Betrayal: Judas, Peter, and Me

The Men

Judas

Mark 3:13–19 “1And [Jesus] went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.”

A Judean (thus the deriding against the Galileans didn’t apply)

Seemingly an educated and trusted man (he was appointed the treasurer)

He was in love with money

John 12:4–6 “But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “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.”

He probably believed in Jesus wrongly (He was self deceived)

His name may be a clue

The Sicarii: These were an extreme offshoot of the Zealots known as "dagger-men" (sicarius means "dagger-bearer"). They were famous for hiding small blades in their cloaks and assassinating Roman officials or Jewish collaborators in crowded marketplaces.

He would not have been alone

Luke 6:15 “and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot,”

He might have been wanting to force Jesus’ hand against the Romans

Peter

Luke 5:1–11 “On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on [Jesus] to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.”

He was a Galilean

He was an unlearned fisherman

He was called the foot-shaped Apostle because of his brashness, and the timing of it

He was a simple man (his default was to go back fishing (John 21:3)

He probably believed in Jesus wrongly, but not in the way Judas did.

He openly opposed Jesus - Matthew 16:22–23 “And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.””

He later became a known leader in the early NT church movement, especially in Jerusalem

Peter and Judas had different backgrounds and different ideas, although they both followed Christ as an Apostle.

Peter’s opposition (prior to the end) to Jesus seemed more open and vocal than Judas’

Peter was openly called satan (meaning an adversary) and Judas was less directly called a devil.

The Methods

Judas

Matthew 26:14–16 “Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.”

Judas’ betrayal was one of transaction.

Judas sought out opportunity to betray Jesus

Judas knew the chief priests wanted Jesus silenced, dead.

Peter

Matthew 26:69–75 “Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.”

Peter’s betrayal was one of Association.

Peter was following Jesus physically as much as he could.

Peter, in the moment was overcome by fear and self-preservation

The Mark They Left

Judas

Judas, by Jesus’ description of him as a devil was probably unsaved.

Judas was overcome by his own guilt, but to our knowledge never repented.

Having spent time with and seen all the signs of who Jesus is, did not turn to Him.

Judas finally succombed to suicide and is forever known as “the one who betrayed Jesus”

Peter

Peter, by his actions had wrong ideas about, but truly believed in Jesus.

Peter immediately had to deal with guilt as well; like the others he hid and ran.

Peter repented and was restored. Peter literally & physically ran to Jesus.

Peter’s legacy is one of long faithfulness to the cause of Christ in the church.

Peter denied equality with Jesus, and so was crucified upside down. Even in his martyrdom, he was faithful to Christ.

Judas’ last acts and legacy are of his own rebellion and refusal of offered grace, for which he will suffer forever.

Peter’s life of ministry to the end show the power of grace, turning an uneducated fisherman, denier, into an important leader in the church.

Where are you in that comparison? Are you rebelling? Are you denying the rescus of grace? Or are you recognizing your own betrayals, and finding forgiveness and restoration in Jesus?