Judas: Businessman. Treasurer. Disciple. Betrayer?
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Series Review
Series Review
So many bad characters that fit the definition of anti-heroes. Who is the real hero of the story? God.
Sermon Introduction
Sermon Introduction
Judas Iscariot is undoubtedly one of the most despised men in history. His very name has become a synonym for treachery and betrayal, and in the Inferno Dante places him in the deepest pit in Hell. He is also a great enigma. Almost everything about him poses questions for which there are few or no answers.
Some of the most helpful books I’ve ever read, or the most helpful sermons I’ve ever listened to are the ones about conflict resolution. We all know what it’s like to have broken relationships. We all know what it’s like to be separated from a good friend or close family member. We all know what it’s like to have enemies in the workplace, at school or in the church. Conflicts are usually painful and can be difficult to resolve. People in conflict cannot even agree what happened to cause the conflict (have you ever tried to mediate?), much less answer the question, “Why are you doing this to me?” Have you ever asked question of someone? Sometimes there is no easy answer to that question, because people are complex. Did I offend them? Is it my religion? My political views? My personality? Are they sensitive to something and I was not aware of it? Are they speaking from a place of great pain? Or are they just evil? Sometimes we agonize over those questions and there is no easy answer.
Scholars have argued for years about the meaning of “Iscariot,” although the consensus is that it means “from Kariot.”
Antiheroes behave badly. They are violent. They are deceptive. They are hypocritical. They are morally bankrupt. Up until today we haven’t really asked the question, “Why did they do that?” Today, that question is at the heart of this message. Today our antihero is Judas Iscariot. If you know anything about the events leading up to Easter Sunday, you’ve heard that name. He is the one who betrayed Jesus. Although we probably shouldn’t use the word “betray.” Some English translations use the word “handed over,” which is more accurate. Betrayal implies deception. Conniving, trickery. We don’t see that in Judas, he simply hands Jesus over to the authority. So before we ask the “why did he do that” question of Judas, we need to ask,
Today our antihero is Judas Iscariot. If you know anything about the events leading up to Easter Sunday, you’ve heard that name. He is the one who betrayed Jesus.
It has also been postulated that “Iscariot” derives from the Greek sikarios (σικάριος), “assassin.” His very name, “Judas,” suggests that he was of the Jewish sect of Zealots, a group who looked for the coming of a military Messiah, a man like Judas Maccabeus, who would expel the Romans and restore Jewish independence. A fanatic branch of the Zealots was the Sicarii (“assassins”—translated into Latin it becomes “daggers”), who were plotting a violent uprising. It is possible that “Iscariot” comes from Sicarii.
It has also been postulated that “Iscariot” derives from the Greek sikarios (σικάριος), “assassin.” His very name, “Judas,” suggests that he was of the Jewish sect of Zealots, a group who looked for the coming of a military Messiah, a man like Judas Maccabeus, who would expel the Romans and restore Jewish independence. A fanatic branch of the Zealots was the Sicarii (“assassins”—translated into Latin it becomes “daggers”), who were plotting a violent uprising. It is possible that “Iscariot” comes from Sicarii.
Losch, R. R. (2008). In All the People in the Bible: An A–Z Guide to the Saints, Scoundrels, and Other Characters in Scripture (p. 245). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Who was Judas Iscariot?
Who was Judas Iscariot?
and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Judas Iscariot is possibly one of the most despised men in history. His very name has become a synonym for treachery and betrayal, and in the Inferno Dante (where we get a tour guide of hell) places him in the deepest pit in Hell. He is also a great mystery. Almost everything about him poses questions for which there are few or no answers. Scholars have argued for years about the meaning of “Iscariot.” Some say it refers to his hometown - “from Kariot.”Although scholars can’t agree on where that is.
Some say the word “Iscariot” comes from the Greek sikarios, which means “assassin.” If that is true, then that says something about his political affiliation. He belonged to the Jewish political party known as Zealots, a group who expected a military Messiah, who would expel the Romans and restore Jewish independence. A fanatic branch of the Zealots was the Sicarii, or “assassins.” These fanatics carried daggers and would assassinate Roman soldiers in the midst of a crowd, and were plotting a violent uprising. It is possible that “Iscariot” comes from Sicarii.
