God's Last Words

BRAGGING ABOUT JESUS

Matthew 26: 14-25 (NRSV)

The Jesus story comes to a head, or the plot thickens, after the followers of Jesus have joyfully entered Jerusalem in the wonderful event called the “Triumphant Entry” we call Palm Sunday.

To be really blunt about Palm Sunday: It is a day that’s unlike other days we celebrate because it’s a day to be happy about Jesus and what He’s done. It’s a day to brag inserted into a faith tradition that’s taught not to brag or boast about Jesus.

Jesus’ followers turned it into an event that bragged about Jesus solving all the Jewish problems and questions. It was a prideful day – but the Old Testament warned us that “Pride goes before a fall.” Braggers rarely stand up to adversity.

The word is “Betrayal.”It stings us, and often, it wounds us to the very core of our soul. When someone whom we trust turns on us, we don’t know where to turn.

Do we respond, in kind, firing with all barrels? Or do we quietly lick our wounds in private, wondering who will betray us next. I once had a friend who proudly told me, “I don’t get even – I get ahead.”

What others have said about betrayal can put our feelings into perspective. In the  words of others, we can see our own situation and perhaps, even find forgiveness or at least, the ability to move on. Betrayal quotes can shed light on one of the great tragedies of our lives, the ultimate violation of our trust.

George R. R. Martin wrote: “Shattered legs may heal in time, but some betrayals fester and poison the soul.”

Orson Scott Card said, “There's a sort of rage a man feels when he's been deceived where he most trusted. It compares to no other anger a man can feel.”

John  LeCarrie penned these words: “Love is whatever you can still betray, because betrayal can only happen if you love.”

It is said “Each betrayal begins with trust,” and “to betray you must first belong.”

Those words are certainly true when we think of the relationship between Jesus and the 12^th disciple named Judas Iscariot.

Let’s read the Gospel Lesson: Matthew 26: 14-25 and see the bragging end and the reality of betrayal and faith mix:

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.

On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’”

So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.”

Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.”

Judas as usual, can be viewed both literally and figuratively. He physically betrays Jesus and mentally experiences remorse at doing so. I think Judas represents those people who physically commit to be Christians in actions yet fall short of actual faith and trust.

Let’s look at who Judas was in order to see why he represents Jesus being rejected by the world. We know some things about Judas as his contemporaries wrote some information about him.

Judas Iscariot was the only son of wealthy Jewish parents living in Jericho. He had first followed John the Baptist, and his Sadducee parents had disowned him. Judas Iscariot was the only Judean among the twelve apostles.

Judas Iscariot, the twelfth apostle, was chosen by Nathaniel. He was born in Kerioth, a small town in southern Judea. When he was young, his parents moved to Jericho, where he lived and had been employed in his father's business until he became interested in the preaching and work of John the Baptist. Judas was thirty years of age and unmarried when he joined the apostles.

Judas was probably the best-educated man among the twelve and the only Judean among the disciples. Judas had no outstanding personal strength, though he had many outwardly appearing traits of culture and habits of training. Judas knew the world and it’s temptations, it’s allure, and how power was used. Judas was a good business man.

There is no hint that any of the twelve ever criticized Judas or bullied him. As far as they knew Judas Iscariot was a matchless treasurer, a learned man, a loyal (though sometimes critical) apostle, and in every sense of the word a great success.

Judas was very much like the church member and/or beloved husband/father who has secrets stashed away. Judas never give his all to Jesus.

It seemed as if the apostles loved Judas; he was really one of them. He must have believed in Jesus, or at least in the idea of Jesus, but we doubt whether he really loved Him or bought into His ministry with a whole heart.

The case of Judas illustrates the truthfulness of that saying: "There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is death."

A “psychological profile” would probably read like this: Like many in our world today Judas was an only son of unwise parents. When very young, he was pampered and petted; he was a spoiled child. As he grew up, he had exaggerated ideas about his self-importance. He was a poor loser. He had loose and distorted ideas about fairness; he was given to the indulgence of hate and suspicion.

He was an expert at misinterpretation of the words and acts of his friends. All through his life Judas had cultivated the habit of getting even with those whom he fancied had mistreated him. His sense of values and loyalties was defective.

Money was probably not the motive for his betrayal, but his skewed views of right/wrong and how wealth and power is to be used, was.

Jesus knew Judas, and used his strengths and weaknesses to the good of God’s Kingdom and the redemption story. That’s the hard part for us to understand – Judas, in his betrayal, still was used to the good in God’s Kingdom.

Judas’ story shows us that an outward show of loyalty to Jesus is meaningless unless we also follow Christ in our heart.

I am convinced that Jesus could have been crucified without being betrayed.

It’s not like Jesus hid His identity or changed His appearance when He spoke. He was a highly visible teacher, prophet, and miracle worker. The High Priests and the Romans knew Him – they didn’t need really need Judas.

Why then is he here? Judas represents us in the story, how humanity has betrayed and moved away from God. Each of us owns a nail that put Jesus on the cross – and Judas reminds us of the price for doing so.

How? If we don’t really know Him and love Him, we betray His Love for us, just as surely as Judas did. And we will be left hopeless and desolate as Judas was.

Although Judas attempted to undo the harm he had done, he failed to seek the Lord's forgiveness. Thinking it was too late for him, Judas ended his life in suicide.

 

If we have head knowledge about Jesus but guard our hearts from Him we too are committing suicide in that eternal life in God’s Kingdom will never be ours.

It's natural for people to have strong or mixed feelings about Judas. Some feel a sense of hatred toward him for his act of betrayal, others feel pity, and some throughout history have considered him a hero. No matter how you react to him, here are a few biblical facts about Judas Iscariot to keep in mind:

Judas lacked trust in others and instead had a personal creed that said: “I'd rather betray others, than have others betray me.”

Judas made a conscience choice to betray Jesus (Luke 22: 48).

He was a thief with greed in his heart (John 12: 6).

Jesus knew Judas' heart was set on evil and that he would not repent (John 6: 70, John 17: 12).

Judas' act of betrayal was part of God's sovereign plan (Psalm 41: 9, Zechariah 11: 12-13, Matthew 20:18 and 26: 20-25, and Acts 1: 16, 20).

Believers can benefit from thinking about Judas Iscariot's life and considering their own commitment to the Lord. Are we true followers of Christ or secret pretenders?

 

And if we fail and realize we have betrayed Jesus, do we give up all hope, or do we accept his forgiveness and seek restoration? 

Jesus is waiting to forgive our betrayal.

 

Amen.