4-11-2019

 Good Morning All,

    Luke 22:4; “Judas went to the chief priests and the temple guards and discussed with them how he could betray Jesus.”

    The pain of betrayal; is there anything worse?  The close friend who you shared a deep, hidden secret is now rapidly telling everyone.  The neighbor who you told how much you would pay to rent some land, hurries and beats you to the owner.  The friend who abandons you for other people on a night when you were enjoying an evening out together.  The business partner who steals your idea.  The spouse who betrays your wedding vows.  Is there anything worse than a cold-hearted betrayal?  The closer the relationship, the deeper the hurt.  Have you ever been betrayed or have you ever betrayed someone else?

    Our text is part of the story of Judas.  Judas is a name forever now connected to betrayal.  To call someone a “Judas” is an insult designed to hurt them and to warn others.  “Be careful what you say around that Judas.”  Judas Iscariot is one of the most enigmatic and frustrating characters in the Bible.  Why would he do this?  Scriptures tells us that “Satan entered Judas Iscariot” but that doesn’t mean that Judas was controlled like some robot; it means that his desires for this world were now completely selfish and sinful.  Some have tried to make some sort of guess that Judas did this to provoke Jesus into attacking the Romans.  Judas was believed to be a zealot.  Zealots were a political faction that sought the ouster of all foreigners, especially the Romans.  Consequently, they would often try to kill any Roman anytime and anywhere.

    We can try to excuse him but he was a betrayer.  He betrayed the one person who loved him unconditionally and without hesitation.  He was the betrayer of Jesus and Jesus knew this all along.  This must have been painful for Jesus; yet, Peter, James, Thomas, all big talkers, fled away when they took Jesus to his “trial”.  For the most part, it was only women who stayed for it all.  The women and John were present at the crucifixion, the rest of the disciples are not mentioned.  So, in a sense, they betrayed Jesus as well. 

    Of course, we must also confess that we have betrayed Jesus as well.  When our faith is mocked, do we confess or sit quietly.  Do we look away from our neighbors in need?  Do we stay away from worship because we have “more important things to do?”  Do we join in gossip about a neighbor rather than defend him?  Just like Judas, Jesus knew you would betray him.  Yet this makes the sacrifice of Jesus so incredible for us.  Paul writes while we were yet sinners Jesus died for us.  While we betrayed, the love of Jesus was poured on us.  If Jesus will forgive our betrayal, He will forgive all our sins; just as He promised.  There is no sin in you which Jesus does not forgive.  We can cling to him as our loving brother who died to bring us into God’s holy family.  There is no sin that will separate you from God’s love; the empty cross and the open tomb attest to that.  You are forgiven and redeemed by God; live in the peace of that truth.

Father, too often I betray rather than confess.  As you continue to forgive my failings, keep me ever looking to Jesus for my hope.  Defend me this day, in Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret