The Treachery of Judas

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 “Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests  and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. ”  [Matthew 26:14-16]

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The Treachery of Judas

Then one of the twelve—one of the disciples who had lived with the Lord Jesus, traveled with Him, seen His miracles, heard His incomparable teaching, and witnessed the miracle of a sinless life—one whom Jesus could call “my familiar friend… who ate my bread” (Ps. 41.9)—it was that one who lifted up his heel against the Son o God. Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and agreed to sell his Master for thirty pieces of silver.  The priests paid him on the spot—the contemptible total of about fifteen dollars.  It is striking to note the contrast between the woman who anointed Jesus at Simon’s home and Judas.  She valued the Savior highly. Judas valued Him lightly.

And so the one who had received nothing but kindness from Jesus went out to arrange his part of the dreadful bargain. Realizing his sin in betraying innocent blood, Judas offered the money back to the chief priests and elders.  These arch conspirators who had cooperated so eagerly a few hours ago now refused to have any further part in the matter. This is one of the rewards of treachery.

Judas was remorseful, but this was not a godly repentance that leads to salvation. Sorry for the effects which his crime brought on himself, he was yet unwilling to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He could have run to Jesus asking for forgiveness instead of ending his life.

In desperation Judas threw down the pieces of silver in the temple where only the priests could go, then went out and committed suicide. Comparing this narrative with Acts 1:18, we conclude that he hanged himself on a tree, that the rope or branch broke, and that his body was hurled over a precipice, causing it to be disemboweled.

Are you selling your own Savior, like Judas, for some material gain in this fleeting world?  Have you repented of your sins at the cross of Jesus, instead of just being filled with guilt and remorse?  Ending your own life is not the solution. There is forgiveness in Him who died for your sins. You just need to accept Him into your life as Savior and Lord and surrender yourself to Him!




 



 Judas went away and hanged himself

 “When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”
   “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”  So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. ” Matthew 27:3-5]

In Christ Jesus...

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 “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,  for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. ”  [Galatians 3:26-29]

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"In Christ Jesus..."

The key point in this passage is “In Christ”. In Christ you are all children of God through faith. In Christ you are all one. In Christ you are all counted as Abraham’s seed and become heirs to the promise.  In Christ you are all chosen. [Eph. 1:3]. In Christ you have the redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.

The pronoun “you” here includes both saved Jews and saved Gentiles.  Such people are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Union with Christ, which takes place at the time of conversion, is confessed in water baptism. This baptism does not make a person a member of Christ or an inheritor of the kingdom of God.  It is a public identification with Christ, which Paul speaks of as a “putting on” of Christ. Just as a soldier proclaims himself a member of the army by “putting on” his uniform, so a believer identifies himself as one who belongs to Christ by being baptized in water. By this act he or she publicly expresses submission to Christ’s leadership and authority. He portrays visibly that he is a son of God.

By baptism the believer signifies also the burial of the flesh and its efforts to obtain righteousness.  He signifies the end of the old way of life and the beginning of the new one.

The law made distinctions among these classes. For instance, the distinction between Jew and Gentile is insisted on in Deuteronomy. In Christ Jesus these differences disappear, that is, as far as acceptance with God is concerned. A Jew is not preferred over a Gentile, a free man is not more favored than a slave, nor is a man more privileged than a woman. All are on the same level because they are in Christ Jesus.

This verse must not be pressed into meaning something it does not say. As far as everyday life is concerned, God does recognize the distinction between male and female.  The New Testament also speaks separately to slaves and masters, husbands and wives, and parents and children. In our heavenly position all believers are the same before God. In our earthly condition we have to submit to our earthly masters.



 

 "They were all baptized into Moses..."

 “For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.  They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.  They all ate the same spiritual food  and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.” [1 Corinthians 10:1-4]



"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation"

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 “They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”  He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.  “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch....

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour?  Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  [Mark 14:32-34, 37,38]

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"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation"

Darkness had settled over the land. It was Thursday night running into Friday morning.  When they came to an enclosed piece of ground name Gethsemane, the Lord Jesus left eight of the disciples near the entrance.

He took Peter, James, and John with Him deeper into the garden. There He experienced an overpowering burden on His holy soul as he anticipated becoming a sin-offering for us.  We cannot conceive what it meant to Him the Sinless One, to be made sin for us. He left the three disciples with instructions to stay there and stay awake. He went a little farther into the garden—alone. Thus would He go to the cross alone, bearing the awful judgment of God against our sins.

