Judas Betrayal

Jesus Love for Judas

Jesus proclaimed at the supper table that one of the disciples would betray him. He knew that it was Judas , but he loved him to the end.

We see that Jesus was troubled in His spirit. Some may think that it was because of what He was going to have to go through with the crucifixion. That may have had something to do with it, but might I suggest He was troubled in His spirit because he loved Judas and knew His fate? Jesus knew that Judas was going to betray Him, but it did not stop Jesus from loving Him. Mark 14:21

Mark 14:21 NASB95

“For the Son of Man is to go just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”

Jesus did everything in He could to convert Judas. We see that at this dinner that Judas sat directly to the left of Jesus. This was a place of high honor for any dinner guest to sit. We know John was sitting to Jesus right because he was leaning into his chest. Judas was to the left because Jesus dipped the morsel and gave it to Him. This was another act of honor. The dinner host would only give a person of honor a portion off of their plate. This is exactly what Jesus did.

You may ask if Jesus knew that Judas was going to betray him, why would he honor him in this fashion? I believe Jesus was giving Judas every opportunity to see the love Jesus had for him and be converted.

Jesus loves people the same way He loved Judas

Jesus is going to love us until there is no hope. He will pursue us and reveal His love to the point that there is no return. You may ask when is that point? Jesus answers this through the apostle Paul in Romans 1:18-25

Romans 1:18–25 NASB95

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

When person suppresses the truth in unrighteousness. These are people who live lives of sin and unrighteousness. This is the person that deep down inside knows that God is real, but doesn’t care. They live their lives by their own moral standard and not God’s.

They became futile in their speculations. Rather than acknowledging that God exists, they choose to believe man made theories. Issues on creation, morality, and life after death. They trust in science above God’s word.

They Exchanged the glory of an incorruptible God. These are people who make themselves their own God. They do not answer to anyone except themselves.

They worship the creature rater than the Creator. These people refuse to worship God. They choose to worship the things of the world rather than God.

When you get to this point and have made these decisions, God turns you over to your hearts desires.

Jesus will continue to pursue us until we totally refuse Him and choose to follow Satan and the world. This is exactly what happened to Judas.

This broke the heart of Jesus to the point that He was troubled in spirit.

We should love the unsaved.

Just as Jesus did everything he could to get Judas to change and surrender his life, we should have the same love and passion for the unsaved.

I would like to ask you a question? Who would you like to see eternally separated from God for all eternity to burn and be tortured for all of eternity? I hope the answer is NO ONE! But here is the the thing. We all know someone who is on their way. The question is are you willing to love them in the same way Jesus loved Judas? Are you willing to demonstrate the love of Christ to that person by sharing the gospel?

When should you stop? I believe we do not stop until they tell us outright that they don not believe, will not believe, and not to talk about it anymore. We should honor their request and move on to minister to the next person. We should never stop praying for them.

Judas 3 Big Sins

Judas was a hypocrite

He pretended to be someone who he was not. He pretended to be a disciple of Jesus. He followed Him, heard his messages, witnessed his miracles, and even served in his ministry, but He never gave Jesus his life. His problem was he had one foot in the world and one foot in following Jesus. He never fully gave Jesus his life.

He was a very good actor. Not even the other disciples knew that Judas was a hypocrite. They though he was holy. He was in charge of the money box, so he had to be trustworthy? Right? Not so much. He would often steal from it. Judas cared about the poor because he was passionate about using the money to help them, right? John 12:5-6

John 12:5–6 NASB95

“Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?” Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.

No one knew about Judas secret sin except him and Jesus. He played everyone of the disciples and made them think he was one of them. He showed that he was not.

We must be careful to examine ourselves and one another. When a person claims to follow Christ and does not attend church, you should question their Christianity. You might say, “Going to church doesn’t save you.” I would agree with that, but why would God save you and keep you from the blessing of being a part of the organism He ordained to minister to a lost and dying world? It doesn’t make sense.

Following Christ is demonstrated by action. James 2:18-20

James 2:18–20 NASB95

But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?

A true follower of Christ substantiates their claim by what they do, not what they say!

Judas loved the world more than he loved Jesus

This is evidenced in his theft of the ministry. Jesus would collect donations from people to support his ministry. Luke 8:1-3

Luke 8:1–3 NASB95

Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.

Judas did not care that the resources given were meant for ministry. He wanted the money so that he could by the things that would satisfy His fleshly desires. He chose the world over Jesus. He was a taker and not a giver.

We must ask ourselves who we love more. The world or Jesus. I know I will probably get in hot water over this part of the sermon, but I feel it is necessary. Where do you choose to spend your time? Would you rather be doing something else other than worship? (Fishing, hunting, golfing, baseball, football, shopping, working, and the list can go on.) There is nothing wrong with any of these things that I listed, but when they are prioritized over worship, this is a form of choosing the world. Hebrews 10:25

Hebrews 10:25 NASB95

not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Where do you spend your money? Would you rather spend it on the luxuries of the world, or give to the advancement of the kingdom? When we prioritize stuff over our tithe, it is a form of choosing the world over Jesus. Malachi 3:8-12

Malachi 3:8–12 NASB95

“Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. “You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. “Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes,” says the Lord of hosts. “All the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts.

Judas refused to surrender his life to Jesus.

This is the sin that ultimately destroyed Judas. He never came to the point where he put his faith in Jesus. He was tagging along because it benefitted him.

He ultimately came to a point where he saw his benefit was running out and chose to betray Jesus for one final benefit. He trade Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Mark 8:36

Mark 8:36 NASB95

“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?

This is exactly what happened to Judas.

Judas Betrayal

John says that when Jesus handed Judas the morsel, Satan then entered into him. How could this happen? Judas had already decided to betray Jesus. Jesus gave him the highest honor he could give him, but Judas refused it. He would rather have 30 pieces of silver rather than the honor of Jesus.

I do not believe this happened just in this moment. I believe Judas allowed Satan close to him throughout his life. There was never a point where he wanted to get rid of his sin. He allowed sin to stay close by because he enjoyed it. He thought he could have the blessings of life without the commitment to Christ. It doesn’t work that way. You have to give Jesus your entire life or nothing at all.

Ultimately he chose the world over Jesus.

Friend, I encourage you today to purge sin from your life through repentance and trust Jesus as your Savior!