THE 12 APOSTLES:
JUDAS ISCARIOT
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. Years ago in Ireland, there was a priest who was very anti-British. Every Sunday he would blast them from the pulpit. He became so notorious that the Pope himself summoned the priest to Rome for an audience.
2. The Pope, "I want peace between the British and the Irish. You're not helping matters at all. I want you to swear that you'll never so much as mention the British in public again."
3. "But Your Holiness, I - I - " the priest stammered.
"No buts," said the Pope. "Swear it here and now or there'll be trouble!" "Aye, Holy Father, I swear it."
4. The very next Sunday just happened to be Easter, and the priest was back at his pulpit in Ireland, giving his annual Easter sermon.
5. He got to the part of the Easter story where Jesus said, "And one of you shall betray Me." Saint Andrew jumps up and says, 'Is it I Lord?' and the Lord says, 'Nay, Andy darlin', it's not you. Sit down now and dunna worry.'
6. Then Saint John the Divine gets up with tears in his eyes and cries, 'Is it I Lord?' And the Lord says, 'Nay, Johnny me boy, it's not you. Sit down now and dunna fret yourself.'
7. "Then that dirty dog Judas Iscariot slowww-ly rises to his feet, and (with a strong British accent) said, 'Blimey, Mate. Ya think it's me?"
B. THESIS
1. Tonight is the 12th part in our series called, “The 12 Apostles of Jesus.” Tonight we’re looking at one of the most interesting of all, Judas Iscariot.
2. This disciple of Jesus is such an enigma that even 2,000 years later, debates and theological discussions swirl around him.
3. In the spiritual realm he went from among the closest to divine glory to the lowest depths of hell. Dante’s Inferno rates him so evil that his punishment is to be forever chewed upon in the mouth of Satan and to be clawed on his back! Whoa!
4. So let’s open the Bible and embark on the surprising study of the 12th of the 12 Apostles: Judas Iscariot.
I. JUDAS’ APOSTOLIC MINISTRY
A. NAMED ONE OF THE TWELVE
1. Judas was recorded as one of the 12 in Matt. 10:4, Mark 3:19 and Luke 6:16.
2. This inclusion meant that Judas also exercised power over unclean spirits and preached and healed the sick.
3. Peter said, “He was one of our number and shared in our ministry” Acts 1:17.
B. MADE THE TREASURER
1. When the 12 became an organized body, traveling around, receiving money and other offerings, and distributing to the poor, it became necessary that someone should act as treasurer, and we learn (John 12:4-6; 13:29) that this duty fell to Judas.
2. Close proximity to money is always a danger!
C. SHOWED SIGNS OF GREED, SELFISHNESS
1. John stated that Judas would steal money from the offering bag (12:4-6).
2. At Bethany (Mt. 26:6-13; Mk. 14:3-9; Jn. 12:3-9) when Mary poured out her love for Jesus buy breaking the Alabaster Jar of ointment and anointing Jesus, Judas’ greed and disregard for Christ are revealed.
3. John 12:4-6, “4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He 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.”
4. Judas declares that it’s a waste of money to use the valuable ointment to anoint Jesus. Under the plea of ‘care for the poor’ he covers his own miserable theft.
II. MOTIVE OF THE BETRAYAL
A. EXPLANATIONS WHY JUDAS BETRAYED
1. Some think that Judas expected Jesus to overthrow Roman rule and became disillusioned when Jesus failed to do it. (Some think it was national/ religious pride.)
2. Satan 'enters into' Judas, causing him to offer to betray Jesus. Luke 22:3, “Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.” [before the Last Supper]. John 13:27, “As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.” [during the Last Supper].
3. 3rd Possibility: MONEY. In the Gospel of Matthew account, on the other hand, he asks what they will pay him for handing Jesus over.
B. THE EXODUS OF DISCIPLES
1. The Gospel of John says that in Jesus’ 3rd year of ministry "many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him" (6:66), triggered by Jesus’ hard sayings, refusal to become King, and refusal to use His power for worldly power grabs. Then Jesus began to speak of His death.
2. The departures were so extreme that Jesus asked his 12 disciples, "Will you also go away?"
3. In connection with this apostasy, Jesus said,
JOHN 6:64, “’Yet there are some of you who do not believe.’ For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.”
4. Question: if Jesus knew from the beginning that Judas would betray Him, why did He deliberately choose Judas?
5. John 6:70-71, “Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)”
C. WENT TO CHIEF PRIESTS TO BETRAY JESUS
1. Mt. 26:14, 16; Mk. 14:10; Lk. 22:4, “And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.”
2. The Sanhedrin had previously gathered after the raising of Lazarus. It had passed a resolution to keep strict watch on Christ's movements, the names of his friends, and the places where He went, with the aim of arresting Him.
3. It was probably to answer this reason that the traitor presented himself that afternoon in the Palace of the High Priest Caiaphas. Those assembled there were the chiefs. Josephus and the Talmud designate them as a "Priestly Counsel." The leading scribes and elders also were also there.
4. Imagine their immense relief when the traitor showed up. What formerly had appeared difficult, now seemed both safe and easy.
5. "What will you give me?" Judas asked. “30 pieces of silver.” That was the same price as a slave! They thought Jesus cheap!
6. See the deep symbolism: the price for Jesus was paid for out of the Temple-money which was destined for the purchase of sacrifices! So they paid the price to purchase the Lamb of God!
