INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• Over the next four weeks, we are going to examine four words that are a part of Easter. Three of the four words are heartbreaking to think about; nonetheless, they are a part of what happened to Jesus as He was going to sacrifice His life so that people could have their sins forgiven.
• This week, the word is BETRAYED.
• Have you ever been betrayed by someone close to you? Someone who was in your inner circle, someone you trusted? How do you feel about that person now?
• Would you sacrifice your life for one who betrayed you?
• Being betrayed can bring out the worst in people. Betrayal can lead to feelings of anger, and can lead to thoughts of revenge. Betrayal ruins relationships, some which may be decades long.
• Betrayal is hard to deal with.
• Jesus spent the better part of three years with His disciples. They were a close-knit group, although the group has its struggles at times.
• Jesus knew He was going to be betrayed, He knew Judas was going to sell Him out, yet here is Jesus, getting ready to go to the cross for mankind.
• As it is with Jesus, even in the midst of betrayal, Jesus was able to show us what He was all about.
• He was not wrought with anger, hatred, and vengeance, instead Jesus was able to display to the world who He was.
• The way Jesus was able to deal with the betrayal from Judas can inspire us to make the best out of a bad situation.
• Today we will examine how Jesus acted in the face of betrayal.
• SLIDE #2
• John 18:1–4 (HCSB) — 1 After Jesus had said these things, He went out with His disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, and He and His disciples went into it. 2 Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with His disciples. 3 So Judas took a company of soldiers and some temple police from the chief priests and the Pharisees and came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing everything that was about to happen to Him, went out and said to them, “Who is it you’re looking for?”
• SLIDE #3
SERMON
I. Jesus displayed supreme courage.
• After He said these things refers to John 14-17. Once they left the upper room where Judas departed In order to go betray Jesus, Jesus and the remaining 11 disciples left to head to the Garden of Gethsemane.
• WE are told they went out across the Kidron Valley.
• SLIDE #4 KIDRON VALLEY
• It was a valley that ran north and south between Jerusalem and the Mt of Olives.
• Jesus goes with His disciples to pray to get ready for what was about to happen to Him.
• John does not go into the time in prayer Jesus spent, John goes right to the arrest in the garden.
• The garden was a place of comfort for Jesus. When He entered the garden, Mark 14:33-34 tells us that Jesus asked the disciples to wait outside the gate, SIT HERE, while HE was going to pray, we are further told that Peter, James, and John entered the garden with Him.
• Why did Jesus pick the garden?
• Verse 32 states, “Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with His disciples”
• Jesus was not hiding! He showed great courage in the face of betrayal. Why didn’t Jesus simply walk the streets of Jerusalem?
• Jesus had another reason for choosing this specific place to allow His enemies to seize Him.
• Jerusalem was teeming with pilgrims, many of whom had fervently hailed Him as the Messiah just a few days earlier.
• His arrest could have sparked an insurrection by the passionately nationalistic crowds.
• That is exactly what the Jewish leaders feared would happen. MacArthur New Testament Commentary, The - MacArthur New Testament Commentary – John 12-21.
• SLIDE #5
• Matthew 26:4–5 (HCSB) — and they conspired to arrest Jesus in a treacherous way and kill Him. “Not during the festival,” they said, “so there won’t be rioting among the people.”
• Jesus did not want to be the catalyst for a revolt; His mission was not to be a military leader that would lead to an overthrow of the Roman government.
• Jesus came for a greater purpose, and He showed great courage in staying true to that mission.
• A riot could have led to the deaths of His disciples, which would not have been helpful in the fulfillment of Jesus’ mission.
• In the face of betrayal, Jesus did not betray His mission.
• When we consider our faith, how many times have we backed down from what Jesus has called us to do in the face of fierce or even light opposition?
• Jesus displayed supreme courage in the face of betrayal.
• A lesson we can glean from this arrest is the fact that Jesus will not dump us to the curb in the face of betrayal.
• Verse three states that Judas came with a company of soldiers, some versions say a cohort, which was 1/10th of a legion, or from 200-600 men.
• Why so many? Apparently the religious leaders were afraid Jesus’ disciples would fight back. These “leaders” had no clue about what Jesus was about.
• The Pharisee’s came ready for a fight; sometimes it takes more courage not to fight than to engage.
• Jesus was able to display supreme courage because He knew who He was, He knew what He was called to do, and He knew God would be with Him.
• We can face supreme courage in the face of trying times when we know who we are in Christ, and that our God has our back!
• SLIDE #6
• John 18:4–6 (HCSB) Then Jesus, knowing everything that was about to happen to Him, went out and said to them, “Who is it you’re looking for?” “Jesus the Nazarene,” they answered. “I am He,” Jesus told them. Judas, who betrayed Him, was also standing with them. When He told them, “I am He,” they stepped back and fell to the ground.
• In the face of betrayal….
• SLIDE #7
II. Jesus displayed supreme power.
• Here is Jesus, staring what could be upwards of 600 soldiers (probably not that many), as well as the religious leaders right in the eye.
