“The Traitor”

Good morning, turn with me to Luke chapter 22. Most of us have an understanding of how valuable and important good friendships are in our lives. For some of you, you can look back at a difficult time or perhaps a crisis in your life and remember how a good friend was there for you or helped you get through that difficulty.

You may also know what it is like to have a friend betray you. Some of you know what it is like to experience an unfaithful friend who you thought cared about you only to wound you or even betray you.

Throughout Scripture we see repeated offenses of people who hurt their friends, spouses, family members like Joseph’s brothers who sold him into slavery and other examples as well. But in the history of the world, there has never been such a worse betrayal that ever took place like when Jesus our Savior was betrayed by Judas.

Think about this betrayal for just a moment. As we saw last week Jesus had sat down with His disciples and told them that He earnestly desired to eat this Passover meal with them. (Luke 22 and verse 15) In other words, Jesus knew that His time had come to die for our sin. The Passover had been celebrated for many years and once again Jesus and His disciples met to remember how the angel of death had passed over the children of Israel and yet had brought judgement to Egypt. So, this was a very special time for the Lord, and yet the Lord told His disciples some very discouraging news. “One of you is about to betray me.”

1. The Betrayal was prompted by Satan.

Luke 22:1–6 ESV

1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. 2 And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people. 3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.

When we hear the word betrayal it comes across as a very ugly word. There is something very disheartening and sad about this word and yet what we come to understand here in our text is that Judas gave up Christ, Judas betrayed Christ for a handful of money.

So why did Judas betray Christ? What was it that motivated him so that he would commit this terrible act of betrayal? I think that it can be easy to look at this situation and say that Judas did this for the money. In verse 5 we see that the religious leaders were glad and agreed to give him the money. Before Judas met with Jesus and the other disciples in the Upper Room for the celebration of the Passover, Judas had already met with the chief priests and leaders in secret. Judas knew that they wanted to capture Jesus quietly and in a private spot, so Judas agreed to betray Jesus to them in a place where there would be no crowd. This plan met that Judas would help them at night in the cover of darkness and Judas would betray Christ with a kiss.

But even though money could have been a motivator for Judas to betray Christ the Bible tells us that before Judas committed this act, that Satan entered into him. The gospel of John tells us that Satan entered into Judas and put it into his heart to betray the Lord. (John 13 and verse 2) Like the religious leaders that came against Christ so too was Judas a child of the devil. In the gospel of John we learn much about who Satan is and how he tempts us.

John 8:44 ESV

44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Judas was not simply harassed or bothered by Satan, he was literally possessed by the prince of evil. Satan entered into the core of Judas’ being and fired him up and intensified his greed. Now there may be some folks who would say well then how can Judas be held responsible for his actions? After all didn’t Satan come into him and possess his soul? Satan found a very willing person in Judas. Satan did not have to coerce Judas to perform this act of betrayal because they were partners in crime. What we see here is that Judas willingly acted out of the darkness of his own heart and mind. He didn’t have to have Satan to possess him, because he was happy to be part of this dark act.

Church even though this terrible act of betrayal happened there was something good that came about. In fact, in the midst of betrayal one of the most glorious deeds would be performed on our behalf through Jesus Christ. Because through this work, orchestrated by God’s sovereignty, our salvation came to pass. Judas was willing, he had his own intentions. In fact, his purpose was to come against Jesus, and yet God’s purpose was to redeem His children through this very same act.

2. The Betrayal was a fulfillment of Scripture.

Luke 22:21–23 ESV

21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22 For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” 23 And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.

Last week we spent some time addressing this text and the fact that Judas was with Christ and the rest of the disciples as they came to celebrate this Passover meal. Jesus shocks the disciples by saying, “behold the hand of the one betraying me is with mine on the table. What Jesus revealed by explaining that someone was about to betray Him was that danger was very imminent and that it was already in the works. Satan had already entered into Judas so that he had cut a deal with the Jewish leaders to hand Jesus over to them.

But Jesus knew from the beginning who the traitor was and that Judas would do the unthinkable. Yet this is exactly what Psalm 41 predicted would happen when Judas would betray Christ.

