"What Judas Missed"
Matthew 27:1-10
April 20, 2003 Chester’s FBC Chester, IL Mike Fogerson, Speaker
Introduction: (Play clip of Jesus Christ Superstar of Judas, the scene where Judas returns to the high priest and then hangs himself.)
A Jesus had 12 disciples, but perhaps the most infamous is arguably Judas.
a He is the only one of the 12 disciples that made it into Collin’s English Dictionary. Judas Iscariot: The disciple who betrayed Jesus, a traitor or betrayer.
b Jesus had a ½ brother named Judas. He didn’t want to be identified with Judas Iscariot, so when he penned letter that in the N.T., he used the diminutive of his name...which was Jude.
*We don’t have I & II Pete, I, II, & III Jack
*You’ve heard of St. Paul’s, St. John’s, St. Luke’s....Never have you seen St. Judas Baptist Church.
B A few years ago, naming kids biblical names was the flavor of the month.
a Joshua’s, Josias’, Obediah, Jeremiah, Aaron’s, Levi’s but never have you ever heard someone name their boucing baby boy...Judas.
b Judas wasn’t/isn’t a highly respected person of antiquity/scripture.
C 1 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. [2] They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor. 3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins 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." 5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. 6 The chief priests picked up the coins and said, "It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money." [7] So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. [8] That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. [9] Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: "They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him by the people of Israel, [10] and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me."
a Judas missed out on what came from Christ’s Cross and resurrection. (ETS)
b We can acquire what Judas missed out on. (ESS)
D I hope you’ll know how to avoid making the mistakes that Judas did. (Objective)
a Who has what Judas missed? (Probing Question)
b Let’s look at three things that Judas missed when he killed himself.
As Jesus was hanging on the cross, Luke 23:34a "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing...."
I The first thing that Judas missed when he hung himself was...forgivenss.
(Judas was already dead at this point.)
A Judas’s sins could have been forgiven.
a Even betraying Jesus? YES! 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
*The Lord doesn’t want anyone to perish...NOT EVEN JUDAS!
b Just as Judas chose to betray Christ, so it was Judas’ chose to die w/o forgiveness and go to hell.
*Judas came close to being forgiven.
B In order to know God’s forgiveness there are 3 requirements.
a 1 Admit we’ve messed up. (Matt. 27:4) "I have sinned." -Judas
*Judas didn’t make excuses (I have sinned!)
2 A sense of remorse for our sin. (Matt. 27:3) "remorse" -Judas
*Felt bad (King David felt bad when Nathan confronted him about adultery and murder. Jimmy Swaggert felt bad when he was caught a hooker)
3 Acceptance of the forgiveness offered us, by faith. (MISSING)
*Judas had 2 out of 3. (Alright in most cases, but it doesn’t cut it when it comes to eternity.)
*Judas never asked Jesus for forgivenss.
b There are people all over Chester (maybe even here this morning) who agree with Rms. 3:23 (For all have sinned...), feel bad/remorseful about their sin, YET they can’t bring themselves to accept God forgivenss?
*Why? Pride, stubbornness? You don’t have to hang yourself to miss God forgiveness. (Miss it by not asking for it, accepting it)
Three days after Jesus & Judas died, Jesus rose again, but Judas was still dead. Jesus appeared to his disciples and made a statement that will never apply to Judas.
John 20:19 "Peace be with you."
II The second thing Judas missed when he hung himself was...peace.
A Peace eluded Judas’ life and it appears he died without it.
a Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27 ), just hours before Judas’ lips would touch his check in betrayal.
b Judas was looking for what Jesus had...peace. (Money, Political favor)
B This world can’t give you the peace that Jesus can.
a Suicide is ranked 11th leading cause of death in America. (Ahead of liver disease) 3rd leading cause of death in Americans between the age of 15/24.
*According the Randolph County Coroner, suicide’s in Randolph county doubled between 2001 and 2002. (WHY?)
*There is a critical ingredient missing and only God can give it. PEACE!
b The greek work for PEACE is "I-ray-nay". Means to "set at one again."
*Our sin has destroyed & shattered our relationship with God.
*When we are forgiven through the grace of God, our broken relationship is mended..set at one again with God. PEACE!!!!
