Betrayed with a Kiss
Easter 2024 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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12 By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.
13 She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son.
14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
In Saratoga, N.Y., there is a strange monument. It is comprised of a sculpture of a boot and an inscription of praise that never mentions by name the one being memorialized. The monument is in honor of Benedict Arnold, a brave Revolutionary War general before he became a traitor. His actions helped avoid disaster at the battle of Saratoga. When Arnold tried to sell out West Point Colonial Fort, he became a traitor. He later commanded a redcoat army against the colonists. He later went to England, where a few praised him, but most reviled him. He was given land in Canada, but that did not help him find any security or comfort in his latter days.
Someone thought Arnold deserved some kind recognition for his early bravery; but because he was anathema, his name never was mentioned on the inscription his boot was memorialized because he had been wounded in the leg in battle. That’s the way it is for traitors: Whatever good they might have done is obscured by the act of betrayal. Judas learned and taught that lesson.
In John we see the beginning of the passion of Christ. Here Judas Iscariot comes to Christ in the garden, and betrays him.
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered.
2 And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples.
3 Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.
4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”
5 They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them.
6 Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
7 Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
Matthew provides a little more insight into the events of this evening.
47 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.
48 Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.”
49 Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
50 But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.
The beginning of the passion of Christ began with betrayal.
Not from an associate, nor from a religious affiliate, but from within his inner circle.
Betrayal from without is not so surprising and sometimes even expected. However, it is the betrayal from within that cuts deeply.
Hav you ever been betrayed?
I.The Prophecy of Betrayal
I.The Prophecy of Betrayal
12 Then I said to them, “If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain.” So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver.
13 And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—that princely price they set on me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord for the potter.
3 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!”
5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.
6 But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.”
7 And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.
8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.
9 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced,
10 and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.”
A. The Silver
A. The Silver
B. The potter
B. The potter
C. The house of God
C. The house of God
II. The Person of Betrayal
II. The Person of Betrayal
Judas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot
70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?”
Judas was called Iscariot. There is some speculation as to the meaning of this obscure name.
Some indicate that it may have been the place of his birth.
Others say that Iscariot comes from the Greek word of similarity meaning assassin.
Either way it was Judas who followed Christ in action but not heart. His body was with Christ but his heart was far from Jesus and His ministry.
We find evidence of his false conversion in Luke and John.
3 Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.
27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”
The facade of Christianity can only last for a while. Sooner or later the truth will reveal itself.
III. The Price of Betrayal
III. The Price of Betrayal
50 But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.
12 Then I said to them, “If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain.” So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver.
13 And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—that princely price they set on me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord for the potter.
16 “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus;
17 for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.”
18 (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out.
19 And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.)
A. Shame
A. Shame
B. Regret
B. Regret
C. Death
C. Death
IV. The Phileo in Betrayal
IV. The Phileo in Betrayal
50 But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.
14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
We see two words used here in this passage. I’m sure that most of you are familiar with these terms. They are Agape and Philema (from the root word Phileo.)
Both of these are words for love, but Philema shows love in action, while agape is the love of God.
The usage of kiss in this passage is an outward display of inward affection. It is more than a physical touch, but it is meant to display affection of the heart.
Here Peter is encouraging believers to possess true affection for one another.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
You may say, “In this passage the word for love is Agape, does that mean I only have to love them in the Lord?” Yes, but what does that look like?
6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.