Betrayal Series

Intro: Someone’s last words seem to echo in our ears, don’t they? Whether famous or infamous, their last words tend to be ones of transparency and often clarity.

I want to share some famous last words from history and see if you can identity them.

1) This famous chap said, ‘I’m bored with it all.” Sir Winston Churchill

2) According to his sister Mona, this founder/inventor shared these last words, “Oh wow. Oh Wow. Oh wow.” Steve Jobs

3) While her housekeeper was praying for her these last words fell, [blank] Don’t you dare ask God to help me! Joan Crawford

4) While facing the ammunition of an enemy sniper he said, “They couldn’t hit an elephant at this dist -- General John Sedgewick shot in midsentence.

5) Known for his witty statements this successful playwright was known for the line, “Be nice to people on the way up because you’ll meet the same people on the way down.”

When on his deathbed, a priest said, “I’m sure you want to talk to me.” He told the priest, “Why should I talk to you? I’ve just been talking to your boss.” Wilson Mizner

6) Upon being stabbed by a friend it is reported he said, “Et Tu Brute” – Julius Caesar

7) After one of the most diabolical betrayals of all history he said, “I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood.” Matthew 27:4 He then went out and hanged himself. Judas Iscariot

We as Americans know a powerful story of betrayal. What comes to your mind when I mention the name Benedict Arnold? There are probably not a lot of positive words. Did you know that he was a 5-star general known for his patriotic zeal and was respected and well like by George Washington himself? After being wounded and passed over for promotion by 5 subordinates something changed in Arnold. Bitterness and rejection led him down the road to revenge. His plot was to turn West Point over to the British. He could have gone down in history as a hero. Instead, his name is shared as a synonym for traitor!

You may not know it because of the black shadow of treachery that hangs over Judas’ head, but He too was a man of promise. Jesus personally chose Judas to be one of His 12. His apparent integrity, number skills and respect led the disciples to choose Him to be the money man.

I. The progression of betrayal

A) His parent’s expectations

Judas’ name means traitor, betrayer today.

Judas’ name in the time of Jesus was popular and well used.

Judas’ name comes from a word that means to hold out and praise. His parent’s vision for Judas’ life

was to worship God. Jesus calls Judas the son of perdition(destruction) in John 17:12. It’s a word that

means waste. How could things have changed so drastically? How could a person named for worship

become a waste?

B) His teachers understanding

The remarkable thing is Jesus knew about Judas all along! You can fool your parents, you can fool your

preacher, you can fool you peers, you cannot fool the master!

Scholars and preachers have attempted to discover what Judas’ motivation for betraying his teacher

was.

1) He was hypocrite – Appeared to be a devoted follower of Jesus but was only devoted to Himself.

2) He was greedy – John 12:1-7 when Mary anointed Jesus’ feet it was revealed by John the reason

Judas protested the extravagant display of worship was because he stole from the money bag.

John 13:21 Jesus made clear that one of his 12 would betray Him. Do you find it surprising that no one

looked at Judas and said, “I knew it! He looks like a creepy crook. Look at those beady little eyes!

John 13:22 They looked at one another uncertain of who it was!

3) He was impatient – Some think Judas believed that Jesus was the Messiah but couldn’t wait any

longer for Jesus to flex His muscles and call in the troops. What Jesus needed was encouragement to

begin destroying Rome.

C) His personal decisions

If you look to scripture you will find that it wasn’t because he was a hypocrite, greedy, or impatient.

Matthew 27:3 “Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was full of remorse and

returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. 4 “I have sinned by betraying innocent

blood,” he said.

Judas is not as easy to figure out as some preachers and scholars would like us to believe. He returned

the 30 pieces of silver and appeared to regret betraying Jesus.

John 6:64 “But there are some among you who don’t believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning those

who would not believe and the one who would betray Him.)