The Betrayer
Notes
Transcript
14 Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests
15 and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.
16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.
When we think of Judas Iscariot, what are some of the things we think of? He was one of the 12, apparently he was the treasurer, he treated the money as his own, he was greedy, he willfully betrayed Jesus, he had remorse, he committed suicide. Out of all these things, I think we all normally go straight to the betrayal, but how many of us look at the man himself. Who was Judas? What do we know about him?
16 He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter);
17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder);
18 Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot,
19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Judas is described in scripture as the son of Simon Iscariot,
71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.
"Iscariot” translates as “a man of Kerioth” – a small town in Judea south of Jerusalem. This makes Judas the only non-Galilean among the 12 disciples - the odd man out. Other than that he would betray Christ, this is about all we really know of Judas, as not much else is written specific detail of him in scripture. But, while we may not have much more than this on the man himself, we have plenty to speak of his character.
70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.”
While the disciples were men changed by Jesus, it is critical to understand each man chosen by Christ had to choose and be willing to be changed. The picture we get is, though chosen by Jesus, Judas chose to follow Jesus, but was not willing to be changed - he would ultimately betray Jesus and set into motion the events leading to Christ’s death. We can see this is evident in the description of his mind and heart during the betrayal, and the remorse he felt afterwards.
The Mind and Heart of the Disciples
The Mind and Heart of the Disciples
They were desired by Jesus. Christ had a wish that each of these men would follow Him, would imitate Him, and ultimately would be like Him - ministering to lost and dying world, and training others to minister after them. Jesus had specific, divine plans for these chosen men. Notice what Luke says about the selection of these disciples:
12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.
Christ prayed all night before choosing these twelve men, but when the selection was made we are given three specific purposes:
They were appointed (ordained) by Jesus
Ordained (epoiese): to be made or appointed. The word is taken from the Greek word poieo which means to do, to make, to appoint with credentials. The word is often used to refer to a person being appointed to some high position or office. The picture is that of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the future King of the universe, taking twelve men and appointing them to be His. He appoints (ordains) them to the office of being His ministers and representatives on earth.
They were send to preach the Gospel.
Preach (kerusso): to be a herald; to proclaim; to publish; to evangelize. The word carries with it the idea of intense feeling, gravity, and authority—so much so that it must be listened to and heeded. The person who preaches is the herald of Jesus Christ; that is, his message is the message of Christ, not of someone else. The herald does not share his own opinions and views; He proclaims the truth of Jesus Christ.
They had authority to cast out demons
Authority is the word exousia, a delegated power or authority. The servant of GOd is not give the power of God to use as they want, but the servant is givent the authority to specifically minister by healing and casting out demons when they pray and speak the words, and GOD does the supernatural act of healing and casting out.
The emphasis here is on casting out demons. The servant of Christ is given authority to cast out the evil spirits that rule our lives. There is a spiritual dimension acknowledged here.
But notice in 1 John 3:8 we are told :
8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
While Christ was called to destroy the works of the devil, notice what He says of Judas.
70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.”
Why did Christ intentionally choose Judas, knowing he would not accept His teachings or salvation? Simply because there would have to be someone who would set into motion God’s will - Christ had to die, so WE could live.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
The crucifixion of Jesus was not a historical accident. It was a carefully planned event.
3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
If Christ had not risen from the dead, we have nothing much to look forward to beyond this life, beyond our deaths, beyond the injustices of this world, and beyond our present comforts and discomforts.
At times, I think we fail to see the importance of our calling. As followers of Christ, we too have been chosen - and desired - by Jesus Christ for a specific purpose and mission - to go and make disciples. But we, like the original 12, must also choose - in our heart - whether we follow Jesus, or whether we will betray Him like Judas.
The Betrayal
The Betrayal
10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them.
11 And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.
30 silver coins. The price paid to a master for a slave gored by an ox. The cost to betray the Savior of the world was that of a mere slave.
32 If the ox gores a slave, male or female, the owner shall give to their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.
What had driven Judas to betray Jesus? While we have the advantage of looking back through scripture and seeing that God’s plan was being fulfilled, again we see no indication of what would have driven Judas to have betrayed Christ until the dinner 6 days before Passover.
