Back Stabber

Prediction Vs. Knowledge

Story

A minister was speaking to the Sunday school about the things money can’t buy. “It can’t buy laughter and it can’t buy love” he told them.Driving his point home he said, “What would you do if I offered you $1,000 not to love your mother and father?” Stunned silence ensued. Finally a small voice queried, “How much would you give me not to love my big sister?”

Recap- Jesus Predicted his death

Jesus Predicts his betrayal

People try to predict the future

God knows the future

detailed predictions

We can examine

The more detailed, the more impressive

For one person to fulfill all the prophecies Jesus did is a statistical impossibility from a man's perspective

One of those prophecies was that the Messiah would be betrayed

He Was Among the Followers (v. 2)

On the Same Team

Jesus chose Judas to be on His team

His name has become a synonym for treachery, hypocrisy, and betrayal

His name was once an honorable name, meaning praise

Probably named after Judas Maccabeus, one of the heroes of Jewish history

Son of the leader who revolted against the Syrians when they came to oppress Israel

That family rededicated the temple

A common name

Jesus had a stepbrother named Judas

Jesus had another disciple named Judas

List of disciples in the New Testament (see Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:13-16)

Peter is always listed first

Judas Iscariot is always listed last

Jesus chose His disciples after a night of prayer (see Luke 6:12-16)

Near the Same Lord

For three years, Judas walked and talked with the living Son of God

Judas was given a prominent place around Jesus

He was the treasurer, the keeper of the money box

This is one of the reasons none of the other apostles suspected him of being a traitor

When Jesus announced there was a betrayer among them at the Last Supper, they all asked, "Is it I?" (see Matthew 26:21-25; Mark 14:18-19)

Jesus positioned Judas

Judas sat in a prominent place at the Last Supper: on Jesus' left side (see John 13:21-30)

They sat at a triclinium—a u-shaped, three-sided table

Reclined on their left elbow, leaving their right hand free

John was to Jesus' right, leaning left toward His breast

At Passover, the places of honor were at the right and left hands of the host

James and John's mother requested that her sons be given these positions in Christ's kingdom (see Matthew 20:20-21)

Positioned offered by the host

When John asked Jesus who the betrayer was, Jesus answered that it was the one to whom He gave the bread

He gave it to Judas

The only person He could have reached to give bread to was the person sitting to His left

Judas had to be the one seated on the left side

Jesus must have come to Judas before the dinner and asked him to sit there

It was as if Jesus was making one last reach for his heart

John was where Jesus wants us to be

Jesus does not want to just be in your midst; He wants to be in your heart

Are you leaning toward Jesus like John, or away from Him like Judas?

He Was Against the Master (v. 18)

Lifted Up His Heal

Some people don't think Judas was a bad guy

They make Judas out to be a misunderstood hero who was trying to save Jesus from Himself

Jesus called Judas a devil and the son of destruction (see John 6:70; 17:12)

Judas didn't serve Christ; he sabotaged Him

Judas saw Jesus as his servant who would give him what he wanted

Judas, like many Jews, expected a political Messiah who would deliver them from Roman oppression

Perhaps Judas betrayed Jesus to force Him to conquer or be conquered

Turned away His Heart

Judas had no place for the cross

He didn't want the cross; he wanted a crown

You have to go to the cross to wear the crown

He was covetous (see John 12:3-8)

When Mary poured perfume on Jesus' feet, Judas rebuked her, saying it should have been sold and the money given to the poor

He did not care about the poor; he wanted to steal from the money box

Jesus rebuked him, which could have been what pushed him over the edge in his betrayal

He Was Anticipated by Scripture (vv. 18-19)

Quoting David

Psalm 41:9

It's believed David wrote this psalm when he was betrayed by Ahithophel, his trusted advisor (see 2 Samuel 15)

In quoting David, Jesus left out the phrase "Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted"

Jesus never trusted Judas

He always knew it was Judas (see John 6:64; 13:10-11)

If Jesus knew Judas so well, why did He pick him?

To fulfill Scripture (see John 17:12)

To love anyone is to make yourself vulnerable

When you give someone your love, it's almost guaranteed that you will get hurt

Anyone can love an ideal person; the challenge is to love the real person

Though you have been hurt, love anyway

Forgive those who have hurt you (see Matthew 6:12)

Fulfilling Zechariah

Zechariah 11:11-13; Matthew 26:14-16

Zechariah predicted Jesus would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver 520 years before it happened

A good shepherd would be betrayed

Haggling over the price (see Matthew 26:15)

Metal would be silver

Amount would be thirty pieces

In the Old Testament, thirty pieces of silver was the price to repay someone whose servant had been gored by an ox

Jesus is called the Servant of God (see Philippians 2:8)

Once the money was paid, it would be thrown into the house of the Lord and used to buy a potter's field (see Matthew 27:3-8)

They’re Still Among Us