• Notice what verse 4 says, “Then Jesus, knowing everything that was about to happen to Him,
• Jesus was not some wimp who was a victim of circumstances; Jesus was the SON OF GOD!
• Jesus knew what was going to happen.
• It was dark; the arrest party had torches and weapons.
• When Jesus sees them, He goes right out to them and asks them WHO IS IT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR?
• When they responded, Jesus told them I AM HE!
• We are told Judas was with them, I bet Jesus looked him in the eye with sorrow that Judas chose to be the betrayer.
• What happened when Jesus told the crowd HE was the one they were seeking?
• They stepped back and fell to the ground.
• Why? It was because Jesus displayed supreme power!
• All Jesus had to do was say the word; His power was evident and frightening.
• Jesus wanted to let this mob know who was really in control!
• Jesus spent time in the Garden of Gethsemane in prayer; He was so tense He prayed drops of blood. He asked the Father to remove the cup if there was any way possible.
• WE are told in Luke 22:40-46 that an Angel came and strengthened Jesus, so Jesus was ready!
• This misguided posse was staring the creator of heaven and earth in the eye.
• SLIDE #8
• John 1:1–3 (HCSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.
• Jesus was always in control, we need to take note of that when we face difficulties in life, and God is on your side when you belong to Him!
• SLIDE #9
• Romans 8:31 (HCSB) What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
• What issue in your life is bigger than God? NOTHING! Jesus was about to be arrested and crucified; yet He was still in control. He ALLOWED this to happen because He knew it is what needed to be done.
• The next time we are upset at God because He did not stop some bad thing from happening to us, remember, Jesus could have stopped what was done to Him, yet He allowed it to happen, God did not shield His own son from the pain He was about to face.
• SLIDE #10
• John 18:7–9 (HCSB) Then He asked them again, “Who is it you’re looking for?” “Jesus the Nazarene,” they said. “I told you I am He,” Jesus replied. “So if you’re looking for Me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the words He had said: “I have not lost one of those You have given Me.”
• SLIDE #11
III. Jesus displayed supreme love.
• After the arrest party regains its bearings, Jesus once more asks whom they are seeking. They repeat the question; I wonder if they were hoping that Jesus would say, I do not know where he is?
• Once again Jesus tells the party He is the one they are seeking.
• He tells them, “So if you’re looking for Me, let these men go.”
• Why would the soldiers simply let Jesus’ disciples go?
• It was the display of power!
• Also by Jesus asking them twice who they were seeking, He was implying they had no authority to arrest the disciples.
• Even though Jesus was about to endure unimaginable pain and suffering, even though He knew that Peter was going to later deny Him three times, Jesus displayed supreme love by telling the authorities to let His beloved disciples go!
• The fulfillment of these words was not an Old Testament prophecy, but the words of Jesus.
• SLIDE #12
• John 17:12 (HCSB) While I was with them, I was protecting them by Your name that You have given Me. I guarded them and not one of them is lost, except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture may be fulfilled.
• In the face of betrayal, Jesus was still thinking of His disciples.
• When you are facing difficulties in life, Jesus will not forget you, because He did not forget you in His darkest hours, you were the reason He went to the cross!
• JOHN 3:16!
• WE CAN BE CONFIDENT THAT JESUS WILL ALWAYS KEEP HIS PROMISES TO US!
• ALL OF THEM!
• SLIDE #13
• Romans 8:35–39 (HCSB) Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: Because of You we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!
• Let’s conclude with a final thing Jesus displayed…
• SLIDE #14
• John 18:10–11 (HCSB) Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. (The slave’s name was Malchus.) At that, Jesus said to Peter, “Sheathe your sword! Am I not to drink the cup the Father has given Me?”
• SLIDE #15
IV. Jesus displayed supreme obedience.
• Jesus is about to allow Himself to be arrested, Peter, seems to have an issue with this.
• It may be because just before they entered the Garden, Jesus told Peter he would deny Jesus 3 times; maybe Peter wanted to prove otherwise?
• SLIDE #16
• Luke 22:49 (HCSB) When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?”
• Before Jesus could answer, Peter pulls out the sword and cuts off the ear of the slave of the High Priest.
• In Luke 22:51, Jesus heals the ear, and is arrested.
• Jesus was focused on carrying out His mission no matter what.
• Jesus displayed supreme obedience in the face of betrayal.
• What is our reason for not being obedient? Usually our excuse is that obedience will cost us something we want. From the Garden prayer, we know Jesus was not cheerfully waiting to go on the cross; He was obedient!
• SLIDE #17
• Philippians 2:8 (HCSB) He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.
CONCLUSION
• We need to follow the example of Jesus, who when stood in the face of betrayal, did not use that betrayal as an excuse to abandon His people or His mission.
• Life can sometimes be very difficult and situations we face can make it difficult to stay focused on being obedient to Jesus.
• Most of us will never face what Jesus faced, so when we do face our difficulties, let us look at Jesus for our inspiration to stay faithful, loving, and obedient to Him.
