Journey to the Resurrection
Judas
March 15, 2020 Morning Service
Easter 2020 Series
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: Judas shows us just how close a person can get to Jesus and not be a Christian.
Focus Passage: Matt 26:14-16, 21-25, 47-50
Supplemental Passage: And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles: (Luke 6:13 NASB)
Introduction: Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. I’ve heard that saying a million times since I was a kid. Sometimes, we want something to count if it is “close enough.” Well, that’s fine in regards to playing horseshoes or using hand grenades. But, when it comes to most other things, close isn’t enough.
I. Judas shows us just how close a person can get to Jesus and not be a Christian.
a. He saw Jesus walk on water.
2. He saw Jesus raise the dead.
3. He was there when Jesus opened the eyes of the blind.
4. He heard all the divine wisdom which Jesus used to silence His critics.
5. He walked by Jesus side all across Palestine.
6. He heard Jesus pray many times and perhaps even prayed with Him.
7. He saw the love for people that Jesus had in His eyes and demonstrated with His actions.
8. He saw Jesus walk among sinful men for over three years and yet he never saw Him do
anything wrong.
9. He sat with Jesus as the Last Supper and broke bread with Him.
10. He knew Jesus was the Son of God and yet he never trusted Him as Savior.
11. He betrayed Jesus with a kiss.
Someone said: “Judas kissed the door to Heaven but died and went to Hell.”
12. He was so close to Jesus, but so far.
II. It appears that Judas only acknowledged Jesus as rabbi instead of Lord.
a. Perhaps he wanted to force Jesus into taking political office
b. perhaps he realized that Jesus wasn’t going to take office and he wanted him condemned
III. We, too, must make the transition from rabbi to Lord.
a. Just because you go to church doesn’t mean you are going to Heaven.
b. You must be born again.
c. If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there by any evidence to convict you?
Invitation/Application: In this world, where all absolutes seem to have gone the way of the 8-Track or top hats, (no longer popular or in fashion) there is something that we simply must get right. That is salvation. There is no “close enough” with God. You either are or you are not. You are either saved or lost. You are either redeemed or dying in your sins. Eternity is too long to get this wrong!
