57: BETRAYED - Scriptures Fulfilled (Matthew 26:47-56)

Billy Wilson - kicked out of China

Several years ago a friend of mine, Billy Wilson (former Satanist) - took a job teaching New Testament in the 3rd largest university in Communist China. He was not to proselytize, could teach the New Testament as history. Billy’s goal WAS to share the message of Jesus with these precious people. In fact, he would have students over to his house and share Jesus & grow young disciples - he even baptized some students in his bathtub!

Billy served there for 7 years, when suddenly he received an email that basically said, “Thank you for teaching here. Your position is no longer needed.” And Billy had to get out of China. WHY?

One day he had a new student. As with the other students, Billy invited this person to his home for a group gathering. After that gathering, that particular student was no longer showing up for class. And not long after that, Billy receives the email.

He is convinced that student was a Communist plant, who then reported what was going on in Billy’s house. It cost him his job & his privileges as a guest in China…and could have cost him even more.

Billy was betrayed by someone he invested a little time in, by someone he had invited into his home.

But how much WORSE was it for Jesus & his disciples, when a man who had done ministry with them for YEARS, suddenly flew the coup, and led ENEMIES of Jesus to arrest Him…

Jesus was BETRAYED…so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.

CATCH THE CONTEXT

You’ll remember that we saw Jesus pray The Most Powerful Prayer while in the Garden of Gethsemane, when He prayed “Your Will Above Mine”.

Jesus prays that multiple times and keeps going back to check on His disciples who have fallen asleep from the “exhausted from sorrow” (Lk 22:44).

Matthew 26:45–46 (NIV) Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Judas had a pretty good idea where Jesus was going. Judas had likely been there many times with Jesus (Jn 18:2). And this is their chance - later in the darkness, away from the crowds of people preparing to bed down inside the walls of Jerusalem.

Matthew 26:47 (NIV) While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.

Many of these men were likely part of the Levitical Temple police force (The captain of the temple guard, likely along with others from the Temple police force, later arrested Peter & John, and put them in jail. - Acts 4:1). It is unlikely that Roman soldiers were involved in the story yet, although many Bible commentators think some Romans could have been there as well.

Matthew 26:48 (NIV) Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” (see John 18:6)

These men didn’t have q-beams or LED headlamps. They wanted to make sure they were getting the right man, and Judas had the plan: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.”

But John gives us some insight that none of the other gospels mention, that Jesus approached them first and asked who they were looking for. They told Him, “Jesus of Nazareth” and when Jesus said, “I AM” they fell to the ground! When He asked again, I’m thinking they were probably a little less aggressive.

That’s likely the time that Judas made his move.

Matthew 26:48–50a (NIV) Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”

Even today this is the greeting in many middle eastern cultures - kissing both sides of the face - a sign of greeting & peace. This is the M.O. of Judas, he is SAYING one thing and DOING something different.

Dr. Luke notes that Jesus responded by saying, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48 NIV)

Craig Keener rightly notes: “An ancient audience might grasp something of the depth of such betrayal’s pain.” [1]

Matthew notes that Jesus sarcastically says, “Do what you came for, FRIEND.” - But Judas is NO friend.

Matthew 26:50b-51 (NIV) Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

Any guess who this is? Yep - it’s Rocky - Simon who Jesus nicknamed “Peter” or “Rocky”. I can only imagine the sound as every man prepares for the battle that’s about to begin.

John’s gospel is very specific here even naming the man that Samurai Simon de-ears or ear-a-tates. John even says that Peter cut off his right ear (Jn 18:10). And I don’t think Simon Peter was aiming for an ear, do you?

Remember that time when Peter said, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” (Mt 26:35)? Do you think he meant it? YEP!

Matthew 26:52–54 (NIV) “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

By earthly standards, a legion was 5,000-6,000 Roman troops. 12 legions could be 72,000 angels. What kind of protection do you think they might give? One angel could have taken out every enemy there.

BUT…Jesus didn’t ask for that. Jesus had already decided to follow the plan, and that plan was mentioned in the Scriptures - what we would call the Old Testament writings.

David wrote this 1,000 years before Jesus quotes it during the Passover meal as he warned about they betrayal that was coming (Jn 13:18).

