Into The Night: Judas Series

INTO THE NIGHT: JUDAS

John 13:30

Jn 13:30 So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night.

I've always been intrigued since a 12 yr old kid about John 13:30. My pastor had talked about Judas going out into the night. I don't remember much of his sermon from 40+ years ago, just the premise that while it was certainly night time, he also completed his journey into a spiritual darkness that was darker than any night could be.

The next 3 weeks, we’re going to be looking at the Last Supper and focus on 3 men, Judas, Peter, and Jesus. After leaving that fellowship, each of them went out into the night. For these 3, it will be a dark night of dark decisions, dark failures, and the darkness of torture. One will commit an act of betrayal, one will curse and deny the Lord, and One will be tortured thru the night and die on the cross the next day.

1. THE BETRAYER.

Mt 26:14-16 14 Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?” And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him. 16 From then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus.

This tells us about how Judas met with the chief priests and asked how much they would pay him to betray Jesus. He sought them! They weighed out 30 pieces of silver and the deal was made.

It was a grand week! The Passover in Jerusalem. They were all gathered to worship and to celebrate. Passover night. The gospels all relate the things Jesus talked about that night. Judas was there listening to all He was saying. What was Judas thinking??

* unity and love- knowing he had already promised to betray Him.

* Commitment to Christ- knowing he was committed only to himself.

* How He would be betrayed- Does He know what I have planned?

* How He would die soon- really? Should I go thru with this?

* Jesus washed his feet- how do you betray someone that loves you?

Then Jesus stated that the person who would betray Him was in that very room. Eleven disciples were incredulous! They all asked Him, “Lord, is it I?” But one disciple already knew the answer. He had already set the betrayal in motion days before. His question was not “Lord, is it I?”, but “Lord, do you know it is me?”

Jesus said it would be one of them. One who would eat the morsel from His hand.

I believe Judas had every opportunity to repent and not betray Jesus right up until the time he ate that morsel with sin in his heart. As soon as he did that, Satan entered him.

Once Satan entered him, the decision was sealed.

It is further evidence of why no one should partake of the Lord’s Supper with sin in their heart.

2. OVERWHELMING GUILT.

A. The Betrayal.

We next see Judas coming to the Garden with a crowd of armed men with him.

Jesus and a few disciples had just finished praying there.

Judas knew exactly where they would be.

He coldly walked right up to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him on the cheek.

This was the sign.

** It’s been said in that in a 12 hour span that Judas had kissed the door of Heaven and busted the gates of Hell wide open.

What drove Judas to betray Jesus?

(1) Broken Dreams- all were hoping that Jesus was setting up an earthly kingdom. Judas likely thought he would be a powerful man. When Jesus made it plain that wasn’t His plan, it likely angered Judas.

(2) Greed- when it became obvious the kingdom would never happen, Judas decided to at least get something out of it. 30 pieces of silver.

(3) Fear- Judas and the others knew the Pharisees were plotting against Jesus. He probably thought he would be persecuted too unless he switched sides and betrayed Him.

B. The Long Dark Night. After the arrest, Judas was left alone.

* He had no friends, he had betrayed Jesus and the disciples.

* The Jews weren’t his friends- no one likes a traitor.

If someone will betray a person to you, they will Betray you also.

* Satan left him after destroying his life. Satan is a liar, a thief and a murderer. Once he had destroyed Judas, he had no more use for him.

I wonder what Judas thought about during the night as they were torturing Jesus?

* Better Him than me..... but I think that didn’t last very long.

After all, Jesus had shown great love for Him. What else did he think about?