Acts of Christ 2

Life Of Christ Teachers Guide

Into - Since we will be in revival during Holy week we will start our study of the Last of Christ’s ministry now. We begin with his betrayal, now to do this we will need to go back and study and unpack some of those happening. About 3 years ago Jesus had chosen several men to follow him, These were asked to follow they did not choose on their own, This makes this relationship just a little different. Just as a minister doesn’t chose the ministry he is called by God to it. Law is a profession, Medicine is a profession Preaching is a calling. We find in Luke 6: 12-16 Jesus first goes out and prays all night, what an example for us when we have huge decisions to spend much time in prayer before making choices. Then he chose twelve out those following him to be apostles. There is one that we want to center our attention on tonight, yes Judas Iscariot. There were two disciples called Judas, One was the brother of James the other was Judas Iscariot the son of Simon. Iscariot is an interesting word that has been translated many ways I’ll just give a few -

- A leathern apron, the name being applied to him as the bearer of the bag

- Strangling as given after his death and commemorating it

- Probably really means, “from Kerioth which belonged to the tribe of Judah. Not only applied to Judas but to his father as well. This is the most common and probable opinion.

I. We do know that Judas was called an apostle - What does that mean? Turn to Matt. 10:1-15

A. They had power to;

1. Cast out demons

2. To heal sickness and disease

3. Raise the dead (8)

4. To accept or reject a city

B. They were commanded ;

1. to go to the lost sheep of Israel not to the Gentiles or Samaritans.

2. Deliver the message, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand”

3. To not take any provisions

4. Not to premeditate a defense.

A. Sometimes this is used against preachers using notes. I used to think that’s what it meant too till I began to really read what it says. He is speaking of not thinking how to defend ourselves before the government but to let God fill our mouths.

5. If persecuted not to stay but flee to another city

A. When he speaks of coming before they finished doesn’t mean his second coming but the wrath of God on Israel which came some thirty years later, and possibly during the holocaust as well.

C. Judas Iscariot was right in the midst of this doing his part. Somewhere along the line something happened we don’t know what we can only speculate but we find him taking his trip to the religious leaders.

II. Judas the Betrayer -

A. The chief priests and scribes wanted to take Jesus but couldn’t do it on the feast day lest there be an uproar of the people. Then the incident where the woman comes in and anoints Jesus feet with ointment of spikenard.

1. Matt. Says the disciples, Mark tells us it was some of them there, Luke skips it completely, and John tells us precisely it was Judas Iscariot.

2. Jesus’ rebuke may have been what made him mad. For some reason he was ready to side with the priests. We must be careful about how we respond to the truth. It appears that Judas did not want to accept it and found something easier until he was ready to sell Jesus.

3. We find him next meeting the chief priests and scribes asking them how much they would give him to give them Jesus. They covenanted for thirty pieces of silver. Wesley said that was about $16.00 the price of a slave, probably out of contempt on both sides.

4. Matt. 26:16 tells us the from that day on he Judas sought opportunity to betray him. Even though they slept in the same place, ate at the same table, I remember hearing of one lady who went to a certain church just because she wanted to be able to tell what the pastor said and did. Hypocrisy is something that sneaks up on a person. A man who just a few weeks ago was preaching and casting out devils is now trying to sell the one who gave him the power, to do those things.

III. The Betrayal - I wonder how Judas felt when at the Supper that night when Jesus told them one of you will betray me, Judas asks, “is it I lord?” Probably trying to act casual, Jesus wasn’t going to let that happen, Thou hast said, Jesus replied, I don’t know how much the others understood. John tells how he was leaning on Jesus and he asked who it was, Jesus told him the one he gave the sop to. I imagine John was the only one who heard this,

1. Next we find Judas goes out and it was dark. He goes to meet the priest and scribes to give them Jesus,

2. He probably knew where Jesus would pray and could take them there

3. We find them coming with a huge mob but Judas slinks up and placed a kiss upon our Lord showing which one it was. What a falsehood, what a pretense. Oh God let me be real.

4. We then find Jesus submitting to this screaming, wild, out of control mob.