Some say that that “Iscariot” comes from the word shaqar, which means “liar” or “hypocrite.” All of these fit what we might think about Judas Iscariot. So he is someone of a mystery.
It has also been postulated that “Iscariot” derives from the Greek sikarios (σικάριος), “assassin.” His very name, “Judas,” suggests that he was of the Jewish sect of Zealots, a group who looked for the coming of a military Messiah, a man like Judas Maccabeus, who would expel the Romans and restore Jewish independence. A fanatic branch of the Zealots was the Sicarii (“assassins”—translated into Latin it becomes “daggers”), who were plotting a violent uprising. It is possible that “Iscariot” comes from Sicarii.
Another school says that “Iscariot” derives from the Aramaic shaqar (שׁקר), “liar” or “hypocrite.” This would have seemed a quite appropriate epithet among the early Aramaic-speaking Christians.
Why?
Another school says that “Iscariot” derives from the Aramaic shaqar (שׁקר), “liar” or “hypocrite.”
Losch, R. R. (2008). In All the People in the Bible: An A–Z Guide to the Saints, Scoundrels, and Other Characters in Scripture (p. 245). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Judas was an important member of the twelve, and he was obviously trusted. According to John he was the treasurer, and as such he was responsible for holding and accounting for all the group’s funds and distributing them appropriately.
Why did he do it? Why did he hand Jesus over to the authorities?
Greed
Greed
One popular idea is that he did it for the money. Judas was a trusted member of Jesus’ inner circle - he took care of the money.
He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
It isn’t hard to imagine greed being the reason, because greed is a popular motivator. How can we tell if we are greedy? In his book Godonomics, Chad Hoving describes four types of greed:
When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.”
It’s true that Judas was dishonest with the disciple’s money. What money?
How can we tell if we are greedy? In his book Godonomics, Chad Hoving describes four types of greed:
Hoarding
Hoarding
We should all be setting aside savings. However, it becomes greed when we believe that we can’t be generous with his money until we’ve set aside enough money for a comfortable retirement. The hoarder is insecure about his future, and more willing to trust money than God.
Overspending
Overspending
We should all be disciplined with out money, setting aside savings. However, greed in the life of a hoarder leads him to believe that he can’t be generous with his money until he has set aside enough money to ensure a comfortable retirement. The hoarder is insecure about his future, and more willing to trust money than God with their future. His money only benefits himself.
The over-spender confuses needs with wants, spends more than her income allows, and goes in to debt. She wants things now and is willing to use credit to avoid having to wait.
Comparison
Comparison
You are driven to match someone else’s lifestyle, to be equal to a neighbor, friend, coworker, or relative. This form of greed is envy.
You are driven to match someone else’s lifestyle of someone else. Spending as a way to show that you are equal to a neighbor, friend, coworker, or relative. This form of greed is closely aligned with envy.
Entitlement
Entitlement
I deserve this. I owe it to myself. You owe it to me. It’s pure self-indulgence.
Greed affects everyone, no matter what your bank statement looks like.
There’s no doubt that Judas shared the same temptation to greed as the rest of us, but 30 pieces of silver was a small sum, it’s only about two months’ wages or the price of a slave. The religious leaders were wealthy, so Judas could have demanded more. He could have said, “Yeah, I’m okay with There’s probably more to Judas than greed.
he did not do it simply for the sake of thirty pieces of silver. This was a relatively paltry sum, being only about two or three months’ wages for an unskilled laborer or the price of a common slave. If Judas were indeed a thief he could have embezzled considerably more than that over time by remaining the treasurer of the group. Jewish law required that if a criminal were handed over to the authorities, the one who delivered him up must be paid the price of a slave. Judas accepted the money in order to seal the agreement with the priests.
he did not do it simply for the sake of thirty pieces of silver. This was a relatively paltry sum, being only about two or three months’ wages for an unskilled laborer or the price of a common slave. If Judas were indeed a thief he could have embezzled considerably more than that over time by remaining the treasurer of the group. Jewish law required that if a criminal were handed over to the authorities, the one who delivered him up must be paid the price of a slave. Judas accepted the money in order to seal the agreement with the priests.
s
Disillusionment
Disillusionment
Some say that Judas handed Jesus over to the authorities because Jesus failed to live up to Judas’ expectations.