Psalm 41:9 ESV

9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.

It can be easy for us to look at Judas here as this evil villain who brought Jesus down and yet we see here that the Son of Man goes as it had been determined. This did not come about by Judas, the Jewish leaders, the Romans, Herod, or even Pilate. Jesus would in fact die by the predetermined act and foreknowledge of God. In Acts chapter 2 Peter shares this short sermon about Jesus and he helps us to see this.

Acts 2:23 ESV

23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

So, the Lord’s death should not have come as a surprise because we also know that it was predicted in the Old Testament from Isaiah, Psalm 22 and even Zechariah chapter 12. The point here is that Jesus did not go to the cross because of Judas or any human agent. No, Jesus willingly laid down his life so that we could have eternal life.

Unlike Judas however, all of the disciples began to wonder if it was them who was going to betray the Lord. These men were deeply troubled at the thought of betrayal. They all understood their weaknesses and even their own doubting hearts so they began to discuss which one it might be. In the gospel of John we learn that when Jesus had dipped the morsel of bread and given it to Judas, He then dismissed him and yet the rest of the disciples still did not realize that Judas was the betrayer.

3. The Betrayal was a Rejection of Christ.

Luke 22:47–53 ESV

47 While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

While the Lord was still praying and then speaking to His disciples, Judas came with the soldiers to arrest the Lord. We remember from verses 5 and 6 that Judas had taken a bribe and from that time on looked to secretly betray Christ. The sad part about all of this was that Judas was part of the inner circle of the twelve. Judas was numbered as one of the Lord’s twelve disciples. In fact, these are the men that Christ chose to carry out His mission as apostles and now Judas would exploit this trust.

What we see here is that Judas knew much about Jesus and knew where they had often spent time. Judas knew that the Lord would often go to the Mount of Olives because Judas had spent time there with the Lord, so he used this intimate knowledge to betray the Lord. Notice here in verse 47 that Judas used an intimate gesture, a kiss to betray the Lord. When we think about a kiss we think about how a couple signifies their marriage with a kiss. People show their love with a kiss. Kissing a person on the hand may communicate admiration or respect. In some cultures people communicate friendship with a kiss on the cheek. The early church greeted one another with a holy kiss. My point here is that no matter how you would kiss someone, this would generally show or symbolize something good. But when Judas betrays the Lord with a kiss there is a betrayal of friendship and loyalty. Judas shows us his rejection of Jesus and his Lord and Savior. Judas actually communicates rejection and the breaking of fellowship.

In John’s Gospel we learn much about this man named Judas. As the Lord is praying for His disciples we see this.

John 17:9–12 ESV

9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

The Lord guarded His disciples. Jesus said that not one of them was lost except the son of destruction, that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. What we learn here is that Judas was never truly saved. It wasn’t that Judas lost his faith or his salvation. No, we clearly see here from John that Judas was the son of destruction from the beginning even though he may have done some really good things, he was not truly converted. He rejected Christ.

Verse 49 tells us that when those around saw what was going to happen they asked if they should strike with the sword? Then one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. The other gospel writers tell us that it was Peter who cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant. The point here is that the Lord’s kingdom is not accomplished by violence. The Lord could have sent His angels to deliver him if he wanted but he knew that He must suffer and die, so He tells them there is to be no more of this. This helps us to see the Lord’s response here and that He is in control. Under the Lord’s rule there is not going to be any violence. The Lord Jesus stands for what is good and right, even when it will cost Him His life. So, He humbly goes with them to His unjust trial and ultimately to His death.

Conclusion: Today as we think about our own lives and perhaps the betrayal that has taken place, may we all be reminded that we have One who is truly loyal and trustworthy. In fact, the one thing that we know for certain is that the one who was betrayed (Christ Jesus) will never betray His own. In fact those of us who are believers this morning, Christ knows you by name.

1 John 3:1 ESV

1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

It is Christ Jesus who sets His table before us and we can come to Christ and commune with Him. We come to the Lord and confess the ways in which we have betrayed Him, and then find His grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Though we have all betrayed Christ to some extent, He still encourages us to come to His table and He will feed us.

(Pray)

(Lead into Communion)