Set Godly Goals
-Crucial Lessons from the Life of Judas-
Matthew 26:6-14
John 13:18-30
During the past several Sundays we have been learning lessons from Biblical Leaders. We learned from Gideon how to respond to God’s call to become a “Mighty Warrior of God.” We saw in the life of David a leader of integrity who did not force his kingship but waited on God’s timing. Two Sundays ago Pastor Dwight helped us see how Isaac was a weak but vital link in the plan of God’s salvation for the children of Israel.
Today we are going to fast forward to the New Testament and look at one of the 12 disciples. This disciple is one that we learn lessons from his life on what we don’t want to do. We could learn from the life of Peter and his failure when he denied Jesus three times. We could learn from James and John in their selfish request to sit at His right hand of Jesus in the Kingdom of God.
This morning I want to look at the life of Judas Iscariot. In Matthew chapter 26 and John chapter 13 we get a glimpse of the life and character of Judas.
Judas started out as a good person. He was a person of vision – a vision to follow the person he believed to be the Messiah. He believed Jesus would give victory over the cruel oppression of Rome and give freedom to the Jewish people. Judas was the only one of the 12 disciples from Southern Judea possibly from the city of Kerioth according to the Jewish Historian Alfred Edersheim. He longed for a better life.
In Matthew 26 and John 13 we see the true character of Judas.
I. Judas was looking out for his self interests.
(Self-righteousness is of the Devil)
Matthew 26: 6-14; John 12:1-11
Jesus is in the home of Simon the leper who had been cured by Jesus. Simon lived in Bethany about two miles outside of Jerusalem. Martha served dinner to the guests that included Simon, Jesus and Lazarus who were all reclining at the table. Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, takes a bottle of pure nard, an expensive perfume. She poured some on the head of Jesus and some on his feet and wiped his feet with her hair. The value of the perfume was worth a year’s wages.
The disciples were taken back by her action. The money could have been used for their iterant ministry and travel expenses. Judas, the treasurer, especially was upset at the seemingly waste of resources. John 12:4-6 gives his commentary after the fact: “But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, ‘Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?’ It was worth a year’s wages. He did not say this because he cared for 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.”
Jesus defended her action and said, “She has done a beautiful thing to me.” “She did it for my burial.” Mary may have listened carefully to the teachings of Jesus and understood his mission more than the others. She took the most expensive thing she had and gave it to Jesus.
Matthew 26:14-16 “Then one of the twelve who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I betray him to you?’ They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.”
I mentioned earlier that Judas was a good person. Judas started out chosen by Jesus as one of the 12 disciples. Something went wrong. The happening at the home of Simon the Leper may have been the turning point for Judas. The other disciples were ashamed of their criticism of Mary’s anointing of Jesus, but not Judas.
Judas didn’t agree with the big picture painted by Jesus. Full of self-righteousness Judas went to the chief priests to work out a betrayal deal. Judas didn’t agree with the actions of Jesus and took action against Him.
Here is an important lesson to learn from Judas. Avoid self-righteousness at all costs. Self-righteousness can cause a person to do hideous acts that may hurt or kill innocent people all cloaked in righteousness.
The extreme Moslem practices “Jihad” waging war against infidels, people who don’t believe in Islam. If you are perceived as coming against their religion, heritage, land or rights, they are justified to wage jihad and stop you at any cost. When this leads to blowing up a bus, plane or building, the act is justified and holy because they are honoring their religion.
You are practicing your own personal Jihad when you pass judgment on another person and take action against that person. Inner anger and hostility out of control may feel this way toward another person: “I want to kill you but I can’t kill you physically, so I’ll do it more civilly. I’ll kill your reputation instead. My self righteousness justifies my talking about you and obliterating your name. I’ll also cut off all relationships with you. I’ll also sabotage your relationship with others.
Jesus said you must be careful what you say about others, because what you say reveals the condition of your heart. Gossip can hurt a person and damage the person’s reputation. Someone has said that “Gossip is sometimes referred to as halitosis of the mind.”
Judas with his self-righteousness ended up betraying Jesus and by his act he assisted in the murder of Jesus. I’m sure that if Judas could live his life over he would have made some different decisions.
For whatever reason Judas did not develop a friendship with any of the other disciples. Maybe since he was the only Judean and the other eleven were from Galilee he was not comfortable with any of the other disciples. He didn’t have anyone to confide in and share his hostilities and questions.
In Kansas nearly every house and barn has a lighting rod. The lightening rod sticks out much higher than the house or barn. When lightening strikes it hits the rod and the rod is grounded and the grounded wire acts as a conduit and the thousands of bolts of electricity does into the ground and is harmless. The lightening rod protects the building from fire.
Everyone needs a person in their life to serve as a lightening rod. When you’re upset and in anguish about something you can go to the person and say: “You know, I’m upset about this and need your help to process it.” The lightening rod person is a people helper. He/she helps the person to gain balance and neutralizes the anger and helps the person process the situations so they don’t fry a bunch of people. Do you have a “lightening rod” person in your life?
Without a person serving as your lightening rod you start telling people off and bomb people with your nasty words to justify your “stinkin” thinking. You feel better but everyone around you is fried and singed into crispy critters. Find a person to be your lightening rod. Their primary qualification is that the person love God and love you.
II. Judas believed his goals and plans were better than the Lords. John 13:18-30
We learn a second lesson from Judas: He believed that his goals and plans were better than the plans of the Lord Jesus.
Are your goals in life goals that honor the Lord?
What has been some of your goals in life?
I’ve had goals that have not been achieved yet. When I was in High School and the first two years of college I had the goal of becoming a “Research Chemist.” I ate up chemistry – quantitative analysis and qualitative analysis. I’ve always had a passion to be a pilot. When pastor in Kansas City I took flying lessons and had a desire to fly a helicopter.
