BETRAYED!
John 13:21-30
S: Judas Iscariot
C: Betrayal of Jesus
Pr: WE MUST FACE OUR BETRAYALS OF JESUS.
Type: Inductive
PA: How is the change to be observed?
• We must examine ourselves.
• We must repent of our betrayal.
• We must choose to live in the light.
Version: ESV
RMBC 13 February 05 AM
INTRODUCTION:
Have you ever felt deceived?
ILL Deceit: Lemon Car
Some of you, I am sure, have bought a car that has disappointed you and you recognize that you bought a lemon. In case you don’t know it, there are sure “Signs The Car You Bought Is a Lemon.”
1. As you leave the used car lot, you see the owner rush out with a gigantic smile and high-five the salesman.
2. You notice that the car phone they threw in "for free" has a direct line to Moe’s Towing Company.
3. The booster cables are not in the trunk but are permanently soldered to the battery.
4. The hood has been equipped with a push-button device for quick and easy opening.
5. The "Purchased From" sticker on the back of the car has been removed.
6. You get a "Good Luck" card from the previous owner.
7. As you drive up to a service station for gas, the mechanic opens the big door and waves you in.
8. When you leave for work the next morning, you notice a tow truck parked about a block from your driveway. As you go by, it silently falls in behind you.
9. The little "Service Engine" warning signal in the dashboard comes on and reads "Me Again."
It is one thing, though, when a car betrays us.
It is another when it is a person.
ILL Betrayal: Benedict Arnold
In his youth, he was a brilliant and courageous American patriot. For five years, he fought valiantly to throw off the tyranny of British rule in the colonies. He had been wounded twice in battle and had been rewarded for his daring by being made a brigadier general (a one-star general).
After being appointed commandant of Philadelphia in 1778, however, he became an embittered man, disdainful of his fellow officers and resentful toward Congress for refusing to promote him more quickly. He believed that he was entitled to a higher rank, more privileges, and a larger pension from the government.
While he grew more and more disdainful, he also fell deeper and deeper into debt. Faced with financial ruin in 1780, he conceived a scheme to sell his patriot’s soul for money. Thus, with calculated malice, he set about to and did convince General George Washington to give him command of the fort at West Point.
Once in command of the fort, our man initiated correspondence with Sir Henry Clinton, the commander of the British fleet, and promised to surrender West Point to the British for the sum of 20,000 pounds sterling (approximately $1 million in today’s currency).
His plan eventually failed, however, and he fled to Britain where was given a stipend and the rank of general. While serving the British army, he returned to American soil to wage war against his former comrades in arms and burn towns.
In the end, he was reviled in America, and held in contempt in Britain, as a man who betrayed his principles for money. Now the name of Benedict Arnold is synonymous with betrayal and treachery because of his treason against the American people.
You know, when we are betrayed, it elicits much negative emotion.
We feel angry.
We feel angry, because it is only a friend that can take true advantage of our vulnerability.
Friends are designed to defend, love and support us.
We trust them.
So when they take advantage of our trust, we will always be visibly shaken.
THE STORY:
As we return to John 13 today, we find this is the very type of situation Jesus was facing…
(21) After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, "Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." (22) The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. (23) One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table close to Jesus, (24) so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. (25) So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, "Lord, who is it?" (26) Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it." So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. (27) Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly." (28) Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. (29) Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, "Buy what we need for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor. (30) So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
In our study last week, we noted that…
1. Jesus washes the feet of all the disciples.
Culturally, we are unaccustomed to the washing of feet.
But these men were not.
As Jesus and the disciples had come into the room there had been no servant to take care of the customary duties.
These were people that traveled by foot, walked in sandals and made their way on dusty roads that were cluttered with various nasty and disagreeable things.
If there was no servant, it was the custom that the first one or two who arrived would wash the dirty feet of the rest of the guests.
But it is apparent that nobody in this group was in the mood for it.
They were enjoying the success of the week and began to be filled with bravado.
No one was willing to take the towel and basin.
But the love of Jesus is so strong, so radical…that He rises up to do so.
Their Rabbi…
Their Master…
Their Messiah…
Their Redeemer…
He will wash their feet.
