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.

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.

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.

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.

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.