3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said,
5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”
6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.
One who was chosen by Christ, had been ministered to and taught by Christ, had seen the miracles performed sickness healed made a conscious decision to willingly CHOSE to turn his back on Jesus. It is rather simple - Judas had never CHOSEN to truly follow Christ.
While at times I think Judas is easy to pin the blame on, notice Luke shows us he was only a part of a much darker cloud of deceit.
1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover.
2 And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.
3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve.
4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them.
The chief priests and scribes were already plotting to kill Christ. Why? Simply because the people He ministered to were seeing the truth, accepting to the Gospel message, and following Christ instead. Imagine that, people leaving a church to SEEK Christ. Now days, people leave Christ to seek entertainment at a church! Notice the chief priests and scribes were not planning to kill Him themselves, but was looking for ways to “get the job done”. Judas was the one with the wrong motive at the right time. I guess they thought if they didn’t commit the act themselves, and had someone else do the deed, they would not break their own commandments.
13 “You shall not murder.
Jesus even acknowledges He knows of the plan that has been put in place.
21 And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”
22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?”
23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me.
24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”
Judas is given a way out of this act against Jesus, his sin is even blatantly acknowledged by Christ to his face. Yet he again chooses to not follow Jesus.
In Psalm 41:9 this betrayal was told:
9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
And we see it come to reality in the garden of Gethsemane.
46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
47 While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people.
48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.”
49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him.
50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.
Luke 22:48 includes this: but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Three time, Judas was given an opportunity to turn from his evil plan.
At the dinner with Martha, Mary, and Lazarus,
At the Passover Meal,
And at the garden of Gethsemane.
Three times, Judas had a choice, three times he chose to turn his back of Christ. It wasn’t until the deed was done, and Jesus was turned over to the chief priests and elders that Judas realizes his mistake and has remorse for what he has done, but it’s too late.
Remorse, Not Repentance
Remorse, Not Repentance
3 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders,
4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.”
5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.
6 But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.”
7 So they took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field as a burial place for strangers.
8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.
9 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel,
10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.”
When Judas realized the outcome of the debates:
1 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.
2 And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor.
he was filled with remorse and went back to the officials. He had never thought this would be the outcome to his betrayal. He knew he had betrayed an innocent man, but Judas’ remorse was too late. The damage had already been done. Now, please notice this, while Judas realized now the fate that faced Jesus, it was all in God’s perfect plan that it had to be completed. If it had not been a man named Judas, it could have been anyone.
I have often wondered what was going through Judas’ mind at the time. Taking the silver back to the priests - what was he expecting them to do? Sure, give us the silver back and we will start over. Release Jesus! No! God’s divine plan had been set in motion, and do you think it finally dawned on Judas that maybe he was the one prophecided about in the Old Testament? The religious leaders could have cared less, pointing out this was his problem, not theirs.
Do you think maybe he realized the great betrayal of a good friend? Do you think he may have just been disgusted by what he had done? It is not recorded, o we will never know the motive behind returning the silver. We do know that Judas’ grief was real. Judas went off by himself, brooded over his terrible crime, and finally hanged himself.
Just as with Judas, our sins are a constant reminder of how short we come compared to Jesus. We can try to cover them up, we can try to even throw them away, but it will never get rid of the remorse we have for betraying Jesus. It is only when we realize we can not save ourselves, but only Jesus Christ that can take away the guilt and the shame of sin, that we can ever be set free. It is too late for Judas, but not for us today.
Closing
Closing
Think of those who had beaten Jesus, stripped Him and cast lots for His clothing, had nailed Him to the cross, and would spit on Him, place a crown of thorns on His head, and ridicule Him. They had a choice to make. Judas had a choice he had to make. We have a choice to make.
We can be around the church, we can attend services, we might even act like we are a Christian BUT if we just go through the motions without a true change, we too are just as lost as Judas.
Oh, but can I tell you Jesus has made the choice to forgive you? Not only does he offer us salvation, but VICTORY through the death of Jesus Christ.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Do you feel victorious? Are you sure of your salvation? Have you made the choice to follow Jesus Christ? If not, what better day than today?