This morning we are going to talk about one of the most notorious people in history; Judas Iscariot.

In Dante's The Divine Comedy, the lowest circles of Hell are reserved for traitors; Judas Iscariot suffers the worst torments of all.

The most famous traitor in American history was General Benedict Arnold who abandoned his country and joined with the British during the Civil War.

Judas has become famous for "Traitor's Kiss" or "The Judas kiss."

Judas' betrayal of Jesus, was such a major event, it effects our communion service to the this day. The apostle Paul says, "For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread," 1 Co 11:23

Now, the story of Judas contains so many references scattered throughout the Bible that we don't have time to cover them all. Let me highlight his story and then we will focus on answering just one perplexing question, "How could a chosen apostle of Jesus, one who lived closely with him for three years, sink so low as to betray him to his enemies?"

I. THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE STORY

Judas initiates the betrayal action unsought and agrees to be paid 30 pieces of silver. Mark 14:10-11

Jesus has known from the beginning that Judas would betray him.

Jesus identifies the betrayer as the one who dips bread into the bowl with him.

Judas leads a large group of religious and military personnel to the place where Jesus is.

He identifies Jesus by a pre-planned signal; he will greet Jesus with a kiss.

In response, Jesus asks, "Am I leading a rebellion"?

Peter draws a sword and cuts the ear off the high priests servant.

Jesus touched the man's ear and heals him.

Jesus is arrested and taken away.

Judas is filled with remorse saying, "I have sinned and betrayed innocent blood."

He tries to return the thirty pieces of silver to the priests who refuse and he throws them on the floor of the temple.

Judas went away and hanged himself.

The priests used the money to buy the potters field, letter called "the field of blood."

II.THE MOST OBVIOUS AND PREPLEXING QUESTION

Our focus: "How could a chosen apostle of Jesus, one who lived closely with him for three years, sink so low as to betray him to his enemies?"

Judas saw his miraculous power up close, heard his extraordinary teaching, was able to examine the quality and purity of his moral life behind the scenes. How could Judas betray Jesus after he received his constant unfailing love and affection for so long?

There were four reasons that caused Judas to betray Jesus; not four separate reasons, but four merging together to form one overpowering motivation.

III. PART OF THE REASON WAS CONFLICT

A disagreement over the Alabaster jar of perfume

When Mary poured the perfume over Jesus his disciples were "indignant," "But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages" Jn 12:4-5.

"Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." Jn 12:7-8

Judas did not respond well to being criticized by Jesus.

Several years ago I read a great article on the personal danger of criticizing others.

"Criticism is futile because it puts a man on the defensive, and usually makes him strive to justify himself. Criticism is dangerous, because it wounds a man's precious pride, hurts his sense of importance, and arouses his resentment."

"Criticism is a dangerous spark- a spark that is liable to cause an explosion in the powder magazine of pride."

J In 1842, while Abraham Lincoln was a practicing lawyer in Springfield, Illinois, he attacked his opponents openly in letters published in newspapers. He did this once too often when he ridiculed a vain man by the name of James Shields. Lincoln lampooned him through an anonymous letter published in the Springfield Journal. The town roared with laughter. Shields, sensitive and proud, boiled with indignation. he found out who wrote the letter, jumped on his horse, started after Lincoln, and challenged him to fight a duel. Lincoln took lessons and sword fighting from a West Point graduate; and, on the appointed day,Ian Shields met on a sand bar in the Mississippi River, prepared to fight to death; but,at the last minute, their seconds interrupted and stop the duel.

Judas was a little man who boiled with resentment and partly because of his feeling of unjust criticism, was fueled to betray Christ.

IV. PART OF THE REASON WAS GREED

Alabaster Jar of Perfume is were learned of his problem

"But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 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." Jn 12:4-6

"What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty silver coins." Mt 26:15

The baseness of his character: "He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief"

Not all be who steal can be called thieves,

not all who lie can be called liars.

In college I knew girl who seemed to lie about everything; she was a liar; it seemed to be a part of the foundation of her personality.

I have also known a thief. He designed this elaborate plan to steal computers and mail them to a fencing operation in another city. Stealing was a dominate sin in his life.

"Then Jesus replied, Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!" Jn 6:70

A dominate sin can lead to other sins.

"People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief's." 1 Ti 6:9-10

Greed kept him attached to Jesus

He was the "keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it."

One of the things they have learned about thieves is they don't like to take vacations and they like to appear very dedicated. A small business in our town had an accounting clerk that never took time off. She was altering the books and stealing money form the company. They will not turn over the accounting system to someone else for a month for fear they will be discovered.

Judas had a powerful reason to stay with the disciples for so long. When Jesus spoke the words of life, Judas only listened with half a brain, the other half was thinking about the money bag.

V. PART OF THE REASON WAS SATAN

"The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus." Jn 13:2

"As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him" Jn 13:27.

"Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit?" Ac 5:3.

Judas opened the door and Satan took advantage.

"In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." Eph 4:26-27.

An opportunity for leading that Christian into further sin.

This is what happens when people dabble in witchcraft, Ouija boards, tarot cards, participate in seances. They open the door for the prince of darkness to influence them. People who go deep into wickedness open themselves us as well. Extremes of anger, sex, revenge, greed, all become open doors for satan to push a person to further extremes.

Though Judas was not compelled to be a traitor, he was responsible for submitting to Satan's directives instead of resisting him.

VI. PART OF THE REASON WAS HEART

He never had a change of heart was never converted or regenerated

Jesus says that about Judas

"No, said Peter, you shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered, Unless I wash you, you have no part with me. Then, Lord, Simon Peter replied, not just my feet but my hands and my head as well! Jesus answered, A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you. For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean."

Jn 13:8-11

"The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe. For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him." Jn 6:63-64

Judas blended in with the rest

"They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely not I?"

Mk 14:19

"His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant." Jn 13:22

J Judas is an example of the "wheat and the tares." The enemy sow tares among the wheat which grow up together until the harvest when the angles of God will separate them at the judgement.

Jesus was kind and sought the best for Judas

"Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me." Ps 41:9

It seemed as if Jesus wished to give Judas every opportunity, even at this late hour, of repenting and making his confession of authentic faith.

Judas could not understand anything about Jesus or respond in a proper way

"The natural man can not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Co 2:14

"Am I leading a rebellion"? Reformation by Luther.

Jesus teaches us that authentic Christianity is not t o be spread by violence.

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." 2 Co 10:3-4

"So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty." Zec 4:6

The cause of the truth and the gospel grows by the hidden influence of the Holy Spirit on men's hearts and consciences.