Sermon Notes
“Jesus’ Weapon of Choice”
Matthew 26:20-25
Introduction:
There are some biblical names we just do not give to our kids. Others are quite common. When was the last time you met a Jezebel or a Judas? What about a Rachel or a Peter? Certainly we’re not anything like those first two characters … or are we?
Illustration: “Among the apostles, the one absolutely stunning success was Judas, and the one thoroughly groveling failure was Peter. Judas was a success in the ways that most impress us: he was successful both financially and politically. He cleverly arranged to control the money of the apostolic band; he skillfully manipulated the political forces of the day to accomplish his goal.
“And Peter was a failure in ways that we most dread: he was impotent in a crisis and socially inept. At the arrest of Jesus he collapsed, a hapless, blustering coward; in the most critical situations of his life with Jesus, the confession on the road to Caesarea Philippi and the vision on the Mount of transfiguration, he said the most embarrassingly inappropriate things. He was not the companion we would want with us in time of danger, and he was not the kind of person we would feel comfortable with at a social occasion.
“Time, of course, has reversed our judgments on the two men. Judas is now a byword for betrayal, and Peter is one of the most honored names in the church and in the world. Judas is a villain; Peter is a saint. Yet the world continues to chase after the successes of Judas, financial wealth and political power, and to defend itself against the failures of Peter, impotence and ineptness.” (Petersen, Eugene. Little House on the Freeway, Tim Kimmel, pp. 191-192)
Judas, called a thief by John, bargained with Jesus’ enemies to turn Him over for 30 pieces of silver, which was the cost of a slave. He betrayed Him with a kiss, and in remorse, ended his life. Judas refused to accept Jesus for who He was and tried to force Him into another mold. William Barclay said, “The tragedy of Judas is that of a man who thought he knew better than God.”
Proposition:
Since Jesus knows the secrets of our hearts, He could blast us. Instead, He uses the weapon of love.
1. He confronts us with our sin
Although the room was full, it seems as though everyone else was swept away and only Judas & Jesus were present.
Judas had so well concealed his plans that the other disciples had no idea of what was about to take place. John 13 tells us that as treasurer of the group, they assumed Judas left to buy food for the feast or make a donation to the poor.
But let’s note Jesus’ methods with a sinner.
The creator of the universe could have used His power to obliterate Judas.
Instead, Jesus appealed to his heart.
“Judas, stop & think about what you are about to do!”
Some have become so calloused by sin that they are no longer shocked by the act or he consequences.
Daytime TV ratings are always high when Dr. Phil, Oprah, or Montel Williams parade defiant, rebellious teens in front of TV cameras. Why are we so fascinated by such people? Is it because, deep down, we know that we are just as defiant and rebellious toward God?
Thankfully, Jesus continues to treat us with the same compassion he showed Judas. Too often we forget who we’re dealing with. He is the same God of justice, and has every right to toast us!
Sin is sequential. It seldom “just happens.” Sin does not come out of nowhere.
We see this sequence in the Book of James: “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death” (James 1:13-15).
Illustration: Years ago Bonnie Chamberlain wrote a story in the Saturday Review that told of an artist who was once commissioned to paint in a Sicilian cathedral a mural depicting the life of Jesus. The painter accepted this task and made it his life’s work. He began by searching for people to be his models for the huge mural and one of the first he discovered was a twelve-year-old boy whose innocent radiance made him a perfect model for Christ-child. Over the years the mural developed till it reached the events of Holy Week. One by one the key figures were completed till only the person of Judas remained undone. One afternoon a man whose face was seamed with corruption lurched drunkenly into the tavern where the artist was sitting. At once the artist saw that this man was a perfect model for the remaining figure so he led the man to the cathedral. Pointing to the bare space on the wall, asked him to pose for Judas. To his astonishment, the wino burst out crying, hid his face in his hands, and said, “Don’t you remember me, Maestro?” Pointing to the Christ Child, he said, “Fifty years ago I was your model for Him!”
SIN IS PROGRESSIVE. No sinful act is just a simple sin. Unless we repent and ask God’s forgiveness it becomes a STEPPING STONE that leads us deeper into rebellion against our Lord. (From “Judas Iscariot: Betrayer or Betrayed?” by Mark Adams, Rockville, Maryland)
2. He confronts us with ourselves
For the Christian, He is that small voice that says, “Do you really want to do this?”
And far too often, we defiantly respond, “Yea. What are you going to do about it?” BAD QUESTION!!
In each of our lives. Jesus must deal with two types of sin.
1) Impulsive sin: something we do in without forethought. These range from white lies, to lust, to malicious talk. Don’t ever think that sins on this scale are harmless.
