TITLE: A CHEAP KISS
SCRIPTURE: ST. MATTHEW 26:14-16 / 47-50
We continue our “MARCH TOWARD CALVARY” during this Lenten Season. On last Sunday we considered the thought “JUDAS ISCARIOT: SO CLOSE, YET SO FAR.” I pray we were blessed by the message. This morning I want to continue, perhaps a Part II and let us consider further this Disciple by the name of Judas. I lift as a thought this morning – A Cheap Kiss.
If I were to ask everyone this morning in the Sanctuary to name the 12-Disciples, I am not convinced we could name each of them accurately, however; I am sure no one would miss identifying the name Judas on your list. He is one of the most recognized names among the original 12-Dicipes, but his life remains a sad mystery - or perhaps more accurately a sad tragedy. We understand how his life ended in suicide – he hung himself -- but the mystery of Judas revolves around missing the majesty of Christ while surrounded with opportunity.
• Judas goes beyond refusing to accept the gift of eternal life
• He betrays the Son of God with A Cheap Kiss
Can I tell you this morning, BETRAYAL IS SOMETHING ONLY A FRIEND OR LOVED ONE CAN DO.
• To betray, one must first secure trust or loyalty of another
• An Enemy can attack you
• Your Competition may deceive you
• A Foe may plan for your destruction
• But betrayal is a grievous act committed by one who has pledged support
• Rejection may cause a Wound - But Betrayal pours salt to make it sting
• Failure may knock you off your Feet - But Betrayal kicks you while you are down
• Criticism and insult hurt your Pride - But Betrayal breaks your Heart
The Scriptures refer to Judas as "THE BETRAYER," and his betrayal was a kiss of death. Jesus chose not to use the first person pronoun (betray "me") when asking if Judas would "BETRAY THE SON OF MAN WITH A KISS."
• The Lord's use of His Messianic Title demonstrates the extent of the betrayal as more than a disagreement among friends
• Judas opposed the work of almighty God for selfish reasons
• Jesus exposes this arrogant kiss of betrayal as a despicable act of treason
Whenever I read this text, I feel a revulsion - a level of disgust that I don’t feel when I study the actions of history’s other traitors. This is because the actions of BRUTUS – JOHN WILKES BOOTHE – BENEDICT ARNOLD - pale in insignificance when compared to the treachery of Judas Iscariot.
• Judas didn’t betray his Emperor
• Judas didn’t betray his President or even his Nation
• Judas didn’t consult with Russia during Election Process
• No, he went far beyond that and betrayed Jesus Christ
• God’s only Son
• Who came to earth so that all people including Judas himself could be saved from their sins and experience the love of God in a personal way
At first glance JUDAS DIDN’T LOOK AT ALL LIKE THE TRAITOR TYPE. For example the name his parents gave him indicates he probably came from a loving home. I say this because his was once a very proud name in Jewish history. You may remember from your study of the OT that JUDAH or JUDAS was the name of one of the 12-TRIBES of the sons of Jacob who each headed up one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
History books record the brilliant uprising for Jewish independence in 164 B.C. was led by a man named JUDAS MACEABEAUS a man who was sort of a George Washington figure to the Jews.
• For these reasons many parents gave their sons this popular Jewish name
• Even Jesus’ parents named one of His half brothers, Judas or Jude
• You may remember there was another apostle named Judas: Judas, son of James who, to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot usually went by his nickname, Thaddaeus
So when Judas Iscariot was born, his parents picked what was in their day one of the BEST NAMES ANY BOY COULD HAVE. As he grew they no doubt raised him like other Jewish boys with a thorough understanding of Jewish history. They guided him in his study of the Scriptures. Another thing. We can infer from the New Testament Judas, at least at the beginning, apparently had no obvious vices. He had no dishonorable past like the tax collector turned disciple, Matthew Levi.
• Most of the other disciples were known for some weakness prior to their following Jesus
• Simon Peter was famous for his impulsiveness
• James and John for their temper
• But nothing uncomplimentary is mentioned about Judas’ character
• In fact, he must have had an honest face and acted in such a way that made him at least appear to be trustworthy because at the beginning the other disciples apparently admired and respected him enough to give him the responsibility of being their treasurer, managing their meager funds
• You just don’t turn your money over to anyone
It is also important for us to note Judas was a man of promise. I think Jesus saw a great potential in him. In Judas He saw someone who could have been used in a mighty way in the Kingdom of God. After all Jesus thought highly enough of him to send him with the other Apostles on that first mission trip and then welcomed him home warmly after the trip’s success. Remember with me Jesus also appointed an additional 70 followers.
--ST. LUKE 10:1 “AFTER THESE THINGS THE LORD APPONTED OTHER SEVENTY ALSO, AND SENT THEM TWO AND TWO BEFORE HIS FACE INTO EVERY CITY AND PLACE, WHITHER HE HIMSELF WOULD COME.”