Judas had goals for his life. The problem was they weren’t in agreement with the goals and mission of God.
It may have been the love of money that was the downfall of Judas; but more likely it was not the 30 pieces of silver that caused Judas to turn on Jesus. It was probably his dissatisfaction of the way Jesus was leading and carrying out His mission. Judas wanted to force the hand of Jesus and push Jesus into political leadership. After three years of waiting he became tired of waiting. Judas wanted Jesus to take over as King of the Jews.
Judas liked Jesus as a person. Jesus was a nice and compassionate person. Judas disagreed with the direction Jesus was going. Apparently, the friendship that existed between Jesus and Judas was only one-sided. Jesus cared for Judas. Judas however, cared only for Judas. What selfishness! What treachery! But such was the man Judas Iscariot.
Judas could embrace Jesus the Monarch but not Jesus the Martyr.
Have you ever tried to force the hand of Jesus? You didn’t like what Jesus was asking you to do? Jesus disappointed you. The way of the cross can’t be God’s way. The way of the cross surely was the way of the devil.
John 13:18-30 you see the compassion and love of Jesus reaching out to Judas. John 13 is the setting of one of the outstanding teaching of Jesus on humility. Jesus didn’t preach a sermon on humility; he demonstrated humility by becoming a servant and washing the feet of the disciples. He washed the feet of all 12 disciples knowing that one of the disciples would betray Him. As they sat/reclined around the table Jesus was troubled in spirit. He had a deep hurt knowing that Judas was going to betray Him. He spoke plainly, “one of you will betray me.”
The table Jesus and his disciples sat at was shaped with sofas or cushions shaped like a U around the table. The person placed one of his elbows on a cushion and his other hand was free to take food. The feet extended away from the table. In the seating arrangement the host was the principle person and the place of honor was above him on his left and the next highest place of honor was on his right.
Alfred Edersheim, Jewish NT historian describes the table with Jesus sitting with John at his right and Judas at his left. (#Drawing of Table and seating arrangement on flip chart) John 13:23-27 “One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, (John) was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, ‘Ask him which one he means.’ Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, ‘Lord, who is it?’ 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 Iscariot, son of Simon. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.”
Judas was sitting at the left of Jesus, at the place of highest honor. At the very last hour Jesus was reaching out to Judas offering love and forgiveness.
In the Orient it was the custom…when guests were present for the host; if he wished especially to honor one of his guests to fold a piece of bread spoon-like, dip it into the dish and serve some choice morsel and hand it to the guest as a special favor.
Judas rejected the love of Jesus and left the table and went out into the night. Judas left Jesus, the Light of life and went out into darkness. Satan’s work is to take the loveliest things and ways and twist them until they become the agents of hell. Satan can take love and turn it into lust; he can take holiness and turn it into pride, faith into farce and honesty into hypocrisy. Judas refused to accept God’s plan and God’s will and timeline.
We need to learn that it is not Jesus who can be changed by us, but we who must be changed by Jesus. We can never use Jesus for our purposes; we must submit to Him to be used of Him. The tragedy of Judas is the tragedy of the man who thought that he knew better than the Lord.
Judas could conceal his deceitful plans from the other disciples but not from Jesus. Judas was a great actor and perfect hypocrite. You can hide your sinful thoughts and attitudes from others, but not from the Lord.
Jesus reached out to Judas with love. Judas refused and Satan entered him.
Judas was unlike Peter when Peter betrayed Jesus and then repented and wept bitterly. Judas betrayed Jesus and refused to repent and accept God’s love and forgiveness and then ended his own life.
You can learn great lessons from Judas. Make sure your goals and aspirations in life are in agreement with God’s Word and God’s will. Set Godly Goals! Here are some suggestions in setting godly goals: They spell Goals.
Get God’s Direction. Check to make sure your goals are consistent with God’s Word. Ephesians 5:17 “Don’t act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do.” The Psalmist sang out in Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” God’s word is our guide in life. Everything we do should be in agreement with the Word of God.
Own it. Accept God goals and will for your life. Psalm 37:23-24, “Our steps are made firm by the Lord, when he delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong for the Lord holds us by the hand.”
Make a list of your goals for Christian growth and maturity:
Daily Devotions
Know the Bible – God’s Word – regular study
Pray – by yourself and with others
Keep a spiritual journal – apply Scripture to your daily life-
Write your goals on a 3-5 card and post it on your bathroom mirror as a reminder.
Apply it. Ask God to empower you to do what He wants you to do. John 13:17, Jesus said, “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” Judas knew who Jesus was. He saw miracles of healing. He saw demons cast out. He heard great sermons from the Lord. The problem, …he didn’t apply what he knew to daily life.
Live it. Keep working on your goals until they become part of your life-style. Share your goals without someone or a small group for accountability. I’m happy to hear many of you have a goal of reading the Bible through in a year. Three chapters a day will accomplish the task when a fourth chapter is added from time to time. Phil. 2:13: “For it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
Seek God’s input again. Continually seek God’s guidance for your life. Seeking God’s will and applying His will and Living His will is a lifetime pursuit. Paul wrote in Philippians 3:12, “I don’t mean to say that I have already …reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be.”
Determine now to set Godly Goals. Confess all attitudes and actions of self-righteousness and live in complete surrender to the Lord.
Surrender your all to the Lord. Pray from your heart:
All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him, in His presences daily live.
All to Jesus I surrender, Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken, Take me, Jesus take me now.
All to Jesus I surrender; I give myself to Thee.
Fill me with Thy love and power, Let Thy Blessing fall on me.
