Midweek Lenten 5 (2022)

Matthew 26:1-5, 14-16

After Jesus has come to the city where they sang out loud hosannas, he driven the money changers out of the temple, and has been teaching and healing the sick and rebuking the leaders who lie about God’s Word. We find that one of Jesus’ disciples betrays Him. Now this is hard for us to consider for a variety of reasons and we think to ourselves how on earth can this be, that Judas would take money in exchange for the life of Christ.

The Scriptures tell us little about Judas prior to this day, we know that complains when a woman anoints Jesus with ointment that he complains that it could have been sold for a 100 denarii and given to the poor, but John the apostle tells us that Judas didn’t care for the poor, he was a known thief who having charge of the moneybag would help himself.

He was not well liked, and yet he was one that was with Christ, there have been many theories and ideas put forward as to why Judas did it, but we are told in the Gospel of Luke and John that Satan had entered into the heart of Judas and led him down this road that He would betray Christ. Now it is easy to be scandalized by Judas, and to hurl insults and mockery at him and swear that we would never be like him. That we would never betray Christ for money especially to betray him for 30 pieces of silver, or which today is worth less than a 1000$.

It is easy to cast stones at Judas and to try and distance ourselves from his sins, and not consider our own. We must remember that when we look at the Cross, those aren’t just Judas’ sins that have pierced Jesus brow, the marks left by the whips that scourged his back, and the nails that pierce his hands and feet. It isn’t the work of the pharisees or the saddducees who cried out crucify him, crucify him. Those are my sins, my failings, my betrayal for Peter on the day of Pentecost tells all that you crucified Christ.

For who gave me life, well God the Father, who gave me clothing, shoes, food, drink, house home, wife children, land animals and all i have? When he has given me all of these things, why would I then oppose Him or think that I know better than him. When Jesus has died to set me free from sin, after that I fled from Satan, and never gave Satan an inch. I treasured every time I got to go to Church and never let myself be distracted by money or fun or laziness. You gave your offerings with a joyful and glad heart and did not hold anything back, but rather shared it knowing that it would aid not only our church here, but that it would overflow to bless other churches and Christians across the globe, and we believed that we would be ok giving that up because God has given us was enough and we didn’t need to hold back.

Now perhaps you are a perfect person, but if you are a sinner, you can begin to see how we might identify with Judas, and how the devil still works to get people to betray Christ. We may try to convince ourselves that it would have been easier to be a Christian, if you saw the Miracles if you were there to hear Jesus teaching, then you would be a better Christian, we all tell ourselves that, but when we look at Judas we are reminded that the powers of sin and satan are strong even back then.

We are like Judas anytime we flee to sin instead of clinging to the Cross, we are also like the disciples when we trouble comes and we run away instead of staying with Him. It is easy to hate and mock those who fail publicly, because that we don’t have to think about our own shortcomings and sins, but we should take heed for they serve as a warning and reminder to us all.

As Christians, we must confess that yes, yes I have failed, and I like Judas have betrayed the Lord of glory, I like Peter have denied knowing him, not just by words, but by my life too. That is hard to admit especially when we consider everything that He has done for us. But I am going to share with you something that Judas didn’t realize, and that Peter later found out by the sea of Galilee that encouraged him to go forth and share with the world what Christ had done. Jesus took even those sins to the cross. Now the Scriptures tell us that Judas was lost, but his end does not have to be your end.

For you have fallen short, whenever you fell into the temptations of the world and have betrayed him seeking those pleasures and sold yourself back into slavery. I tell you Christ’s death is for you, it is still here to set you free, to save you and restore to you the joy of salvation. You may have fallen deeply and are in the depths of despair, but remember that Christ went down into the dust of death for you. Just like He did for the apostles, He spoke Words of peace for you, for if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all righteousness. Jesus died for sinners, not the good or the righteous, but sinners. The reason Judas despaired and bought the potters field is that he did not believe his sin could be forgiven.

This is how the devil works and attempts to make our sins seem so great that there is no way Jesus would every forgive you, that is the devil’s lie. But if you have worked with the devil, believed lies, betrayed the Lord, and fallen into the worst of sins, shame, and vice. Look there on the Cross and see Jesus’ love for you. See His love for all sinners and his desire for your salvation that He was willing to descend into the depths of hell and suffer all of this for you. Be free from those chains of sin, death, and the power of the devil for Jesus is on the cross paying to set you free, not with 30 pieces of silver, but with his holy precious blood and his innocent suffering and death. Peter found this joy after he had denied even knowing the man, and lived, but Judas had faith in the devil’s lies and perished eternally.

Jesus does not want that for you my dear brothers and sisters, He came that you may have life, and have it to the fullest, and not a life of a slave sold into sin, but the life of a child of God, where you can look forward to a place in his eternal home. Judas is not there, but Peter is. So if you have fallen, if you have failed, if you have betrayed your God by your sins, repent, and cling to Christ’s promise by faith that He might bring you to be with him in paradise. In Jesus name. Amen.