THE BETRAYAL

Matthew 26:47-50

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.

St. Matthew 26:47-50 [47] And while he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. [48] Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” [49] Immediately he went up to Jesus, and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. [50] But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?  Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.

Dear fellow redeemed in Christ our Lord…  Again tonight we find Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He has just finished his three-fold prayer that His Father’s will be done, and He has prepared Himself to meet His destiny – death on the cross for the sins of all mankind.  And as He is telling His disciples to wake up so that they can go forth with Him to that destiny, that destiny comes to Him in the form of the one disciple who had not been present in the Garden with Him: Judas Iscariot.

Judas was one of the select twelve called and chosen by Jesus to be His disciples.  These twelve men had followed Jesus around for three years.  They had seen and heard Jesus far more than anyone else.  They had witnessed countless miracles.  They had heard teachings from Jesus that were not given to the crowds, teachings reserved for them alone.  They had been sent out themselves by Jesus to preach repentance.  They had seen and heard firsthand many people come to faith.

And Judas had been a part of it all.  Yet still today we see him betray the one he calls “rabbi,” meaning teacher or great one, with a brotherly kiss.

It is shocking to us that one who had spent so much time with Jesus and had heard and seen such great things from Him would now betray Him into death.  But that did not start during Holy Week.  Judas’ betrayal of our Lord began long before that.

From St. John’s Gospel account, we learn that Judas had been the money keeper for Jesus and the disciples.  And it is he who objects when Mary, the sister of Lazarus, anoints Jesus’ feet with expensive perfumed oil.  John writes: “But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”  This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.” (John 12:4-6)

Judas thought he could have it both ways.  He thought he could be a faithful follower of Jesus while at the same time being a petty thief against Jesus.  He thought he could love God and love money both at the same time, even though he had heard Jesus preach that it was not possible.  Perhaps Judas wanted to prove our Lord wrong; perhaps Judas thought He knew better than Jesus.

John speaks of Judas’ thievery as a habitual, ongoing practice.  And this became, as it were, the devil’s door into Judas’ heart.  Eventually his love of money took precedence over his love of his rabbi and teacher.  And so, he simply sold his master into bondage for a lousy thirty pieces of silver, having chosen to serve a new master, the devil.

We can speculate that perhaps, having seen Jesus miraculously escape from His enemies before, Judas thought He would do so again and would not come to any real harm.  Even if that were so, it is a poor excuse for the treachery that he commits.  And the Scriptures state quite clearly that the devil had entered Judas, and that even after being told by Jesus that he was the one who would betray Him, Judas went and did it anyway.  That is how firmly sin and the devil took hold of him.  And in that demonic grip, Judas came to Jesus under the guise of a faithful friend and follower.  He greeted Jesus with a kiss, but behind him was that multitude with swords and clubs.

According to John’s Gospel, Jesus went forward and asked the multitude who they were seeking; and they said “Jesus of Nazareth.”  And when He replied to them, “I am He,” they were all knocked down to the ground.  And Judas, according to John, was standing with them when this happened.  And still, even with such a display of divine power, Judas betrayed his Lord into their hands.  And when all was said and done, and Jesus was handed over to the Romans to be tried and crucified, at last Judas became remorseful over his actions.
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That is the way it is with sin.  The temptation for us to commit sin can be strong; the urge to commit sin can be overwhelming.  And that is especially so when we have convinced ourselves that wrong is right…or at least, that wrong isn’t too wrong.  But even more strong is the sense of grief and remorse when the deed is done, and even more so if the consequences of that sin are seen or felt.  Matthew records that Judas brought the money back to the priests and said: “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.”  (Mt 27:4)  But these priests, these self-serving losers, these lousy pastors, failed miserably in their duties.  Having heard Judas’ confession, having seen Judas’ concern and remorse, they not only failed to give him absolution, but said to him instead, “What is that to us?  You see to it.”

And that’s just what Judas did; he saw to it.  Convinced that there was no forgiveness for Him, convinced that he could not return to Christ for mercy or even to the temple priests for mercy, he was overcome with despair.  He took things – particularly his own life – into his own hands, and hung himself to death.

Even though he is a betrayer, Judas has much to teach us.  His story shows us the overwhelming power and effects of sin.  His story shows us how the devil works his way into our life.

Many people are under the impression that they can lead a wild life, that they can practice all kinds of sin, that they can lie and deceive, and still be in no danger, and be good Christians all the while.  Do not be fooled!  Wherever there is a hole left open for the devil, even if we would think that hole too small for him to squeeze through, it is more than enough for him to stick his head in and drag his whole body in with it.

Fear God, dear people, and run away from sin.  For if you continue in sin, you must also look out for the danger to which you expose yourself.  It is true that the devil does not go to work with the intention of giving you favors.  All the example you need is how he prompted and encouraged Judas into greediness until he led him through despair, and ultimately, all the way to self-destruction.

Let this be a warning.  Earnestly pray that God would, for Christ’s sake, not hold you responsible for your sin and iniquity.   Do not think in your heart: “I can do whatever I want, and still be a Christian; I will make things right some day.”  The devil is too wise and cunning for you.   For when he has spun his web around you, it will not be easy for you to tear yourself away.

Indeed, the devil would have you go the same way as Judas.  He wants only your demise; he wants only your soul.  He wants you to despair of God’s mercy and to go and do as Judas did.  He wants you to go and see to your sin yourself and impose upon yourself the appropriate punishment.  He wants you to take things completely into your own hands, even if he uses your own hands to destroy you.

But this is not the will of Christ.  For our Lord did not give Himself over to His betrayer for the sake of saving the righteous and those who believe they can help themselves.  He gave Himself into suffering and death for the sake of saving sinners – sinners like you and me.  And to those who are sorry for their sins, to those who desire to be relieved of the guilt of their sins, for those who want to be pardoned of their sin, Jesus gives His grace to accomplish it.

He asked Judas: “Friend, why have you come?”  And if Judas had answered, “I come for mercy because I have sinned against You,” Jesus would certainly have shown mercy, for Jesus always shows mercy to those who come to Him in penitent faith and trust.  He showed that in a powerful way when He allowed Himself to be delivered up into the most hellish death known to man – crucifixion.  Agony and suffering and torment is what Jesus willingly took to Himself, all in order to set you free from sin and give you a place with Him in heaven.

Dear friends, there is never a cause for despair with Jesus, for there is no sin that has not already been paid for with His blood.  And that includes all of yours.

Cling by God-given faith to the Lord Jesus.  Believe Him when He says to you, “Your sins are forgiven.  I have taken them upon myself for you.  I alone am your Savior.  I alone have borne the crushing weight and full-bore punishment of all you sins.  I have set you free.”

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.