--ST. LUKE 10:17 “AND THE SEVENTY RETURNED AGAIN WITH JOY, SAYING, LORD, EVEN THE DEVILS ARE SUBJECT UNTO US THROUGH THY NAME.”
• When they realized they could not stay in the 5-Star Hotels
• When they realized they could not purchase Mercedes, Bentleys, and Mabachs
• When they realized they could not travel in private jets but had to fly commercial like everyone else
• When they realized they could not charge $3,000 - $10,000 for preaching Revivals
• They all decided to leave
• Except for the original 12 which included Judas Iscariot
--ST. JOHN 6:66 “FROM THAT TIME MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES WENT BACK, AND WALKED NO MORE WITH HIM”
--ST. JOHN 6:67-68 “THEN SAID JESUS UNTO THE TWELVE, WILL YE ALSO GO AWAY? THEN SIMON PETER ANSWERED HIM, LORD, TO WHOM SHALL WE GO? THOU HAST THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE.”
In spite of all that, there will always remain some questions about the life of Judas. One thing that is certain is the powerful warning his life provides for those considering the gift of eternal life. Judas is a real-life illustration of the DANGER OF BEING RELIGIOUS BUT LOST. He is the most startling example that is possible to KNOW ABOUT JESUS BUT NEVER KNOW JESUS as one of His sheep who knows His voice.
Throughout Jesus' ministry, He warned about the deception that eventually destroyed Judas.
• Jesus declared there would be wolves in sheep clothing
• He warned of false teachers
• He explained weeds would grow alongside the good wheat
• But the Day of Judgment would reveal the true believers
• In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus preached about those who claimed to perform God honoring works, but He said of them, "I never knew you"
Judas's life reads like one of the parables ending with the fierce reality of suffering the consequences from bad decisions. But we must be careful not to dismiss his life as fiction.
• Judas was a real man who walked with Jesus for about three years
• But he never allowed the power of Christ to transform his life
There are so many that make up every Church today that fall into the same category. At face value Judas was an admired person with great promise in life. If in some way Judas - prior to his betrayal of Jesus - were to have attended this church –
• He would have no doubt been highly regarded and respected
• We would probably have been glad to have him in our membership
• Probably be offered the position of Financial Treasurer of the Church
• I say this because he seems to have been a model citizen
• The Bible never says that he pushed himself on Jesus as did JAMES and JOHN
• It says nothing about him ever making rash promises or big boasts like PETER
• He seemed to be quiet, businesslike, and respectable
• Yet he was a Thief
• Yet the perplexing truth is he chose to sell out the Messiah
• To sell Him out with A Cheap Kiss
There are many other things about Judas that are a complete mystery to us and make it hard to digest. I mean, WHY DID HE FOLLOW JESUS IN THE FIRST PLACE? And how could a likeable, respectful man like this with such a good beginning in life spend three years in the company of Jesus Christ and then do what he did?
• Judas listened daily to Jesus’ teachings and prayers
• Judas saw Jesus work His miracles
• Judas went out and preached and taught in Jesus’ name
• Judas let Jesus wash his feet at the Last Supper
• After all of that he still betrayed Him for 30 pieces of silver
• And A Cheap Kiss
JUDAS WANTED JESUS TO TAKE HIS PLACE THROUGH POWER AND WITH FORCE. I believe Judas knew Christ could have called 12 LEGIONS OF ANGELS to overthrow all of creation at any time
• Judas didn’t lack FAITH -- He lacked SURRENDER
• Have you surrendered your grand plan for your life?
• Will you trust God to map out His plan for you?
• He has one for you, but as long as you continue to seek your own way - He’s not going to entrust you with His plan until He knows He can trust you with it, until you have surrendered to his will
If we really think about it, IT IS A FASCINATING THOUGHT - to consider Jesus would allow someone who had not sold and surrendered to the Lord – HAD MIXED MOTIVES – TREACHEROUS PLANS – WHO HAD A DEVIL - to be one of His disciples. Could it be possible some who claim to be following Christ today are not truly His followers? Jesus spoke of this, concerning those who do good deeds in His name, in ST. MATTHEW 7:21-23 when He said, "MANY WILL SAY TO ME ON THAT DAY, ‘LORD, LORD, DID WE NOT PROPHESY IN YOUR NAME AND IN YOUR NAME DRIVE OUT DEMONS AND IN YOUR NAME PERFORM MANY MIRACLES’ THEN I WILL SAY TO THEM, ‘I NEVER KNEW YOU, DEPART FROM ME THOU WORKER OF INIQUITY”
Let me touch on this thought before moving toward a close this morning. Let’s consider the term PREDESTINATION and ensure we properly understand the term. Scripture does record it had been prophesied hundreds of years earlier that a close friend would betray the Messiah for 30 pieces of silver. (Psalm 41:9 / 109:5-8 - Zechariah 11:12-13 )
• But, God didn’t predestine or coerce Judas or somehow program him for this action
• Jesus didn’t call Judas to be a disciple so he would fill the prophesied role of traitor
• If He did, then Jesus encouraged Judas to sin and our Lord doesn’t do that
• As JAMES 1:13 says -- “LET NO MAN SAY WHEN HE IS TEMPTED, I AM TEMPTED OF GOD: FOR GOD CANNOT BE TEMPTED WITH EVIL, NEITHER TEMPTETH HE ANY MAN:”
• God does not tempt anyone
The author AVERY LEE says, If Judas was ‘PREDESTINED’ to betray Jesus, meaning Judas had no choice, we would be too harsh in blaming this man for doing something over which he had no control.
