Judas- The One That Got Away

Opener:

I remember growing up there was a Clint Eastwood movie called “ The good, the bad and the ugly”. No, I will not be showing that movie after church today. Today, we are beginning our Easter series and looking at three characters in the Easter story. Easter is time where we see a love story emerging along with that story there are subplots that include: lies, treachery, and pain.

When we read the bible, there are many names of the various people in the bible. These names are important. Many of the names in the bible have meaning and a purpose that God is conveying to us.

When my wife and I were looking at naming our son, we were praying and God gave us the name Jeremiah which means Yahweh will exalt. Of coarse, we know that Jeremiah was a prophet in the old testament.

This morning, we are going to be talking about the character that is not preached about very often. In fact, this is my first time preaching about this character. We are looking at the ugly character in our story who is none other than Judas Iscariot.

We are going to pick up the first parts of the Easter story which is found in the book of Matthew 27:1-10 (NKJV) 27 When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. 2 And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor. 3 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.”And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!” 5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.” 7 And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. 8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, 10 and gave them for the potter’s field, as the LORD directed me.”

I. Judas name

A. Negative name

a. The name of Judas has a negative connotation with it. Not many parents name their kid Judas.

b. Not many buildings are named “The Judas Iscariot Center” or a business name “Diamond Judas Iscariot Cars” in partnership with “Do we cheat them and how credit”

They advertise, whether you have good or bad credit everybody rides. Because that is how we roll!

c. Typically when people think of the name of Judas, they think of it in a negative way. Yes, that is the guy that betrayed Jesus.

B. The treasurer

a. With the group, Judas was taking care of the finances. As the treasurer of the group Judas was overseeing the money bag.

b. While overseeing the finances of a growing group certainly brought a lot of responsibility and was one that the people thought Judas was credible.

c. The people were wrong, because Judas was a thief . So the fox was watching the hen house. John records an incident where Jesus was an honored guest at a feast.

d. Mary took a jar of a very expensive ointment and anointed Jesus feet with it. The only disciple that spoke against it was well you guessed it Judas.

e. The bible says in John 12:6 (NKJV) 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.

C. Judas in a new light

a. This morning, we are going to see Judas in a new light. We will be looking at the high cost of his deception.

b. Judas was close to forgiveness, however that forgiveness eluded him.

c. As we look at Judas, He is known as a bad character. I recon that you would agree, that we can learn not only from the good characters in the bible, but some of the bad ones as well.

II. Judas a disciple

A. Zealot

a. Judas Iscariot was known to be a part of a political organization called the zealots.

b. The zealots sought to incite people to rebel against the Roman empire at the time.

c. I would compare these Zealots to a terrorist organization.