*I’m convinced that had Judas ask for forgivenss that only Jesus could give, he would have received the peace that only Christ can provide.
One thing that most commentators agree on is that Judas was a hard core nationalist who wanted to see an end to Roman tyranny and Jewish enslavement. He believed that Jesus had the power to make that happen. If you could ask Judas what he wanted in life, I think he would answered with one word, "power."
*40 days after the resurrection, Jesus told his 11 eleven remaining disciples "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." ACTS 1:8.
III The third thing Judas missed when he hung himself was...power.
A Within ten days of Jesus ascending to heaven, the promised power he gave in Acts 1:8 swept into the world.
a Grk. Word is "dunamos": Dynamic, Dynamo, Dynamite.
b The power Jesus gave his disciples was a world changing power!
B The same power that Judas desired, but missed, is available to everyone of us to this day!
a The church, to a large degree, has lost it’s teeth, been on the back burner of society. (We’ve been given dynamite but we’re happy to shot off roman candles/sparklers)
IL. Jerry Clower told a story about him running out of gas in the back woods of Mississippi. He pushed that truck for 3 ½ miles to the nearest filling station. The attended came out and asked how much, "Fill’er up." The attendent said, "Which tank, the front or the rear?" Clower said, "I didn’t know it had two tanks!"
b The Holy Spirit hasn’t withdrawn the power, or made it any less powerful, or less available...we fail to claim it, exercise it, and use it.
Conclusion:
Judas missed out on what came from Christ’s Cross and resurrection. (ETS) We can acquire what Judas missed out on. (ESS)
A We’ve looked at three things that Judas missed when he killed himself.
a Forgiveness (Admit, Remorse, Accept)
b Peace (That passes all understanding)
c Power (The power to over come anything this world can throw at you.)
B I hope you’ll know how to avoid making the mistakes that Judas did. (Objective)
a Two choices. (Make the same mistake and miss what Judas missed. Don’t have to hang yourself to miss forgiveness, peace, power)
b OR...Ask for His forgiveness. Know peace and get the power!
C Who has what Judas missed? (Probing Question)
a Wang Ming Dao served as the pastor of Peking’s largest church. During Communistic persecution, he was thrown into prison because of his testimony and ministry. At the hands of his perpetrators, he was tortured for his faith. Fearing even greater suffering, Dao recanted his belief in Christ and was released by the authorities. He quickly regretted his decision and was seen walking the streets of the city weeping and mumbling, "I am Judas! I have betrayed my Lord!" Within a few weeks, he was unable to bear the guilt and shame any longer. He returned to the Communist authorities, confessed his faith in Christ, and asked to be put back in prison. For the next twenty-seven years he suffered the abuse of prison life, but never again entertained the thought of denying his Lord. When Dao was released at the end of his life, the Chinese church considered him a hero who had given strength and assurance to the many who faced the perpetual threat of persecution and imprisonment. Enduring faith will experience doubts, struggles, and disappointment. It happened to John the Baptist (Matthew 11:2–3) and it will happen to every person who seeks to walk in Christlike obedience. In times of spiritual crisis, may we be inspired by both the success and failure of people like Wang Ming Dao (1 Peter 5:9).
-The Vision of His Glory, Anne Graham Lotz, 1996, p. 81
b Who has what Judas missed?
***Notice: I have used Sermon Central sermons for a VERY long time. If this or any of my sermons are similar to a sermon that is already on Sermon Central by another pastor or teacher....chances are I have used it. Actually, there is probably absolutely nothing in this sermon that hasn’t been preached before! If I used your sermon and haven’t given you credit, please write me and I’ll give you credit by name. I have in no way intentionally withheld credit to any work I’ve used/borrowed from. PLEASE NOTE THAT IF I HAVE "USED" YOUR WORK IT WAS BECAUSE I THOUGHT YOU HAD A SUPER SERMON! I prefer to preach with an outline and just rearranged your sermon. My intent is to make sermons relevant and easy for outline guys to use. If you use MY work, feel free to claim it. I do not care!! Simply realize that I have borrowed from other preachers, too.
Mike Fogerson, Pastor, Chester’s First Baptist Church