• It would be a Peculiar God who would ‘predestine’ a man to such a fate and then condemn him for eternity simply for fulfilling his destiny
• I agree, for this violates every concept of God that I have…everything the Bible teaches us about Him
• Judas had free choice
• He had just as much a possibility of becoming what the eleven others became as he had of becoming history’s best-known traitor
• Judas was not DOOMED from birth
• He DOOMED himself with his own choices
• God already knew from the foundation of time the choice Judas would make
• Just as God knows each of us
• He knows our Ending from our Beginning
• JEREMIAH 1:5 the Lord says “BEFORE I FORMED THEE IN THE BELLY I KNEW THEE…”
God already knew that dreadful night when Jesus left with his disciples and made his way to the GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE. Meanwhile Judas met with the soldiers and arranged to lead them to the rendezvous. Since it was night and he didn’t want Jesus to slip away in the confusion, he would GIVE HIM A KISS OF GREETING. That way there would be no possible confusion.
• The Gospel writers tell the narrative very simply
• The soldiers came
• Judas kissed Jesus
• They arrested him and took him away
• But ST. JOHN 18:5 adds one sad note
• When the soldiers first came up, Jesus evidently spoke to them before they could say anything
• While Jesus was speaking to the soldiers, John adds this little detail -- “And Judas the traitor was standing there with them”
There is a world of meaning in that little phrase. JUDAS HAD GONE OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE. He was not just “WITH THEM” PHYSICALLY. He was now “WITH THEM” SPIRITUALLY. His betrayal was thus VISIBLE – PUBLIC - UNDENIABLE.
• Finally, the moment came for the Kiss
• Judas came forward and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him
• The Greek word means to kiss Fervently, Affectionately
• It is the warm kiss that a man gives only to his dearest friends
• With such a kiss Judas betrayed the Son of God
There is something about this act that is hideous and repulsive. To betray Jesus is bad, but to BETRAY HIM WITH A KISS OF AFFECTION is unspeakably evil. It is the kiss above everything else that has earned Judas the APPROBATION of Christians throughout the centuries.
• It is “the foul deed that clings to his name like a dirty garment”
I don’t believe the Motive of Judas really matters. Precisely why he did what he did will probably always be a mystery to us. But the record is perfectly clear about what he did -
• He thought up the plan to betray Jesus
• He approached the Chief Priests with the idea
• He made the deal
• He took the money
• He left the Last Supper to meet the soldiers
• He led the soldiers to Jesus
• He kissed Jesus on the cheek
• In short, he thought it up
• He planned the details
• He carried out his plans to the letter
• He meant to betray Jesus
• And that’s exactly what he did
• Betrayed our Savior with A Cheap Kiss
The tragedy of Judas betraying Jesus is not only this betrayal happened but it still happens. We all are capable of playing Judas.
• We play Judas when we look to our selfish and sinful desires rather than to God
• We play Judas when we behave as our own gods and when we seek our own good outside of God and His perfect will for our lives
• We play Judas when we sin, our sin betrays a Holy God and sells out our Savior
• Our world has glorified Judas just as it glorifies sin and self
• Sin makes Judas the hero
• When we love our sin, we are in love with Judas; we are in love with betrayal, and we do not love Jesus and His faithfulness
• When we love something or someone more than Jesus, whatever that other entity is becomes our god, our idol
• This is the gospel according to Judas
• This is betrayal, and in doing this, we make Judas the hero
--Judas knew Jesus gave sight to the Blind
--Judas knew Jesus caused the Lame to Walk
--Judas knew Jesus healed 10 Lepers on their way down the road to show themselves to the Priest
--Judas helped the disciples distribute a miraculous meal to over 5,000 people that Jesus provided with a little boys borrowed lunch containing Two Tiny Fish and Five Barley Loaves
--Judas saw Jesus Walk on Water
--Judas saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the Dead
--Judas heard Jesus command the wind and the waves to submit to His authority by saying ‘Peace Be Still’
--Judas knew Jesus claimed to be the Savior of the world, but Jesus was not his Savior
--Judas even heard Jesus call him Friend after selling him out for 30 pieces of silver
--Don't make the same mistake
--Be careful of delivering A Cheap Kiss
