The Passion of Christ: betrayer, denier and the redeemer

Luke 22:47–62 (ESV) While he(Jesus) 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, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. 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? 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.” Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.”

The Betrayer | The Denier | The Redeemer

Remembering back that we are on the Mount of Olives in the Garden of Gethsemane and Jesus had withdrew to pray vs 39. It is Thursday night and the passover meal has been celebrated. Jesus has been telling his disciples for quite some time that he was leaving and now He says it again during the passover meal and follows on that one of his disciples would betray him. They are jarred and leaving the table they follow Jesus to the Garden where he prays to the “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” You might recall that an angel appeared to strengthen him and his sweat was like great drops of blood when he found his disciples sleeping for sorrow. Waking them he says ““Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” While he was still speaking there came a crowd as the events of the night are starting to pick up speed.

We find a man leading them draws near who was part of the twelve and he drew near to Jesus to kiss him. Though we might think this is a bit strange, but it wasn’t uncommon to greet each other with a kiss. Normally it was a sign of familial affection, friendship, and acceptance and as we see Jesus identifies the heart behind this kiss. This kiss though was an act of betrayal. Matthew records Matthew 26:47–48 “Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.””

The word used for betray is paradidous which means too deliver over to an authority. And Judas was handing over Jesus to the chief priest and elders of the people who had planned to kill him.

Luke 22:2–6 “And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people. Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.”

Why did Judas betray his friend? This man whom he at least thought enough of to follow for three years, why did Judas betray him?

It could have been that Judas thought Jesus to be a political king. Remember just a few days before Judas witness the triumphant entry of Jesus to Jerusalem. Judas could have thought that having him arrested would push Jesus’ hand in the removal of the oppressive Roman occupation in Jerusalem. That was a common thought of that day that the messiah would overthrow the government and restore the house of David.

Being close to the king would bring about prestige, power and money. As we look back we know this is not the case. John 18:36 “Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.””

The bible does help us to see Judas character. We find that he is greedy. John 12:5–6 ““Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.”

And that he was in charge of the money bag.

John 13:29 “Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.”

The only dialog found between Judas and Jesus is found in 3 places:

The passage in John about the expensive ointment John 12:1-8

at the passover meal where Judas sarcastically asks “Is it I, Rabbi?” as Jesus’ betrayer and Jesus replied to him, “You have said so.”” Matthew 26:25

And here in our passage tonight where Jesus speaks to Judas as he brings the crowd with swords and clubs to arrest Jesus and he says “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?””

From this we can see that Judas though he was a disciple who followed Jesus we can see that he did not see Jesus as the incarnate son of God but like a good moral teacher or possibly a political savior whom Judas desired to be close to so that he could benefit by bring much benefit to Judas. Judas was in it for himself and what he could get in return. He wasn’t a good friend. Maybe you have had a friend who only wanted what they could get from you. Judas was this kind of friend and Satan entered into him and he betrayed Jesus.

The Denier

The events of the night were moving very quickly now that they led Jesus away. Earlier in the night at the passover meal, scripture records a conversation between Jesus and Peter.

Luke 22:31–34 ““Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.””

Picking up in our passage vs 54 as they seized and led Jesus away to the high priest house, Peter was following at a distance.

I like the way Mark records this seen a little bit better so I’m going to read Mark 14:66–72. You can follow along in Luke 22:55 and following.

“And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed. And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.”

Luke also records the Lord looking at Peter when he broke down and wept vs 61.

Here was the Peter, the rock on whom the church would be built on and not even the gates of hell shall prevail against it Matthew 16:18 and what does Peter do? He denies Jesus 3 times. The idea Luke is trying to convey with the word deny is that Peter contradicted that he knew Jesus or renouncing knowledge of his relationship. Satan had demanded to sift Peter like wheat. And we see this happening in his denial of Jesus. Jesus being omniscience or all knowing prophesies and tells Peter it will happen but when Satan is done, to strengthen your brothers the other disciples.

