BETRAYED… FORSAKEN… FALSELY ACCUSED… CRUCIFIED.
Matthew 26:1-4
Have you ever been betrayed by a close friend?
Have you ever been forsaken by those closest to you?
Have you ever been falsely accused by those who don’t even know you?
Have you ever been crucified by your enemies?
If you have you know how Jesus felt on the day he was and because he was betrayed, forsaken, falsely accused, crucified he knows how you feel.
Mt. 26 tells us about this…..vs.1-4
The setting of betrayal and crux is the feast of the Passover.
Now notice the scene how it unfolds. Keep up because it unfolds quickly.
First see the friend who betrayed him. Mt 26:14-16; 46-50
Who is the friend who betrayed him? Judas. Who was Judas? V50……. Jesus calls Judas friend.
Judas was not only a friend; he was also one of the 12 apostles. He was one of the inner circle associates of the Lord. He was one Jesus took in…. shared his deepest thoughts with, spent all of his time with. Judas was a trusted friend………he was the treasurer for the group………you don’t trust just anyone with the money. He was a trusted, loyal friend of the Lord. Now he’s turned his back on the Lord.
Notice how he betrayed Jesus…. 30 pieces of sliver and a kiss. 30 pieces of sliver is the price of a slave and a kiss. A kiss is a sign of love and affection, but in this case it was a sign of betrayal and rejection. This is what makes betrayal so hurtful.
A friend is someone who would never sell you out. A friend is someone who values you more than money or materialism, comfort or cost. They will die for you ….not see you die. True friends don’t do this. This is not a friend. Prov. 17/17 says a friend loves at all times. A friend is someone you love as a sister/ brother. Prv. 18.24 there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Betrayal….. Rejection. You’ve been there…. U know the pain --the hurt. You’ve been sold out. You’ve experienced a Judas’ kiss.
But it gets worse. Not only is he betrayed by a close friend…….
2. He is Forsaken……by those closest to him…. Mt26:31-35, 56
Peter and all the disciples swore they would never desert the Lord, but they did. These are men that he has poured the last 3 years of his life into.
They were the only ones who believed and trusted in him. Their trust has been broken. They swore to be faithful. They lied. Untrustworthy.
He considered them his own family. Mt. 12:46 Jesus was in a house teaching, someone told him his mother and brother were asking to speak with him Matthew 12:48 “But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? - And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
You’ve had those who swore they would never leave you, but did. They promised to be by your side, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part only break your heart. Only to be unfaithful and dishonest.
Only to come home one day and tell you they don’t love you anymore. They’ve found someone else. They will be packing their things and leaving.
Now you know how Jesus felt. He knows how you feel. You’ve been partakers in his sufferings.
Not only was he betrayed and forsaken, he was also………..
3. He was falsely accused by those who didn’t even know him. Mt26:59-67
The chief priests, and elders, and the council, were the religious / political elite of the day. They sat in judgment over Jesus. They were the know-it-alls and yet they knew nothing at all.
They were blind, prejudice, prideful, condescending, judgmental, and condemning.
Their judgment of Jesus was based on lies, half-truths; hear say, gossip, misunderstanding, misinterpretation, blindness, ignorance, prejudice.
Jesus had taught the people openly, publically. Everyone could hear and know his teachings. They chose to be blind and ignorant of who he was.
You know what it is like to be judged and falsely accused by those who don’t even know you …your situation, circumstance. All they know is the lies, the gossip, the half-truths and it hurts.
What do you do when you are falsely accused? Let’s see how Jesus handled it.
1. Hold your peace. When Jesus was falsely accused V63 said “But Jesus held his peace”. He remained calm. Don’t let them rattle you. Keep your peace.
2. Answer your critics with the truth. 26:63 the high priest asked Jesus if he is the Christ the Son of God. 26:64 Jesus answered with the truth. Don’t seek to defend yourself, just answer with the truth. God will defend you before those who falsely accuse you. He’s got your back. Don’t let them bring you down to their level.
3. Pray for them. Mat 5:44 - But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Pray. Don’t seek revenge. Don’t retaliate. Don’t do unto them what they’re doing to you. Bless, don’t curse.
4. Forgive. Pray as Jesus did when he was dying for your sins Father forgive them for they know not what they do. We must pray, we must forgive, forget, and move on. Release the pain, the hurt, the debt. Forgive as God has forgiven you. Completely, fully, finally, forever.
Change will come, healing will come, restoration will come, God will give you back what the enemy stole (Job). You’ve been hurt, you are grieving, you know the pain….so does Jesus. He will heal, help and give you hope. Turn to him. He is the wonderful counselor.
Find comfort, rest, healing in him. He is here. He will never forsake you. Find your strength, hope, healing, identity, acceptance in him. He will never disappoint. He will fill your deepest longings and heal your deepest hurts.
Not only was he betrayed by a friend, forsaken by those closest to him, falsely accused by those who didn’t even know him, he would also be ….
4. He was Crucified by his enemies. Mt26:3-4…. Mt27:27-36
Some of you have been crucified by the lies. Your character has been assassinated by the false accusations.
Your integrity has been shot. Your reputation has been killed. You’ve been stripped of your dignity and it seems that the entire world has stopped to look. You have emotional wounds that are oozing with guilt and shame.
You've been mocked, ridiculed. You've been spit upon with the harsh words that has been said to u and about u. You've been slapped with criticism. Cut, pierced, nailed to cross, crucified, left to die.
You’ve been misunderstood, misinterpreted, misrepresented, betrayed, forsaken, falsely accused. Jesus knows what You're going through.
Bright side, we see Jesus was not completely alone. In 26:7 a woman pours fragrant oil to comfort and console him. There will be those who comfort and console you.
Simon of Cyrene helps him carry his cross. There will be those who help you carry your cross.
While he hangs on the cross his mother, the apostle John and couple other ladies are there to show their support. There will be those who show you support.
In the garden his prayers to the Father comforted and strengthened him. You have not been let alone either in your rejection, betrayal, and crucifixion.
Get alone with the Father, pray, pour out your soul to him. God will give you his grace to strengthen you. Call upon him.
Call upon, lean upon other believers to help. Jesus’ sufferings were for our salvation.
You're sufferings are for your good, growth, and development. God can bring good out of evil. He can work all things together for your good. Call on him. Trust him. Believe.
Think on these things. It may be that the one who hurt you who heals you. i
The storm will pass. The waters will reside. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
Jesus was betrayed, forsaken, falsely accused, and crucified. But remember! Three days later he rose up! He rose over his enemies, his accusers, death, pain, and the grave. And you will too!
