A Walk with
Christ to the Cross: Betrayed and Denied
A Walk with
Christ to the Cross: Betrayed and Denied
Mitch Marlowe / General
A Walk with Christ to the Cross
Introduction
Have you ever
been betrayed? Perhaps it was a
relationship that for whatever reason went south. Perhaps it was someone trying to get leverage
on you for their financial gain. Perhaps
it was someone you loved. Betrayal, just
like in all these scenarios, is very painful.
Betrayal is
evident throughout the history of man and evident in the Bible.
Psalm 41:9 NIV84
Even my close friend, whom I trusted,
he who shared my bread,
has lifted up his heel against me.
he who shared my bread,
has lifted up his heel against me.
And again in
Psalm 55:12-14
Psalm 55:12–14 NIV84
If an enemy were insulting me,
I could endure it;
if a foe were raising himself against me,
I could hide from him.
But it is you, a man like myself,
my companion, my close friend,
with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship
as we walked with the throng at the house of God.
I could endure it;
if a foe were raising himself against me,
I could hide from him.
But it is you, a man like myself,
my companion, my close friend,
with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship
as we walked with the throng at the house of God.
Jesus
experienced betrayal as He was approaching the cross.
Matthew 26:14–16 NIV84
Then one of the
Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 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. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand
him over.
Betrayal is
something that just doesn’t happen overnight.
Usually it comes about over a period of time where there has been lots
of thought put in to it. That thought
could be centered around a lie or misperception that was allowed to be fueled
for whatever reason to the point it becomes an inferno that gets out of
control.
Judas Iscariot
was one of the chosen 12. Over a period
of almost 3 years he had seen and heard Jesus.
There are a handful of verses that we can learn about Judas, most of
which identify him as the one who betrayed Jesus. One particular passage, we learn about more
about the character of Judas:
John 12:1–6 NIV84
Six days before the
Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised
from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while
Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a
pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped
his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 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.
But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 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.
Jesus rebuked
him.
Later in John
13, Jesus identifies Judas as the one that was going to betray Him.
Judas
evidently was a person of great potential.
After all Jesus had chosen Him to be one of the Apostles. Jesus loved him and gave him the most
honored opportunity: the privilege of
walking with Him personally.
From the
scriptures we learn that Judas:
• knew Christ face-to-face
• walked with Christ every day
• Heard most of what Christ
taught
• Witnessed most of what Christ
accomplished
• was trained to be an apostle by
Christ Himself
• Served on witnessing tours
under the command of Christ
• Was a leader among the
disciples and was respected by them
• was an outstanding business
leader
• was the treasurer of the group
• enjoyed the love and
camaraderie of his fellow disciples
• was warned of sin’s
consequences by Christ Himself
There’s much
to be said about the strengths and opportunities that Judas had been given, yet
he fell to the depths of evil.
Why?
Well, Judas
seemed to be guilty of selfish ambition.
It seems he joined up with Jesus for all the wrong reasons. He thought that Jesus was going to trample
all religious authority and political obstacles and set up an earthly kingdom.
Judas must
have loved the attention in that the crowds gave Jesus.
However, Judas
came to a point where he didn’t like what Jesus was teaching about giving the
poor and helping the sick. Judas wanted
power and perhaps he grew increasing bitter because his expectations weren’t
being met. Jesus was not the Messiah he
had hoped for.
I had a
professor that said once “selfishness is the sin that stinks all the way to
heaven.” I think Judas was guilty of
selfishness. In fact, we learn that for
30 silver coins, Judas was convinced to turn Jesus over to the authorities.
John 13:18–30 NIV84
“I am not referring to
all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture:
‘He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’
“I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”
After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.”
His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”
Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
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. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
“What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him, but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him.
“I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”
After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.”
His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”
Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
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. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
“What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him, but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him.
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. As soon as Judas had taken the bread,
he went out. And it was night.
The disciples
thought that Judas was leaving to go get things for the feast. They had no idea
what he was about to do.
Jesus
knew. He always knows. He knows whether our motives are pure or
selfish. He knows all things. Amazingly, yet He still loves us.
There is a
lesson we can learn here:
It is possible
to be:
• Loved by Jesus
• Gifted
• Around other Christians
• Students of the teachings of
Christ
• A “supposed” Christian leader
• One who witnesses supernatural
miracles
• Respected by others
and STILL be
an enemy of Christ.
The betrayal
by Judas of Christ convinces me that there are satanic traps all around and we
have to be very careful.
1 Peter 5:8 NIV84
Be self-controlled and
alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for
someone to devour.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV84
No temptation has
seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let
you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also
provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Later in the
story we learn that Jesus tells Peter that before the rooster crows he will
have denied Christ 3 times.
Sure enough,
it happens just like that.
If Judas can
betray and Peter can deny, what could you and I do?
The point is
that you and I are no better than a Judas or a Peter. We have daily opportunities to confess Christ
as Lord or betray and deny Him, even to the point of saying that we do not know
Him.
Are you
protecting your relationship with Christ?
Are you living out your life fully for Him or are you betraying and
denying Him?
Here are a few
things that you and I can to avoid the trap of betrayal and denial:
1. First and foremost, stay close
and stay clean. Stay close to the cross
and avoid anything that might dishonor what Christ has done for us.
2. Pray. Pray and then Pray.
3. Commit to being a student of
God’s word by scheduling daily time to study it and meditate on it.
4. Connect with a small group that
will pray with you and hold you accountable.
5. Understand that you and I are
not invincible and we will fail.
However, when we do, God’s forgiveness is greater than any failure we
may have. His restoration is beautiful
and His grace is sufficient.