And…
2. He is showing the eternal difference service makes.
As Jesus makes His way around the room, He is teaching them about the event that is about to take place.
He is teaching them about the service of the cross.
For in eternity, it was decided that He would leave the fellowship of the Godhead.
He would come to humanity and meet them on their level.
So, He laid aside His heavenly garments, and left the glory of heaven.
He became God incarnate.
He became Immanuel, God with us.
He humbled Himself, taking the form of man, so that He might serve mankind.
Just as He was pouring water in the basin, He was foreshadowing that He was about to pour out His own blood in death.
And just as He had washed feet, He was showing that He had come to wash hearts.
So that, by the blood of Jesus, we are made clean.
Now that Jesus has finished the demonstration, He makes a startling revelation…
3. He announces a deceiver is in their midst.
Jesus cannot hide it, and His voice gives it away.
He is grieved.
He is hurt and distressed.
For someone He has loved and trusted is not who he says he is.
Someone who has claimed loyalty will not fulfill it.
What is interesting for us to note is that this betrayer has acted well.
For…
4. The disciples react with surprise.
No one had ever caught on to this liar and fraud.
Every day, this person has been a part of this band.
He has laughed.
He has cried.
He has been fearful.
He has been proud.
He has been one of them.
And what is also interesting to note is that Jesus had treated him no differently.
He has been his friend.
He has been his teacher.
Jesus has washed his feet.
He has loved him just as He had loved the others.
So curiosity is certainly aroused.
Who can it be?
Who would do such a thing?
5. Peter, of course, is curious about the identity.
The seating around this scene of the Lord’s Table is not like the Da Vinci painting.
They were not sitting in chairs, but rather reclined on the floor with pillows, leaning on their left arm and eating with their right.
Jesus would have been at the head of the table.
To his left would have been the position of honor, and to his right the secondary position.
Interestingly, it is not Peter that is sitting in the most favored seat.
John is on Jesus’ right in the secondary position, and it is Judas that is on the left, in the position of honor.
Peter signals to John to find out who it is.
Knowing Peter, he would be ready to take on the betrayer, but as the scene unfolds, he does not figure it out.
But John is told, if he understands it.
For…
6. Jesus reveals the betrayer.
Only John would know and hear, for what Jesus says is really intimate conversation.
You would have to be very close by to understand what was being said.
So Jesus, privately reveals to John it would be the one he gives the morsel of food.
When Jesus gives it to Judas, sitting in the seat of honor, to the rest it would appear to be an act of tribute and respect.
But what only John and Jesus know at this moment is that it marked the betrayer.
It is hard for us to understand Judas.
It is apparent that he had a good head for business and perhaps a reputation for honesty, for he was chosen to be the treasurer for this small band.
It is also probable that he was ahead of the rest culturally.
He had more education.
He had more social standing.
He had more class compared to the rest.
But we also know that he was increasingly greedy as he kept skimming off the top of the treasury to fill his own pockets.
Why he agreed to join the group is a mystery.
Perhaps it was a chance to fulfill a dream.
Like so many Jews, he would have dreamed of a world government flowing from Jerusalem and not from Rome.
But if that was his dream, it was fading.
So, it may be that he became resentful and bitter, for he was unable to control Jesus, and so he turns against Him.
As Jesus passes the morsel of food to Judas, it is a private moment as Jesus looks into Judas’ eyes.
It is an opportunity for Judas to repent.
For he is receiving the special honor.
It is the gesture of friendship and unity of mind and thought.
It is Jesus reaching out, in love, to his betrayer.
As the hymn writer wrote:
O the deep, deep love of Jesus –
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me.
Even though the deal has been cut and the conspiracy is complete, Judas can still turn back.
Jesus hands him the morsel, it is as if Jesus pleas, “Come on old friend. I know. It doesn’t matter. Turn now.”
This is, quite literally, the moment of truth.
For…
7. Judas is confronted with a choice.
Here is Judas’ chance to retreat.
Here is his chance to fulfill His commission and do the work of the Kingdom.
But the answer is…
Silence.
Judas never opens up.
He never admits what he is thinking.
He keeps up the false front with his phony façade.