Psalm 41:9 (NIV) Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.

Maybe Jesus was thinking of this passage too.

Isaiah 53:7a (NIV) He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter…

Even though these men are about to take Him to His death…Jesus still extends grace…Angels will not appear and fight on His behalf.

And Dr. Luke tells us that Jesus touched the man’s ear and healed him (Lk 22:51). Why would you do that for your enemies? This is Jesus practicing what He was preaching - loving your enemies (Mt 5:44).

I wonder how many actually saw what happened and how it impacted them. We are not told.

We ARE told what Jesus said next.

Matthew 26:55 (NIV) In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me.

They had lots of opportunities to arrest Jesus. It’s not like He was dodging them. Even now, he is just a few minutes walk from where they had been in Jerusalem.

I am reminded of the time that Jesus said,

John 10:17–18a (NET 2nd ed.) This is why the Father loves me—because I lay down my life, so that I may take it back again. No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down of my own free will. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it back again…

Matthew 26:56 (NIV) But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

And it was fulfilled just as Jesus had earlier told His disciples while on the way to the garden.

Matthew 26:31 (NIV) Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “ ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ [Zech 13:7]

Now, Jesus has been betrayed and even His closest disciples have left Him…alone…to drink the cup of the Father’s wrath, a cup that THEY should have drunk…the cup WE should have to drink from.

And it would be where Jesus was heading - at the cross - where the seriousness of our sin and the graciousness of our God - was demonstrated for all mankind.

In fact, people often ask, “How could a good God let bad things happen to good people?” How about THIS? The best person ever - SINLESS - was betrayed by a close friend, mistreated by religious hypocrites, abandoned by his best friends, & would be brutally beaten, harshly treated, & crucified…for US.

Jesus understands and cares about us.

Is Jesus worthy of your life? Will you seek Him in the Scriptures & live for Him in our culture?

SUBMIT TO THE FATHER’S PLAN. Obviously, that’s what Jesus did.

Are YOU doing that? PRAY & OBEY. Pray, “You’re will above mine” & be ready to do what’s right even when it’s tough. Submit to the Father’s plan for your life. There really is an eternal purpose that will far outweigh the temporary pain.

APPRECIATE THE AUTHORITY OF THE SCRIPTURES. That’s what Jesus did, trusting that what the Scriptures say ARE true & would come true.

Do YOU? What real ROLE do the Scriptures play in your life? Do you open the Scriptures, trust the Scriptures, & apply the Scriptures to your life?

me this week on kayak realizing I’m seeking fish more than my King

PRAY & NUMBERS ON SCREEN

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Craig S. Keener, The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009), 642.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Read Matthew 26:47-50. Even though Jesus knew this was coming, how do you think Jesus felt when Judas kissed him? Have you ever experienced betrayal? How did you handle it, and what can we learn from Jesus' response?

Read Matthew 26:51-54. Why do you think Jesus chose not to resist arrest or call on the angels for protection?

Read 41:9 & Isaiah 57:3. How do these Old Testament passages point to what Jesus meant when He said, “The Scriptures…say it must happen this way.”? How do these fulfilled prophecies give you evidence that trusting in Jesus is reasonable?

Read Luke 22:51. Jesus healed the servant’s ear, even while being arrested. What does this teach us about loving our enemies?

Read Matthew 26:55 & John 10:17-18. What does this tell you about Jesus’ willingness to sacrifice His life…for YOU?

Read Matthew 26:31-32 & 26:56. Based on the rest of the story, is Jesus willing to forgive those who at some point had abandoned Him? What would you tell someone who feels like they’ve gone to far to come back to Jesus? We had 2 FEET2FAITH Challenges today:

Submit to the Father’s Plan. In what areas of your life do you find it difficult to submit to God's will? How can we support each other in this?

APPRECIATE THE AUTHORITY OF THE SCRIPTURES. What are some helpful ways to read & apply the Scriptures in our daily lives. Honestly, what role does reading the Scriptures play in your life? Do you need help finding what to read?

Do you have someone to check-in on what you are reading and what you are learning/applying? If not, choose a same-sex person in the group to (or your spouse) to check in of each other throughout the week.

How can we pray for/care for one another this week? (Pray for one another.)