The Redeemer

So what makes the difference between Peter and Judas? Judas betrayed and Peter denied and both are surly sins. The out come is drastically different between these two men. Judas hangs himself and Peter goes on to found the church as Jesus had prophesied Matthew 16:18. Judas found condemnation where as Peter found forgiveness. Why?

Matthew 27:3–4 “Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.””

This wasn’t a confession as evidenced by vs 4 where the chief priest respond to him by saying “What is that to us?” Judas felt badly he had betrayed innocent blood. Rather than bringing about the revolution he had hoped he had pushed by bringing the chief priest to Jesus, he had brought condemnation on Jesus head. Jesus was to be killed and Judas felt badly. He went to the chief priest and said “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” And he threw down the pieces of silver into the temple and departed and hung himself.

Judas had an experience. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 7:10b that worldly grief produces death. Judas had felt and experienced worldly grief. He was sorry that he betrayed innocent blood and even gave back the blood money but we do not see him ask for forgiveness or turning to God to live, rather he ends his life by his own choice which is murder and now pays the consequence for his worldly grief in hell.

Think back to our original questions of what makes the difference between Peter and Judas as well as why does Judas experience condemnation whereas Peter find forgiveness. We answered Judas had experienced worldly sorrow where as Peter on the other hand felt godly grief which produces repentance.

Turn with me to and read with me.

2 Corinthians 7:10–11 “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.”

Luke 22:62 “And he went out and wept bitterly.”

Peters faith had been shaken. The brash man we saw just a few paragraphs before who assured Jesus he would never leave him has now denied him. And upon the Lord turning, Peter remembered how he said you will deny me three times.

The KJV really helps us to understand why Peter’s out come was different

Luke 22:32 KJV “when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”

Spurgeon writes with regards to Peters conversion or restoration “Jesus speaks of Peter’s restoration as if it were quite sure to be. And is it not quite sure to be? If Jesus, the Beloved of the Father, prays for his people, shall he not win his suit with God? He will win it! He will uplift Peter from among the sifting where Satan has thrown him.” 

The why in the lifting is because Peter experienced Godly grief without regret. Jesus had prayed for him and provided salvation from his denial which produced the boldness we see in Acts 2 where Peter lifts his voice and tells the Acts 2:22–23 ““Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.”

Peter went on to live a godly life. Though he would fall again and get corrected by Paul Galatians 2:14 “But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”” Peters direction was always progressively upward in direction. By no means was he perfect but he turned from his sin when he was convicted by it. See the Spirit is what convicts us of our sins. John 16:8 “And the Spirit comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:” To have the Spirit you must be born from above and Peter was present in Acts 2 to receive the Holy Spirit.

Another way to look at this or to have assurance of your faith is have you experienced Godly sorrow? Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 7:11 “For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.”

The idea is that godly grief produces a eagerness to clear yourself, not begrudgingly but rather a haste because the conviction of the spirit leads you to deal with the sin that is at hand. The conviction produces a mental agitation or displeasure for the action or thoughts that have occured knowing you have offended a Holy God by not being obedient to Him and His law. The fear spoken of here is a fear of where sin leads, knowing the wage of sin is death Romans 6:23 and that the consuming act of sin must be laid to death if you are to persevere in the faith. Turning from sin and turning to the Lord trusting His way is better than our own is an act of faith. Mingling this idea of fear we see a longing and a zeal to be pure turning from the world and turning to Christ in holiness and overtime this turning proves you innocent or blameless of the sin that caused the grief in the first place. In other words you have walked far enough from this sin that those who know you say it wouldn’t be in your character to do such a thing. To be blameless and above reproach.

I want you to think of a time when you have sinned and we all have. Which type of grief have you experienced in your life? Godly grief that leads to a turning from your sin and living blamelessly because of the indwelling Spirit or Worldly grief that leads to death? If you never have experienced godly grief, turn to the Savior. He lived a perfect and sinless life. Obedient to every command of the Father. He died a horrible death to pay the wage for the sins you commit if you will trust Him. He was raised on the third day proving sin has been defeated and death has been overcome. He wants to give this to you and the freedom it bring if you would repent and believe! Come to Jesus who says come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest for your souls! Matthew 11:28