Jesus And Judas: Volunteer Or Victim? (Good Friday Message) Series

In his State of the Union address in January 2002, President George W. Bush called on all Americans to become more engaged as active citizens and to volunteer 4,000 hours over their lifetimes to volunteer service.

This “Call to Service” that President Bush suggested was for the purpose of “taking personal action to improve the lives of others.”

Yet, this week I did a little study to see what it costs to volunteer especially if you leave home like Jesus did and go abroad to volunteer. I was surprised to see that the NPR already did the study and reported that the average cost of volunteering is $1037.00 per week abroad, not to mention travel costs.

Here’s how the math works out: There are 168 hours in a week so if someone did as President Bush suggests of 4000 hours that would be 23.81 weeks in their lifetime which would cost

$24, 690.97 to serve others for free.

The bottom line is: Volunteering is never free. In reality; it is costly. Volunteers don’t get paid, in reality; instead they pay.

Transition:

Yet, volunteering is powerful. Dave Glynn said: “Don’t ever question the value of volunteers. Noah’s Ark was built by volunteers, the Titanic was built by professionals.”

Yet, the greatest volunteer of all time was Jesus and the cost of His volunteering was the highest cost that could be paid. He paid with His life. That’s what Good Friday is all about.

When we think about what Jesus’ death we have to begin with “how He died”-- He died by crucifixion.

The word “crucifixion” comes from the word “excruciating” which describes the most intense type of pain possible.

Yet, tonight I want to talk about one of the most painful parts of the Good Friday event; that was, the betrayal of Jesus on Thursday night and the rejection of God’s grace from Judas on Friday.

Perhaps this story not only accentuates the voluntarism of Jesus perfectly, but the decision everyone must make concerning what Jesus chose to do for us.

This evening let’s take a look at Judas. What do we learn about Jesus from Judas? We learn:

I. Who Jesus Volunteered to Serve

Matthew 26: 24-25- “The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed....”

Explanation:

The relationship of Jesus and Judas began early in Jesus ministry. We know this because he is listed early among the disciples. In Mark 3:16 we read: “And he appointed the twelve; Simon to which He gave the name Peter) and then in verse 9 it says, “and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.”

Jesus never called perfect people. Peter denied Jesus three times and Judas betrayed Jesus once. The story of Judas is not one that accentuates his flaws; instead, it accentuates how we handle forgiveness.

When we think of Judas we think of how despicable he was. We put him in a box of betrayers.

The world has been full of them.

Illustration: Emperor Nero

The Roman Emperor Nero was a betrayer. He betrayed his mother. He invited her to a lavish banquet in her honor and after warm embraces., he put her on a boat for a special cruise. She was delighted with her sons lavishing of love upon her.

Yet, in reality, it was a betrayal. The boat had been built to collapse at sea, and thus, it was designed to drown her. Yet, the boat failed to disintegrate completely and she survived; only two days later be assassinated by soldiers that Nero sent to kill her.

Application:

Yet, when we think about Judas there are often things that we fail to understand:

a) When it came to Jesus, he made a commitment- Judas made a commitment to follow Jesus. Like the other disciples he left many things to follow the Lord. Luke tells us that Jesus called “the twelve together which included Judas-- and gave them power and authority over demons and to cure diseases...”

That’s almost dumbfounding considering the fact that Jesus would say later in John 6:70: “Have

not I chose you twelve, and one of you is a devil?”

The word “devil” in this context means “ a deceiver”--- yet Judas had made a type of commitment to follow Jesus practically, even if it were not spiritually with his heart.

b) When it came to Jesus; He was given opportunity- Judas walked with Jesus . He heard the teachings of Jesus first hand. He heard the warnings Jesus gave to the Pharisees. He saw with his own eyes the clearest evidence of Jesus being Messiah and heart the greatest preaching with his own ears. He had opportunity.

Yet, the problem was that Judas had an idol in his life. He loved money more than the Messiah.