As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
Break down that word: A dissolution or a dissolving of an illusion. We are surrounded by illusions. Disillusionment is a part of growing up. That’s the way relationships can work - things look great, they’re just the way we want them to be, but over time, that illusion begins to dissolve.
I would say that discipleship includes disillusionment.
I would say that discipleship includes disillusionment.
We can shop in malls filled with happy people. When I visited a sweat shop in Nicaragua that illusion dissolved when I was no longer insulated from the slavery that went in to making many of the products that are sold to us. We can watch movies that present an idealized view of love and romance. That first date might reinforce that view, but eventually we learn that love can be tough. We can watch a steady stream of 4-minute Christian videos on the internet that inspire and comfort us. These can be good, but they can also distract us from the Jesus who says, “take up your cross and follow me.”
We can shop in malls filled with happy people, while being insulated from the slavery that went in to making many of the products that are sold to us. We can watch movies that present an idealized view of love and romance. We can watch a steady stream of 4-minute Christian videos on the internet that inspire and comfort us, but these can distract us from the Jesus who says, “take up your cross and follow me.”
We can watch a steady stream of Christian videos on the internet that inspire and comfort us, but these can distract us from asking the tough questions about God.
For Judas, he had a reality check. As a Zealot he saw in Jesus a military Messiah who would help God’s people overthrow the Roman Empire. The Messiah would call down divine wrath upon the Romans and the corrupt temple authorities, and usher in a reign of justice and peace. Over time, it became obvious to him that this was not who Jesus is. For people like Judas who were searching for military solutions, his illusion had dissolved and he didn’t like the reality that was Jesus. He could have embraced Jesus as he is, but instead he clung to his own agenda.
Disillusionment is a good thing, especially when it comes to Jesus Christ. It helps us tell the difference between Jesus as he truly is and the Jesus we have created in our own image. We might love that Jesus teaches us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, but reality hits us pretty hard when we actually tried to love a difficult person. It’s exhausting, draining, life-absorbing and painful!
Like I said, disillusionment can be a good thing, because we are surrounded by illusions.
Jesus failed to live up to Judas’ expectations.
We all love that Jesus teaches us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, but have you ever actually tried to love a difficult person? It’s exhausting, draining, life-negating! What do we do when the voice of God we trusted goes silent? What do we do when the faith we were raised with is exposed for the foolishness that it is?
Like I said, disillusionment can be a good thing, because we are surrounded by illusions.
Some interpreters believe that Judas thought that if he gave Jesus over to his enemies it would force Jesus’ hand, and he would call down divine wrath upon the Romans and the corrupt temple authorities, instituting a reign of justice and righteousness in Israel. While this represents a gross misunderstanding of Jesus’ teachings, it at least casts Judas in a somewhat less evil light.
As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
Some interpreters believe that Judas thought that if he gave Jesus over to his enemies it would force Jesus’ hand, and he would call down divine wrath upon the Romans and the corrupt temple authorities, instituting a reign of justice and righteousness in Israel. While this represents a gross misunderstanding of Jesus’ teachings, it at least casts Judas in a somewhat less evil light.
We live in a culture of comfort. We like popular truths, easy truths. We subscribe to a steady stream of Upworthy videos that inspire us and confirm our belief system in under four minutes. We fill our Twitter feed with like-minded individuals that confirm our social and political worldviews. We spend hours watching YouTube videos that comfort us and pacify us and distract us from the gritty realities of the world all around us every day. We shop in malls filled with happy people, insulated from the atrocities and slavery that went into stocking them. We watch movies that present an idealized view of love and romance and we watch pornography which presents a fictional picture of femininity and masculinity to comfort ourselves. Could it be that we’ve been using faith in the very same way?
A similar interpretation is that Judas became disillusioned with Jesus’ teachings. A Zealot, he saw in Jesus the potential of the military Messiah who would expel the Romans. As time went on it became patently obvious that Jesus had no intention of doing this. More and more people were accepting him as the Messiah, however, and this was a threat to those who looked to military action as the answer to Israel’s woes. Jesus had to be eliminated or the military messianic movement would fail. It is entirely likely that Judas thought that Jesus would only be imprisoned for a while, not realizing that his arrest would lead to his death.
