Judas and Benedict
Matthew 26:14-16, 47-50
March 29, 2015
Saratoga, New York is famous for a couple of things. Firstly, Saratoga is home to a major Horse racing track, and secondly, Saratoga is famous because the last major battle of the Revolutionary War was fought in Saratoga and the surrounding area.
All that remains to remind us of this great and decisive battle is a huge stone statue which is 155 feet high. It stands against the backdrop of the Adirondack Mountains. Cut into the base of each of the four sides is a large niche bearing the name of one of the American military heroes who led us to victory. Above each name there is a great bronze likeness of the hero.
In the first niche stands General Horatio Gates; in the second, General Philip Schuyler; and in the third, Colonel Daniel Morgan. It is really impressive.
But as you walk around the corner to the fourth niche, there’s something missing and it’s striking. The name of the general is there; but the statue is strangely . . . conspicuously absent. This general once commanded West Point, He distinguished himself in battle at Lake Champlain, Quebec, and at Saratoga. You try to remember your US history lessons to understand the story.
It’s a story about a man who sold his soul to the enemy, eventually dying in poverty and disgrace. One person wrote, "The empty niche in that monument shall ever stand for fallen manhood, power prostituted, genius soiled, for faithlessness to a sacred trust."
Who was that man? Benedict Arnold!
What makes a titan like Arnold turn traitor to his country? For that matter, what makes a person turn from his or her first love of any kind? After all, we call cheating on someone we once promised to be faithful to as "extramarital exploration." We call stealing from a company or country as "creative accounting." We call lying to someone who trusts our word as "telling a half-truth." When we abuse a friend who trusted us, we say, “Oh, I didn’t know I hurt you.” Or we call our movement away from God as . . . "backsliding." In the end, it all comes down to the same word, doesn't it?
Betrayal!
It's an uncomfortable word, isn't it? It kind of makes us squirm in our seats. Partly because we’ve been there. We’ve been betrayed . . . and when you’re betrayed, it hurts. It’s painful. AND we know what it’s like to be on the other side - to betray!
So, maybe it’s a good thing that we don’t throw too many stones at the Benedict Arnold’s of the world. It's not because they aren't distorted characters; they are . . . but it's never good luck or good sense to break mirrors.
Let’s take a look at the story of Judas Iscariot, the most notorious traitor / betrayer of all time. I think we'll see how easy it is for any of us to stumble, and so the steps we can take to ensure that when our name is on the wall of history, it won't be beneath an empty niche.
What is so shocking about what Judas did in the Garden of Gethsemane, is how loyal he must have seemed as he rode across the battlefield on Palm Sunday. We can't know for sure what was going through Judas' mind as he came through the gates of Jerusalem that day. We don't know for certain why Judas followed Jesus in the first place. But it doesn't seem far-fetched to think that Judas might have been moved by the same interests that move us to make some of the commitments we make.
Matthew 26 tells us before the Last Supper - - -
14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests
15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.
16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over
As the story continues, after praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, Matthew wrote -
47 While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.
48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest Him.”
49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”
And we know the rest of the story. The question is why. Why Judas, why? Maybe Judas was drawn by the perks. Think of the benefits that came with traveling in the company of a famous rabbi like Jesus. Most of the time, you received free shelter and food. You were able to meet interesting and important people. You got the admiration of others and, better yet, access to the common purse. In John's Gospel, in chapter 12, John tells us ~
6 Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
So, Judas had access to the ministries ATM card, and used it pretty regularly. This was a sign Judas had a pretty large appetite for the perks.
If that was so, then you can be sure that by Palm Sunday, Judas was licking his chops at what he thought was to come. Think of all the perks that would come his way. You see, Judas was also driven toward Jesus by the potential for power. Judas was one of two disciples who were Zealots.
The Zealots were an extreme party dedicated to overthrowing Rome, by violence if necessary. They were extremists, and they didn’t mind violence to get what they wanted. There’s good reason to think that Judas believed Jesus was a kindred spirit. Jesus was a charismatic leader, leading Zealots think a revolution was possible. After all, didn't Jesus say "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's?" His parables spoke about ejecting vile tenants from the Lord’s land? Didn't Jesus say He “came not to bring peace - - but a sword?”
And now, as Jesus rode through the gates of Jerusalem, He was greeted like the military conquerors in Israel always had been. Judas must have been excited at the thought of the great revolution about to take place. If some of the other disciples were debating who would get the best seats in the new kingdom, can you imagine what ambitious thoughts were running through his mind? Judas would be thinking — he’d make a great general or Secretary of State, or Secretary of the Treasury.