First, He prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. If there was any other way by which sinners could be saved than by His death, burial, and resurrection, let God reveal that way. The heavens were silent. Was He asking to be excused from going to the cross? Not at all; this was the purpose of His coming into the world. There was no other way in which we could be redeemed.  Do NOT believe the devil’s lie “that all paths lead to  God”. "For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many." [Matt. 7:13]

Returning to the three disciples, He found them sleeping—a sad commentary on fallen human nature. Jesus warned Peter against sleeping in that crucial hour. Only recently, Peter had boated of his undying steadfastness. Now he couldn’t even stay awake.  If a man cannot pray for one hour, it is unlikely that he will be able to resist temptation in the moment of extreme pressure. No matter how enthusiastic his spirit may be, he must reckon with the frailty of his flesh.


 

 



"...Yet not what I will, but what you will."

 “Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.  “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” [Mark 14:35]

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"

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 “In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” [Matthew 3:1,2]
Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!””    [Mark 1:14,15]

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"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"

John the Baptist was six months older than his cousin Jesus. He stepped onto the stage of history to serve as forerunner for the King of Israel. His unlikely parish was the wilderness of Judea.

John’s message was, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” The King would soon appear, but He could not and would not reign over people who clung to their sins. They must change directions, must confess and forsake their sins. God was calling them from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of heaven.

John was put in prision by Herod. From then on Jesus took up the message which John had preached: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” It was a further call for moral renewal in preparation for His kingdom. The kingdom was near in the sense that the King was present.

Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the good news of the kingdom of God. His specific message was that:
1)The time was fulfilled. According to the prophetic time-table, a date had been fixed for the public appearing of the King. It had now arrived.
2) The kingdom of God was at hand; the King was present and was making a bona fide offer of the kingdom to the nation of Israel. The kingdom was at hand in the sense that the King had appeared on the scene.
3) Men were called on to repent and believe in the gospel. In order to be eligible to enter the kingdom, they had to do an about-face regarding sin, and believe the good news concerning the Lord Jesus.

Dear friend, have you repented of your sins and accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?  Are there any unconfessed sins in your life?

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”[2 Chronicles 7:14].

“I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.” [2 Corinthians 6:2].  Dear friend, tomorrow is not ours!


 

John the Baptist Beheaded

 “Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.  When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.  The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.”  And he promised her with an oath, ...  She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”   “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.   At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”  The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her.  So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison,  and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother." [Mark 6:21-28]

"...do you love me more than these?"

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 “Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”  So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.  Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.  Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.  This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.   When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”   “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”    [John 21:10-15]

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"...do you love me more than these?"

The Lord Jesus took care of their physical needs first. Then when they were warm and had eaten,  He turned to Peter and dealt with spiritual matters. Peter had publicly denied the Lord three times. Since then, he had repented and had been restored to fellowship with the Lord. In these verses, Peter’s restoration is publicly acknowledged by the Lord.

It has often been pointed out that two different words for love are used in these verses.  We might paraphrase as follows: “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these other disciples love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I am fond of You.” Peter would no longer boast that he would never forsake the Lord, even if all the other disciples did. He had learned his lesson.

A practical way of demonstrating love for Christ is by feeding the young ones in His flock.

Just as Peter had denied the Lord thrice, so he was given three opportunities to confess Him.  Third time, Peter appealed to the fact that Jesus was God and therefore knew all things. He said the third time, “You know that I am fond of You.” And for the last time he was told that he could demonstrate this by feeding Christ’s sheep. In this passage, the underlying lesson is that love of Christ is the only acceptable motive for serving Him.

Dear friend, have you repented like Peter did, for denying Jesus Christ by your words or actions? Jesus is asking each of us the same question, “_________[Fill in your name here], do you love me more than these?”  Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”  You can also share the Word of God to a friend or a family member or a colleague, who is hungry for the Word of God.  You can send an email or share the Word on the facebook or talk to them personally.

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” [Romans 10: 14].


 

Throw your net on the right side...

 ““I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.  He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”   “No,” they answered.  He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. " [John 21:3-6]

I will make you fishers of men,
Fishers of men, fishers of men.
I will make you fishers of men,
If you follow Me.