Illustration: “Ask a rancher how a cow gets lost, and chances are he will reply, ‘Well, the cow starts nibbling on a tuft of green grass, and when it finishes, it looks ahead to the next tuft of green grass and starts nibbling on that one, and then it nibbles on a tuft of grass right next to a hole in the fence. It then sees a tuft of grass on the other side of the fence, so it nibbles on that one and goes on to the next tuft. The next thing you know, the cow has nibbled itself into being lost.’” (Yaconelli, Mike. Leadership Journal, Fall 1988, 45)
From his palace roof, King David happened to see a beautiful woman bathing. Rather than turn his eyes, he allowed lust to take over. We know the tragic consequences.
Today we don’t need to be a king with a palace to stumble into the same kind of sin. All we need is a computer or cable and satellite TV to have pornography pumped into our homes!
The solution is not to get rid of these conveniences, but to allow Jesus to have control over them. David’s sin with Bathsheba started when he decided to take a walk on his palace roof. Should he have removed the roof? No; he should have allowed God to have control of his eyes and mind when he used that roof.
2) Far worse are calculated, deliberate sins. The Old Testament called these high-handed sins by stiff-necked people. When we know we are doing wrong, and even a confrontation by God won’t change our plans, we have become stiff-necked.
Illustration: In 1989, French writer Georges Simenon died at the age of 86. He had written 73 murder mysteries, 117 other novels, and his works had been translated into 55 languages. He claimed to have slept with 10,000 women during his lifetime. How far removed such a boast is from the attitudes reflected in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s story of The Scarlet Letter. Once people were ashamed of their sins. Now they boast of them. (Shannon, Robert C. One Thousand Windows, 1997, 227). In spite of such boasting, Simenon was quoted as saying, "Writing is not a profession but a vocation of unhappiness." (guardian.co.uk)
David’s peek led to David’s fall! He repented only after Nathan exposed his sin (refer to Psalm 51)
3. He begs us to repent
Oh that we would stop in our tracks when we see the sad eyes of Jesus before we embark!
Regret is being mentally sorry. Remorse is being mentally and emotionally sorry. But repentance is being mentally, emotionally, and willingly sorry.
Illustration: Jimmy had trouble pronouncing the letter “R’ so his teacher gave him a sentence to practice at home: “Robert gave Richard a rap in the rib for roasting the rabbit so rare.” Some days later the teacher asked him to say the sentence for her. Jimmy rattled it off like this: “Bob gave Dick a poke in the side for not cooking the bunny enough.” He had evaded the letter “R.” There are a lot of people—including Christians—who go to great lengths to avoid the “R” word of repentance. (Shannon, Robert C. One Thousand Windows, 1997, p.66.)
David repented after his adultery (see 2 Samuel 12). Peter repented after his denial (see John 21). I believe that Judas could have repented after his betrayal. Judas expressed regret and remorse for his actions, but there was no repentance. Had he repented, Judas might have been restored.
Conclusion:
Illustration: William J. Kirkpatrick, a prolific song writer, participated in many of the Camp meeting revivals of the 19th century. He often led the music and enlisted the help of soloists and other musicians to perform. During one of these meetings in 1892, he became saddened when he realized that the soloist would perform the required songs and then leave without staying to hear the preacher. William feared that this young man did not really know Christ; so he began to pray that God would somehow reach the soloist’s heart. One evening while praying, a song based on the story of the Prodigal Son began to form in his mind. He quickly jotted down the lyrics and asked the soloist to sing them that night. The words convicted the young man so much that he stayed and listened to the message. When the preacher gave the alter call at the end of the night, the soloist got up and went to the front of the tent and accepted Jesus as Lord. Here is what he sang:
I’ve wandered far away from God; now I’m coming home.
The paths of sin too long I’ve trod; Lord, I’m coming home.
I’ve wasted many precious years; now I’m coming home.
I now repent with bitter tears; Lord, I’m coming home.
I’m tired of sin and straying, Lord; now I’m coming home.
I’ll trust thy love, believe thy word; Lord, I’m coming home.
My soul is sick, my heart is sore; now I’m coming home.
My strength renew, my hope restore; Lord I’m coming home.
Coming home, coming home, never more to roam!
Open wide thine arms of love; Lord I’m coming home.
(Terry, Lindsay. Stories Behind Popular Songs and Hymns. 1990, p.221)
No matter the level of sin, Jesus always meets it head-on. With loving confrontation, He offers to free us from the grip of our own mistakes and restore us to a right relationship with God and with others. Is it time for you to come home?
