Sealed With A Kiss Series

The Passion of Christ

March 14, 2004

Sealed with a Kiss – Judas

Sunday AM

Text: Matthew 26:37-50

Intro: Judas – the mention of his name invokes thoughts of treachery and deceit. But it wasn’t always that way. In fact, Judas was once a popular name.

Name: from Judah – meaning “Jehovah leads.”

Note: He was born to parents who had great hope that he would be led by God. The irony is that no other person has ever been so clearly led by Satan.

Name: Iscariot – signifies the region from which he came – “man of Kerioth.” Likely Kerioth-hezron – a town south of Judah.

Trans: Judas is possibly the most colossal failure in human history. He committed the most horrible and heinous act of any individual – he betrayed the perfect, sinless, holy, Son of God for a handful of money.

Truth: His story is an example of the depths to which the human heart is capable of sinking. He spent 3 years w/ Christ and missed Him b/c of hatred.

His life is a reminder that it’s possible to be near Christ and even associate w/ Him and still miss Him b/c of a hardened heart.

His life reminds us no matter how treacherous and sinful a person might be they are incapable of thwarting the redemptive will and purpose of God.

His life reminds us we’ll either be sold out to Jesus or we’ll sell out Jesus.

Trans: It’s my hope that we’ll see through his life some timeless principles about the devastation brought by the choice selling out Jesus for sin and self.

I Give the Devil an Inch and He’ll Take a Mile

Truth: Satan and sin never deliver what they promise.

Note: Satan possesses an uncanny ability to entice men to act in a way that considers only their best interests even at the expense of others.

Quote: Sin will take you farther than you want to go, cost you more than you’re willing to pay, require more than you are able to give. Sin will cause you to do things you didn’t think you were capable of.

How: Satan got into Judas’ life thru a door he left open b/c of unbelief, greed…

A The Door of Disillusionment

Note: Judas was hoping and looking for a Messiah who would ride in on a white stallion and conquer the Rome restoring the nation of Israel – but Jesus didn’t come that way. Judas was looking for a conquering warrior – instead he received a suffering servant.

Judas grew weary and embittered against Jesus b/c following Him was different than he expected. Thus, he became remarkably disillusioned.

He embraced Jesus for what he had hoped Jesus would do for him, not for who for who Jesus really was and why he really came.

Note: It’s amazing how people who call themselves Christians have become disillusioned w/ Jesus and His church. They were looking for something different when they began to follow Jesus – but b/c they never really put their faith in Christ they didn’t discover His transforming power.

B The Door of Greediness

Note: Judas was attracted to Christ but not for spiritual reasons. He followed for selfish reasons. He was only interested in what he could gain.

Story: Mary anointing Jesus – Judas becomes indignant.

Trans: His life is a picture of how the love of money is the root of evil. How much would it take to for you to sell out – it’s amazing how little it costs!

C The Door of Betrayal

Note: Judas didn’t act in a moment of insanity, it was calculated – and for the price of a slave. He determined he would identify Jesus w/ a kiss.

Word: Kiss (phileo) a verb referring to an act of special respect and affection. In the Near East it was a sign of respect and reverence.

Idea: A slave would kiss the feet of his master Ordinary servants would kiss the back of the hand. If a person kissed the hem of another’s garment was a sign of reverence and awe – but to embrace and kiss one on the cheek was a sign of close affection and love – it was a sign of intimacy.

Note: Of all the signs Judas could’ve chosen, this was the most insulting and despicable. This was the equivalent of spitting in Jesus’ face.

Note: This shouldn’t surprise us though, b/c Satan, who had filled Judas, knows no embarrassment and has no restraint on his wretchedness.

II Be Careful What You Ask For – You Just Might Get It

Insert: The devil didn’t make him do it, and neither did God. He was chosen yet he chose. God chose him to betray, and he willingly accepted.

Verse: Psalm 55:12 says the Messiah would be betrayed by a friend.