From Kiss to Cross

Around Easter we usually spend most of our time talking about Jesus and the events surrounding His arrest and crucifixion.

Today I want to look at three events that were pivotal in the passion week.

First, lets take a look at Judas Iscariot…

The story of Mary anointing Jesus’ feet give us a look at the heart of Judas

John 12:4–6 CSB

4 Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot (who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it.

According to John, Judas was already not showing good motives.

Matthew 26:14–16 CSB

14 Then one of the Twelve, the man called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So they weighed out thirty pieces of silver for him. 16 And from that time he started looking for a good opportunity to betray him.

John 13:2 CSB

2 Now when it was time for supper, the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray him.

John 13:21 CSB

21 When Jesus had said this, he was troubled in his spirit and testified, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

John 13:25–27 CSB

25 So he leaned back against Jesus and asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus replied, “He’s the one I give the piece of bread to after I have dipped it.” When he had dipped the bread, he gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son. 27 After Judas ate the piece of bread, Satan entered him. So Jesus told him, “What you’re doing, do quickly.”

Matthew 26:47–49 CSB

47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. A large mob with swords and clubs was with him from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 His betrayer had given them a sign: “The one I kiss, he’s the one; arrest him.” 49 So immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

Judas was clearly in this for personal reasons maybe thinking that following Jesus would lead to fame and fortune.

Some other theories: one is that Judas was a zealot thinking that Jesus would overthrow Rome and he would be a part of that rule but when Jesus spoke only of HIs death Judas got angry and frustrated.

Another is that he was trying to force a confrontation and didn’t actually want Jesus to die. The thought is that if he was arrested then Jesus would use His divine power to overthrown the authorities and launch His kingdom - this may explain his deep guilt.

Beware your motivation for calling yourself a follower of Christ.

You may think it doesn’t matter what your motivation is but it does.

If you are not truly broken by the truth of the gospel then you are perpetrating a fraud.

Remember, Judas walked with Jesus, saw all the miracles, heard all the teachings, he even served as treasurer

None of that prevented him from falling pray

We may not know exactly why he chose to do this but we can be certain about… Satan was in the middle of it.

Matthew 26:57 CSB

57 Those who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had convened.

Matthew 26:59–60 CSB

59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death, 60 but they could not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. Finally, two who came forward

There are a few things we can take away from both Judas and the trial.

Really they are good indicators for determining if it is from God or the enemy…

Scheming in secret is not of God.

The good religious leaders had enough of Jesus - this carpenter from Nazareth was stirring up the people and making them look bad.

They were willing to to do whatever was necessary to silence this Jesus.

Judas also got involved by scheming with the religious leaders to bring down Jesus.

There was nothing legal about the trial of Jesus: first it was at night, second the sentence could only be pronounced the day after to allow for sober reflection but Jesus’ was was all done in one day, third the trial should have been held at the temple and not at Caiaphas’ personal residence, fourth Jesus could not have self-incriminated Himself but it was His words they used for the charge of blasphemy, fifth the verdict vote was unanimous which was seen as a sign of conspiracy or lack of defense, sixth the witnesses could not agree.

Twisting the truth to fit a narrative, is not of God.

The religious leaders took half truths and suspicion and twisted them into a convincing narrative used to attack Jesus.

Matthew 27:20–23 CSB

20 The chief priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to execute Jesus. 21 The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” “Barabbas!” they answered. 22 Pilate asked them, “What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ?” They all answered, “Crucify him!” 23 Then he said, “Why? What has he done wrong?” But they kept shouting all the more, “Crucify him!”

Here we see the crowd, many of which just days before we shouting the praises of Jesus.

Now we see them turn but notice it wasn’t the crowd alone… the religious leaders stirred the crowd.

Stirring up anger and hostility, is not of God.

Who knows what the crowd would have done by themselves.

It was the religious leaders who started whipping the crown into a frenzy.

You could tell the crowd was angry too - even when asked a direct question the crowd only wanted blood.

There is another truth we can see here…

The majority is not always right.

The one who was in charge said a repeatedly that Jesus was guilty of nothing.

Then the majority chimed in and he yielded to the masses.

All of these points have pointed more to a negative but I want to leave you with something positive.

God can use even the things meant for bad to accomplish His will.

Think about it - if Judas hadn’t betrayed him Jesus wouldn’t have been arrested.

If he hadn’t been arrested and put on a sham of trail by the religious leaders He wouldn’t have been before Pilot.

If not before Pilot who listened to the crowd then no crucifixion.

Without the crucifixion - no salvation.

So as Jospeh said to his brothers - Genesis 50:20 “20 You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.”

This doesn’t mean we cannot speak up when we see people doing things that are not of God - we should.

Speaking up can help keep unity within the church and more importantly will keep people for going astray - and best case scenario - those doing evil will repent and get right with God.