built.

Judas approached out of the crowd – with façade of arrogance masking the fear in his heart. “Greetings Rabbi!” he said. He looked right into the eyes of Jesus. He smirked. Then, he kissed him – emphatically on the cheek.

But as wild-eyed with surprise the other disciples were, Jesus was at ease. He had been expecting them. “Friend, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” Then, seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest.

Here’s the part that’s most incredible. After the interaction with Judas and the mob is surrounding him, Jesus asks them who they came for. When they say his name – Jesus simply says, “I am he.” He doesn’t run. He doesn’t hide. He doesn’t fight.

In fact, as He says that some kind of divine, supernatural force that knocks all of the soldiers to the ground. It’s a glimpse into the power and the strength that he could unleash at any time.

But Jesus didn’t unleash it. Instead? Instead he extended his arms, let the chains fasten around them, and he let them lead him away.

Isn’t it amazing? In spite the betrayal he endured from Judas and from you and from me, Jesus would not betray his mission. Jesus would not betray us. Jesus would not betray you. Scripture says, “When we were dead in our sins, God made us alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.”

That means If you have betrayed Jesus’, bow your head in shame, sure. But please lift it once more to see Jesus’ love. Watch as he holds out his hands. Listen as he quietly says, “Go ahead. Arrest me.”  Cringe as he endures insults. Follow as he walks step after step after step through that dark night – knowing full well that a cross awaited him.

Rest assured. Rest assured knowing that Jesus went through this, because he knew that on the other side of this suffering was you. A perfect existence with you. A peaceful, perfect existence for you by faith in him. In Him. IN HIM.

Brothers and sisters, by faith in Jesus, your betrayals have been forgiven. You are at peace with God.

Don’t betray that truth. Trust in it. Trust in Jesus.

Judas didn’t do that. Instead, Judas had a terrible ending. His guilt was so great that he figured Jesus could never forgive him. He ran back to the Pharisees and threw his silver on the ground. Then, he threw his life away as he hung from a tree.

Don’t you do the same. It isn’t too late. Not for you. Not matter what you’ve done. It isn’t too late because Jesus did not betray you. Repent. Turn from sin. Turn to your Savior.  

He will never betray you. Amen.