How else do we explain his decision to sign on with a rabbi or Jesus' decision to call him as a disciple even though he was the only one not from Galilee? Judas must have seemed virtuous, otherwise he would not have been put in charge of the money. If he really was the obvious bad guy, then why is it that when Jesus said at the Last Supper, "One of you will betray me" — no disciple said: "Psst, I think it's Judas; he's always had shifty eyes." Instead, we're told each one wondered if he himself would be the one.
The answer must be that Judas, on Sunday or at that Supper, was no easier to spot as a traitor than Benedict Arnold at Saratoga — — or you and me. The capacity to betray – even to betray Jesus – lies within every one of us — just like Judas.
You see, there comes a moment when you figure out that Jesus is calling you to love Him and His people more than your perks and power. Sometime between Palm Sunday and Maundy Thursday that realization, overwhelmed Judas with an intolerable fear.
Think about this. When you love the perks of privilege too much, aren't you going to be scared of continuing to follow someone who makes it clear that He considers His own life (much less His comfort) worth surrendering to meet the needs of others, even sinners? Someone like that could ask me to trade in my expensive car, change my vacation plans, or give up drinking so much, to enable me to serve others. He may ask me to admit my sinfulness and repent. He may ask me to do what I don’t want to do. Would He do that? Yes He would. And He does.
When your whole conception of power is wrapped up — as Judas' was — in the idea of putting yourself in a position of superiority, aren't you going to be really afraid to follow someone who — at the point where the crowd wants to call Him KING — He insists on stooping to wash the dirty feet of those not fit to tie His sandals?
That Person might ask me to become a servant to that ‘person’ at work, or to forgive that person who hurt me, or to spend less time advancing my own opinion and more time listening to others; or asking someone to forgive me for my actions or inaction. Would He? Yes He would.
When your understanding of piety involves a merely moderate effort to be a "good person" or hold "high ideals," aren't you going to be terrified of someone who seems to be able to look across the dinner table and knows your secret thoughts.
Being with someone like that on a regular basis would force me to take a hard look at the stealing or cheating, the lying or betrayals I've been allowing myself to enjoy as I hide behind my mask. Someone like that might hold me accountable to really change - - - would He? Yes He would.
Can you bear to follow a Lord like that? Judas decided he couldn't. So he turned Jesus in for what seemed like a better deal. He betrayed Jesus for 30 silver pieces worth of perks. He sold out the Christ for a moment of false power, marked by swords, clubs, and a mocking kiss. Judas delivered the Savior of the world to His enemies, and received the seal of piety from priests who'd happily kill God to strengthen their version of politics and religion. Is it any wonder that when he woke up and realized what he had done, he went out and hung himself?
Let me ask you this — —
Are you heading for a similar conclusion? I don't mean that you'll go out and hang yourself; but is it possible that one day you’re going to wake up and realize to your despair that you've slowly and subtly sold your soul, you’ve been hiding behind a mask, seeking power, prestige and perks. If that's a remote possibility, then hear this ~
First, whatever treason you may have committed against God, another person, or even your own self, Jesus offers you a fresh start today. He doesn't want any empty holes.
Did you notice what Jesus called Judas as the traitor approached Him in the garden that night? He called him "Friend." Do you remember how Jesus fully restored Peter, even after the fisherman betrayed Him. He made him the rock of the church.
The point is, even when we turn on God, He refuses to turn on us. The truth is that even Judas could have been forgiven and renewed if he would have believed in redeeming grace. Do you believe in the redeeming grace of Jesus?
Lastly, commit your life to pursuing better blessings than Judas was seeking. If you want perks that truly enrich you, then stop being a phony and hoping to impress others. It will always catch up to you! Instead live to bring life to others.
To paraphrase Jesus: those who live for themselves, die by themselves; but those who give themselves away enjoy riches of friendship, peace, and fulfillment no one can take away. If you want genuine power in this life, take a moment to think about why Jesus didn't call down 12 legions of angels to defend Him as He could have.
Jesus knew there would be more transforming power available through the grace and power of the Holy Spirit. As opposed to power we seek and gain through our worldly desires. Pursue for yourself only the power that comes from sacrificial love. If you want a piety that means more than you may be experiencing now, then understand why Jesus willingly went to the Cross. Christ knew the only kind of spirituality that matters in the end is humble obedience to the calling of God.
One day the final battle will be over and the record will be reviewed. Will Jesus look at you and me and say with joy: "Well done my good and faithful servants."
Or will He turn the corner near that of Judas, and sadly find one more cold and empty niche? The choice is ours. How will you be remembered? As a Judas? As a Benedict. Or as a faithful follower of Jesus who made a difference in this world?
