Betrayal

John 12:2-8

We are going to look tonight at the betrayal of Christ, by Judas. Looking at where we first read of when read of Judas’ dissent and what began his plan to betray Jesus.......John 12:1-8......

The other accounts

Composite Gospel: Parallel Passages 246: A woman anoints Jesus with expensive perfume

Matt 26:6–13

John is the only account that calls Judas’ name and states what Judas was ........he was a thief, because he took money from the pouch.......It seems John might of been speaking of Judas in 1 John 2:19 “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” ......There was also some in John 6 that left when Jesus spoke hard sayings to them.

Matthew and Mark have Judas right after his dissent about the ointment and Jesus’ rebuke of him, conspiring to betray Jesus.

We know from what we read in John 18:1–2 “When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.” ......that Judas knew where Jesus would be.

Let’s read the betrayal.....

Matthew 26:47-56........

Luke 22:51 “And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.”

Genesis 9:6 “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.”

1 legion is 12,000 men........12 legions is 72,000 men.

Matthew 27:3-9......Judas repents but hangs himself........Hebrews 12:15–17 “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” .......2 Corinthians 7:10 “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

1. It Demonstrates God’s Absolute Sovereignty in Salvation

MacArthur stresses that Jesus’ betrayal was not an accident or failure but the fulfillment of divine prophecy.

Jesus even identified the betrayal beforehand, fulfilling Book of Psalm 41:9 “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, Which did eat of my bread, Hath lifted up his heel against me.” and Book of Zechariah 11:12–13 “And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord.” .............Matthew 26:14–16 “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.”

MacArthur often explains:

“The betrayal of Christ was part of the predetermined plan of God to bring about the cross.”

This reflects what the apostles later declared in Acts 2:23 “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:” —that Jesus was delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God.

Meaning for us: Our salvation was not reactionary; it was planned by God before the foundation of the world.

2. It Reveals the Depth of Human Sin

MacArthur frequently points out that the betrayal shows how depraved the human heart is.

The one who betrayed Jesus was not a pagan outsider but Judas Iscariot, a man who:

Walked with Christ for three years

Heard His teaching

Saw His miracles

Shared His table

Yet he still betrayed Him.

Meaning for us: The betrayal exposes the true nature of sin and hypocrisy, showing that external religion without regeneration is empty.

3. It Shows the Willingness of Christ to Be Our Substitute

MacArthur emphasizes that Jesus knowingly accepted the betrayal.

He was not caught off guard; instead He submitted to it in order to go to the cross.

This aligns with passages like:

Book of Isaiah 53:7 “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, Yet he opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth.” – the suffering servant willingly led to slaughter

Gospel of John 10:18 “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” – Jesus lays down His life willingly

Meaning for us: Christ allowed betrayal so He could bear our sin and secure our redemption.

4. It Warns Against False Discipleship

MacArthur often uses Judas as the ultimate example of a false believer inside the church.

Judas looked like a disciple but was never truly converted.

MacArthur frequently says Judas proves that someone can:

Be close to truth

Be involved in ministry

Appear religious

and yet still be lost.

Meaning for us: It calls believers to examine their hearts and pursue genuine faith.

5. It Magnifies the Grace of Christ

Even knowing Judas would betray Him, Jesus:

Washed Judas’ feet

Shared the Passover meal with him

Treated him with kindness until the end

MacArthur points to this as a picture of Christ’s astonishing grace even toward His enemies.

I have heard this called the Judas tragedy, he was around Jesus but never fully trusting Christ.....