The Kiss of Death How Jesus Overcomes Our Betrayal

The Kiss of Death How Jesus Overcomes Our Betrayal 

Mark 14:43- 52 CSB

43 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. With him was a mob, with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. 

44 His betrayer had given them a signal. “The one I kiss,” he said, “he’s the one; arrest him and take him away under guard.” 

45 So when he came, immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 

46 They took hold of him and arrested him. 

47 One of those who stood by drew his sword, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear.

48 Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal, to capture me? 

49 Every day I was among you, teaching in the temple, and you didn’t arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”

50 Then they all deserted him and ran away. 

51 Now a certain young man, wearing nothing but a linen cloth, was following him. They caught hold of him, 

52 but he left the linen cloth behind and ran away naked.

Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Mk 14:43–52.

We'd like to think that we are the true followers of Jesus. That we would not betray or abandon Jesus like Hi disciples. But we do and we have. This portion of scripture shows us three ways we have turned our backs on Jesus and what He has done about it.

Apathy 

The disciples heard the warnings from Jesus but were sleeping . Just as the mob was arriving, this is what Jesus said:

41 Then he came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The time has come. See, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 

42 Get up; let’s go. See, my betrayer is near.”   

Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Mk 14:41–42.

Apathy 

In the movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman [Columbia Pictures, 2018]), two Spider-Men, in full Spidey gear, become entangled and crash-land in the middle of a busy New York City crosswalk. No one bats an eye, and one person suggests they just walk around them. Apparently, these New Yorkers have seen it all and have become so apathetic that they no longer even acknowledge the craziness that’s right in front of them (40:00–40:30). This might sound familiar—like the story of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37). It is sometimes easier to ignore the needs around us instead of caring. Instead of engaging in a meaningful way, we just walk around the needs.

As something terrible was about to happen the disciples slept.

They promised undying love but they couldn't even stay awake 

Out of all things we struggle with apathy is the biggest for us 

We are blessed to have lives that are shielded for the problems of most of the world 

It is easy to isolate ourselves from what id happening around us 

(My failure to help a crying woman)

Other things were more important 

Jesus was not apathetic 

He had everything to use but still went to the cross 

Direct Betrayal 

43 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. With him was a mob, with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. 

44 His betrayer had given them a signal. “The one I kiss,” he said, “he’s the one; arrest him and take him away under guard.” 

45 So when he came, immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 

Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Mk 14:43–45.

Direct Betrayal 

Have you ever prayed for something, and instead of getting what you asked for, things got even worse? In the movie Monsters, Inc. (directed by Pete Docter, David Silverman, and Lee Unkrich [Buena Vista Pictures, 2001]), Sulley goes to the owner of the company to report the wrongdoings of a coworker. He has uncovered dishonesty and an evil plan. When he tells the owner, he realizes that the owner is not only aware of the situation, but he is actually behind it. Sulley and his friend Mike then get banished from their world.

It is important to see that this is a direct betrayal not some mistake

Judas to a place where Jesus was most vunrable

They came with swords and clubs

He told them to "cease Him and Arrest Him"

His name changes in the text from "one of the twelve" to "the Betrayer"

He kisses Him as a sign, usually a sign of respect

Scholars give 6 motives for Judas' betrayal 

Nationalism 

In keeping with his patriotic zeal, Judas turned Jesus over to the authorities after realizing that his Master did not intend to overthrow the Roman order and establish a Jewish state.

Impatience 

Judas believed Jesus to be the Messiah and planned his arrest in hopes of urging Jesus to usher in his kingdom.

Wickedness 

He was a scoundrel who plotted wickedness since the start of Jesus’ public ministry.

The Devil

Prompted by a satanic impulse, Judas betrayed Jesus; however, after recognizing that he was deceived, out of remorse he took his own life.

Pride

With a damaged pride and a humiliated ego from Jesus’ caustic rebukes, Judas, originally a loyal disciple, turned against him.

Greed 

Judas, moved by his own greed, yielded to his selfish instincts, not realizing that Jesus would consequently be tried and killed; upon learning the outcome of his betrayal, he repented in dispair and committed suicide.

How did Jesus overcome betrayal?

He washed Judas' feet - John 13

He gave an opportunity for repentance

Sharing the bread

He called Judas by name

but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"

Even in our worst moment, Jesus calls us by name. 

Fight or Flight 

Fear stops us. We either fight in 

46 They took hold of him and arrested him. 

47 One of those who stood by drew his sword, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear.

48 Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal, to capture me? 

49 Every day I was among you, teaching in the temple, and you didn’t arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”

50 Then they all deserted him and ran away. 

51 Now a certain young man, wearing nothing but a linen cloth, was following him. They caught hold of him, 

52 but he left the linen cloth behind and ran away naked.

Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Mk 14:46–52.

Fight or Flight 

What would you do if you had no fear? “NPR podcast Invisibilia tackled that question in its second episode by talking to Antonio Damasio, a University of Southern California neuroscientist who has treated a woman—referred to as SM—with an inability to feel fear. SM suffers from Urbach-Wiethe disease, placing her among a group of only about 400 people on the planet with the condition.” (Article source: http://www.newser.com/story/201604/inside-the-rare-case-of-the-woman-who-has-no-fear.html)

While fear can be a healthy emotion, it can also keep us, at times, from trusting God. What would you do if you completely trusted God and couldn’t feel fear?

When we are afraid we give a flight or fight response 

Fight response  - Peter 

He cut off the High Priest Servants ear 

We find it is Peter from gospel of John 

This was not the person He was mad at but the closest victim of His anger 

Our fight repos usually hurts the closest victim ranter than the responsible party 

Flight Response - All of His Followers 

All of the Disciples 

The man who ran naked 

Jesus - Did not fight 

John shows us that when Jesus spoke a word they all fell 

But He would not fight because he was not afraid - He was determined 

Jesus did not Run

As we have said before, It was in the garden that our redemption started to happen 

It was here , that He made His decision 

Hope Thoughts 

What Beats Apathy? Real Love 

What Beats Betrayal? Real Love 

What Beats Fear? Real Love