Betrayal During A Celebration

Betrayal During a Celebration

Mark 14:10-21

“Et tu Brute (ay)” is a famous quote from English literature, and it comes from Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar.

In one of the most dramatic, violent, and bloody scenes, a group of murderers, which included Brutus, go to stab Julius Caesar to death, and then they wash their hands in his blood.

Caesar’s last words are, “Et tu Brute(ay)!”, which means, “You too Brutus”.

Just as humans are prone to love, strive, and hate; unfortunately, humans are also prone to betray.

Betrayal, unfortunately, is part of the fallen human nature and has been involved in human history with many unpleasant things that humans do to each other.

Often times, betrayal is dramatic in the way it begins as well as the long-lasting consequences that can come from a betrayal.

Please open your Bible to Mark 14 as we continue in that study.

Last time we were in Mark, we heard about a woman who loved the Lord so much, that she broke all cultural norms to serve and worship Jesus in a very radical way.

We began hearing about Passover, which was a feast, offering a sacrificial Lamb, which celebrated the redemption of Israel from bondage and death in Egypt under Pharaoh.

Jesus gave His life on the Passover holiday, because He is the Passover Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.

Then we learned about an extravagant gift given at dinner.

Mary entered with a grateful heart and brought a costly gift of worship to Jesus; a bottle of very expensive perfume. Breaking open the perfume, Mary anointed Jesus with a very costly gift.

Some were quick to rebuke her…BUT Jesus was quick to honor her! Jesus blesses her for her gift and made sure her selfless act would be remembered forever.

Mark 14:9 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her." NKJV

We ended saying, authentic worship is all about people truly being moved because Jesus is the God of infinite worth.

This morning, we will learn how Jesus celebrated His last Passover meal while physically here on earth, all the while, being betrayed by one of His closest followers.

I. The pain of betrayal.

Read Mark 14:10-11

The twelve Apostles were Jesus Christ’s closest followers, and after His death, eleven of them became major leaders in the Church and helped spread the Gospel throughout the world.

The twelve Apostles learned from Jesus and assisted Him in carrying out His mission here on Earth.

The Apostles were eyewitnesses to the fulfilled prophecies and had overwhelming evidence Jesus was the promised Messiah.

We really do not know much about Judas’ background because his first encounter with Jesus is not recorded in Scripture.

Judas followed and stayed with Jesus for three years, but he never fully gave Jesus his heart, and Jesus knew it.

Here in Mark, we learn Judas went to the religious rulers and began to negotiate a price in order to betray his mentor and king.

Judas had been looking forward to gaining a high position in the kingdom, but he began to learn that the kingdom of God does not operate like the kingdom of man.

Jesus had been talking about dying and He had also been teaching on servant leadership. I believe the final straw was when Mary wasted a very costly gift and Jesus honored her.

Judas should serve as a warning how the desires of our hearts can cause us to hear what we want to hear, instead of recognizing the truth, which comes from the Lord.

Judas was disillusioned with Jesus because he was out for personal gain rather than being a servant and following Jesus’ plan for him.

Last week we said, the Disciples longed for fame and influence, but Mary gained a lasting memorial, not by longing for position, but simply by loving Jesus and authentically serving Him.

Jesus was now clearly telling the Disciples He was going to die.

Judas began to believe that following Jesus was leading nowhere, so he began to think that he should get out, while he still could gain something for himself.

Luke 22:3 Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.

Luke 22:4 So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. NKJV

Satan found an entrance into this scene through the way Judas thought and lived. How could one of Jesus’ closest followers be used by Satan?

Saint Augustine, “There can be only two basic loves: of God unto the forgetfulness of self, or of self, unto the denial of God.”

Again, Judas never fully gave his heart to Jesus, because with Judas, Jesus was simply a means to an end. Judas fellowshipped and lived among the believers.