Some interpreters believe that Judas thought that if he gave Jesus over to his enemies it would force Jesus’ hand, and he would call down divine wrath upon the Romans and the corrupt temple authorities, instituting a reign of justice and righteousness in Israel. While this represents a gross misunderstanding of Jesus’ teachings, it at least casts Judas in a somewhat less evil light.
A similar interpretation is that Judas became disillusioned with Jesus’ teachings. A Zealot, he saw in Jesus the potential of the military Messiah who would expel the Romans. As time went on it became patently obvious that Jesus had no intention of doing this. More and more people were accepting him as the Messiah, however, and this was a threat to those who looked to military action as the answer to Israel’s woes. Jesus had to be eliminated or the military messianic movement would fail. It is entirely likely that Judas thought that Jesus would only be imprisoned for a while, not realizing that his arrest would lead to his death.
These 2 motivators: greed and disillusionment are likely motivators for Judas’ betrayal. They one thing in common. They show us
Loving God v. Loving the Benefits of God
Loving God v. Loving the Benefits of God
There’s an old Chinese proverb that says, “Love me love my dog.” What would you have said if you proposed to your spouse and the answer was, “Yes, so long as you get rid of your dog.” The ancient proverb simply means, if you want to love me, love all of me. There is a difference between loving someone and just loving the benefits that someone provides you. This is why some relationships can be so one sided. Have you ever been in a relationship where you felt like the giver and the other person was the taker?
This is why I love to read - love is unselfish. Love is other focused. Love means loving the other person for their own sake, not for the benefits they provide to you. Love his hard. What do mean when we say that we love Jesus? Oh how I love Jesus…because he first loved me. But that isn’t some fickle, sentimental love - I love you but don’t ask me for a commitment. This is a love that says, I’ll take up my cross and follow you.
Judas saw the benefits of following Jesus: an expert teacher who was willing to take him under his wing. A radical, anti-establishment teacher who he thought had the right kind of politics. A fellowship of believers. His motives were mixed - there was money to be made, and there was a political agenda to be pursued. When he realizes that Jesus no longer suits his purposes, he cuts his ties with Jesus.
How can we make sure that we are truly loving God and not just the benefits of God? I like this verse:
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
For me, the key is loving God with our minds.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
We don’t usually speak of love in terms of an intellectual activity. In fact, much of our understanding is described in passive categories. We don’t jump in love but fall in love, like it was an accident.
But real love is not an involuntary thing. It is something we do purposefully based on our knowledge of the person we love. (ex. Syd Leiberman, mom dating again, took to see the gravesite, birthday)
Nothing can be in the heart that is not first in the mind. You can’t truly love someone without a growing knowledge of them. If you try to love someone without engaging the mind, we might increase emotion, entertainment, or excitement, but not authentic love.
If you try to love someone without engaging the mind, we might increase emotion, entertainment, or excitement, but we’re not going to increase love of God because we can’t love what we don’t know. A mindless Christianity is no Christianity at all.
The same with God - we’re not going to increase love of God because we can’t love what we don’t know. We might experience a spiritual high, a moment of inspiration, we might increase the emotion and the excitement of being in the presence of God - for a short season, but a mindless Christianity is no Christianity at all.
If we want to love God more, we have to know Him more deeply. And the more we search the Scriptures, and the more we focus our minds’ on who God is and what He does, the more we love God for who He is, and not just the benefits He provides to us.
God’s Redemptive Purpose
God’s Redemptive Purpose
Like last week: how can we find redemptive purpose in human cruelty? How can we see God’s will when someone intends evil for us?
I’m imagining the shock, the anger of the other 11 disciples when they see what Judas has done. This was their most trusted member. He has been with them for 3 years, they’ve traveled together. You get to know someone really well during that time.
None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people.
But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.
The truth is, we don’t always see God’s redemptive purposes in human cruelty. Sometimes the damage is severe and long term.
I’m imagining the shock, the anger of the other 11 disciples when they see what Judas has done. This was their most trusted member. He has been with them for 3 years, they’ve traveled together. You get to know someone really well during that time.
(ex. friend with epilepsy, funeral) I’ve done lots of funerals, and sat with suffering people. I can’t tell you that every time I can see God’s redemptive purposes. Sometimes I’ve gone home exhausted and angry.
God’s hidden sovereignty. Sometimes we won’t see it. Words become empty - the cross is the answer. God takes the worst of humanity and transforms it into something beautiful.