And…
8. Judas chooses evil.
He takes the morsel and eats and lives the lie.
There is no remorse.
There is no confession.
There is no repentance.
And Judas passes the point of no return.
It is like going over a cliff.
You are not dead when you go over, but you are going to be.
It is at this point that Judas is gone.
His choice of silence activates the enemy, and Satan takes the opportunity to fully own Judas.
And Jesus knows it, and gives Judas this instruction, “Get on with it.”
So we find that…
9. Living in darkness is an awful and sad choice.
“And it was night.”
Judas has chosen his own place of darkness.
He has entered into doom.
How alone he was!
Forever, he is now separated from Christ.
He has rejected the One who loves him.
ILL Betrayal: Caesar & Brutus
Among the conspirators who assassinated Julius Caesar on March 15, 44 B.C. was Marcus Junius Brutus. Caesar not only trusted Brutus, he had favored him as a son.
According to Roman historians, Caesar first resisted the onslaught of the assassins. But when he saw Brutus among them with his dagger drawn, Caesar ceased to struggle and, pulling the top part of his robe over his face, asked the famous question, “You too, Brutus?”
Judas will see Jesus again in a few hours.
And he will betray him.
It will not be with a poison pen.
It will not be with a pointed finger.
He will betray Jesus with a kiss.
And when he comes to his senses, it will destroy him.
Seized with remorse, and the realization he has betrayed innocent blood, he will hang himself, unsuccessfully dealing with his treachery.
APPLICATION:
One of the things I have discovered about the church is that we like to see Judas in others.
We like to point out how others are disappointing Jesus.
We like to point out the apostasy of others.
We gladly share how someone is improperly dressed, or is too emotional, or is compromising the faith by an inappropriate relationship with the world.
But you know what?
We will never be right with God with that method.
Anytime we present ourselves as a finished product, we are on the wrong path.
For…
1. Instead of being concerned about others, we should examine ourselves.
What we do best is deceive ourselves into thinking that we are all right, and it is everyone else that is wrong.
When we do this, truth becomes increasingly distant from our lives.
We live lies instead of truth.
But Jesus beckons us to confront the truth of our wayward ways.
For His truth and His love go together.
His arms are open.
The morsel is extended.
His friendship is offered, even in the midst of our failures and sin!
You see…
2. We must face our own betrayals.
We must!
Each one of our sins is a betrayal of God’s person and His will for us.
And repetitive sin sets ourselves against God.
As a result, we become increasingly resistant and hostile.
For Judas, one of the deciding factors for him was his love of money.
And it is not less true today.
People kill for it.
People prostitute their bodies for it.
Families split over it.
Enemies are made over it.
Do not be deceived.
The love of money may be causing you to betray Jesus today.
Please do not be deceived.
Do not deceive yourself.
We can consistently come to church.
We can sing with gusto.
We can teach the truth of God’s Word.
We can give a portion of our salary.
We can help and serve others.
And still leave heading into the night.
You see…
3. We choose daily to live in light or darkness.
Where are you living?
BENEDICTION: [Counselors are ]
Examine yourself today…don’t look at others, look at yourself, take a good hard look at yourself, and be ready to be confronted by the Holy Spirit who will open your heart and reveal the sin and betrayal that lies deep in it.
Repent of your betrayals…don’t make excuses, don’t set them aside, confess them and repent of them, recognize them for what they are…treason against the Almighty, treachery against the Lord Jesus.
And choose to live in the light…don’t get caught in the night, don’t walk away from Jesus, and miss the opportunity to be right with Him, and pass up the joy of eternity.
Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
RESOURCES:
John: That You May Believe, R. Kent Hughes
NIC: John, Leon Morris
“Putting Judas in His Place,” James R. Toney, Moody, January/February 2000, p. 31-34.
“Judas Iscariot: A Man Apart,” Lyn Atterbury, Christianity Today, March 24, 1978, p. 27.
SermonCentral:
Judas and Peter, Ray Stedman
An Appeal to a Friend, Scott Grant
After the Heart of Judas, Keith Davis
The Kiss of Betrayal, Chris Talton
Betrayal, Jason Hefner
Betrayed But Not Bitter, Richard Tow
