Jesus Loves Me This I Know

Jesus Loves Me this I Know

Matthew 26:47-50

Matthew 26:47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.

49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.

50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him.

Introduction: I text this morning tells us about the last interaction between the Savior and Judas Iscariot but there was so much more to this story than just this final act of betrayal. I want to say a few things about Judas but my real focus is on what the Lord did in the hours leading up to Judas traitorous act.

ILL:

I. The Character 0f Judas

a. Covetous

John 12:4-6 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, 5Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

b. Callous – betrayed by a kiss

c. Condemned – he committed suicide

Matthew 27: 1 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: 2And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. 3Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. 6And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.

Acts 1:18 “Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.”

II. The Compassion of Jesus

A Traitor Among Them!

By the time of the meal, Judas had already arranged to betray Jesus Christ for thirty pieces of silver. It was a very dastardly act to say the least. But also by the time of the meal, Jesus already knew who the traitor was.

Mike Verdicchio

a. The emblems of His death

The bread and the cup shared with Judas

Matthew 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

b. The seating of Judas

The Seating Arrangement

The two most honored seats at a meal were those to the right and left of the host or the master. That means that the disciple whom Jesus loved, who rested his head on Jesus’ bosom, an act of deep concern, love, and intimate friendship, was sitting in a position of honor at that meal.

Likewise, for Jesus to be able to give Judas the sop, he too was sitting very close to Jesus, possibly in the other honored position.

c. The Sop shared with Judas

John 13:21 – 30 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.

Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.

He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?

Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.

For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.