III. THE BETRAYAL OF JESUS
A. LAST SUPPER, JESUS EXPOSED HIM
1. Even after going to the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus, he rejoined the other apostles and Jesus in the Upper Room. What gall!
2. Jesus washed his feet along with the rest and said, “Now you’re clean, but not all of you!”
3. Jn. 13:21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” 24 Simon Peter motioned to [the apostle John] and said, “Ask him which one he means.” 25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
4. Jn. 13:26, Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”
5. Jn. 13:30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. (also Mt. 26:25).
B.THE ARREST IN GETHSEMANE
1. Matthew 26:47-49, Mark 14:43-45, and Luke 22:47-48 record the betrayal in Gethsemane, “While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke).
2. John’s Gospel includes TWO REMARKABLE FEATURES in his account of the arrest (John 18:1-11):
a. When Jesus answered, “I AM He!” all the soldiers went backward and fell to the ground! The Great “I AM” who spoke to Moses in the Burning Bush, spoke again. He had the power to annihilate them, but restrained His power.
b. The other remarkable event was the cutting off of Malchus’ ear by Peter. Jesus reached out and healed it. The naming of the man indicates the man was either famous or later witnessed to the event. I call him the “Man with 3 Ears!”
IV. THE END OF JUDAS
A. THE ACCOUNT OF HIS END
“3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.” Mt. 27:3-5.
B. WAS JUDAS PREDESTINED TO BETRAY JESUS?
1. The Gospels suggest that Jesus foresaw (John 6:64, Mt. 26:25) and allowed Judas' betrayal (John 13:27–28). Further, the betrayal of Judas was prophesied by David (Ps. 69:25, Acts 1:16), Jeremiah 19:1-13; 32:6-9, and Zechariah 11:12-13!
a. One explanation is that Jesus allowed the betrayal because it would allow God's plan to be fulfilled.
b. Another is that regardless of the betrayal, Jesus was ultimately destined for crucifixion.
c. Bruce Reichenbach argues that if Jesus foresees Judas' betrayal, then the betrayal was not an act of free will, and therefore should not be punishable. Others argue that just because the betrayal was foretold, it does not prevent Judas from exercising his own free will in this matter.
2. The gospels suggest that Judas is apparently bound up with the fulfillment of God's purposes (John 13:18, John 17:12, Matthew 26:23–25, Luke 22:21–22, Matt 27:9–10, Acts 1:16, Acts 1:20), yet woe is upon him, and he would have been better unborn (Matthew 26:23–25).
3. How can there be predestination by God and yet the creatures be free to make a free choice? Does God MAKE people do evil? Molinism, named after 16th Century Jesuit theologian Luis de Molina, answers this.
4. God surveyed all possible universes by His omniscience and chose the one in which the most people would accept Jesus His Son and be saved. God then created that universe and those people. “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate” Rom. 8:29. This view preserves free will.
C. DEATH OF JUDAS: A DISCREPANCY?
1. Matthew 27:3–10 says that Judas returned the money to the priests and committed suicide by hanging himself. They used it to buy the potter's field in fulfillment of prophecy.
2. The Acts of the Apostles 1:16-26 says that Judas used the money to buy a field, but fell headfirst, and burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. This field is called Akeldama or Field of Blood.
3. Raymond Brown says, "the most plausible [explanation] is that Matt. 27:9–10 is presenting a mixed citation with words taken both from Zechariah and Jeremiah and ...he refers to that combination by one name. Jer. 18–19 concerns a potter (18:2–; 19:1), a purchase (19:1), the Valley of Hinnom (where the Field of Blood is traditionally located, 19:2), ‘innocent blood’(19:4), and the renaming of a place for burial (19:6, 11); and Jer 32:6–5 tells of the purchase of a field with silver."[Brown, Raymond (December 1, 1998). The Death of the Messiah, From Gethsemane to the Grave, Vol. 1: A Commentary on the Passion Narratives in the Four Gospels. Yale University Press. p. 912].
D. DAMNATION OF JUDAS
1. It is speculated that Judas' damnation, which seems possible from the Gospels' text, may not stem from his betrayal of Christ, but from his committing suicide.
2. This position is not without its problems since Judas was already damned by Jesus even before he committed suicide (John 17:12), but it does avoid the paradox of Judas' predestined act setting in motion both the salvation of all mankind and his own damnation.
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. Bob & Lucille Heck used to go to this church when their health was good.
2. When Bob was young, he went to work for an elite police force in Chicago. He was assigned to a gangster detail.
3. All the officers were set down in a room and told they would be approached by gangsters who would try to buy them off.
4. You’re not leaving this room until you tell me what would be your price tag; what’s the amount you’d have to be paid before you’d decide it was worth it to break your oath and side with the gangsters.
5. Some officers tried to protest but he’d hear none of it. They all had to write down their figure.
6. When he interviewed Bob, he said, “I would be susceptible unless they offered my $750,000 or more.”
7. “That’s good, because the mob boss carries no more than $250,000. You’re hired!”
B. THE CALL
1. Hester Cholmondeley says, “Still as of old men by themselves are priced – For 30 pieces Judas sold HIMSELF, not Christ.”
2. Politicians in Washington D.C. have proven that almost all men/ women have their price and can be bought off.
3. The devil wants to get you to compromise. What’s your price? Judas sold out for 30 pieces of silver. Afterward, he would have given anything to get it back.
4. Let’s make a new commitment to Christ. My belief is that if we sell out to Christ completely, then the devil can’t buy what’s not for sale!
5. Prayer.
