Betrayed!
Matthew 26:1-27:10
Preacher: David Williams
Sermon Mt 26:1-27:10. Theme: Betrayed! Sermon by Pastor David Williams. Strathalbyn Church of Christ. 13 Mar 2022.
“Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” Answer, Yes! Because all of humanity is represented by those who were there – by Judas the betrayer, Peter the denier, the Jews who plotted his death, the Romans who crucified him. It was not just Judas who betrayed Jesus. In a way, all the players betrayed him. Betrayal is being unfaithful, abusing the trust we have been given. Some of you know deep painful betrayal at the hands of those you trusted. Betrayal is like Adam in the Garden. And like Adam, we have all failed our maker.
This is a magnificent story in the way it is told, a great drama that throws into stark contrast black treachery with overwhelming love. This drama sees the treachery, the betrayals extinguished by love – the love of Jesus for his own enemies. In this story, we see the depth of their wickedness in rejecting their Saviour. We also recognise our own wickedness in rejecting our Creator. Yet we also see the magnificent love of Christ for the rebels that he created. To help us understand the story, we’ll look at the main players under these headings:
1. Devotion
2. Betrayals
3. Jesus
Jesus told his disciples - for the fourth time in Matthew’s account - that he was going to die. “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified”, Mt 26:2. But they could not or would not accept it. Perhaps there were only two disciples who understood – and their responses couldn’t have been more different: Judas and the unnamed woman – from John and Mark’s accounts, we assume she was Mary (see Mk 14:1-9, Jn 12:1-8).
1. Devotion
The story of Mary is a beacon of light before the darkness that is to come. Mary’s extraordinary devotion is contrasted with the black treachery of Judas.
Devotion > Jesus < Betrayal
Mary’s extravagant gift shows us how costly Jesus own gift was – the gift of his life for us. And it also shows us the model of a true disciple – that Jesus is worthy of extravagant and overflowing love, worthy of boundless adoration and worship.
A word on worship – it is what we give our worth to – our money, our time, our attention. Jesus gave his life for us. How can we not give our lives to him? Like Mary, how can we give ourselves completely, extravagantly to him? Today, ordinary Ukrainians, who have never picked up a gun before, are living in freezing conditions, without water or food, and are putting their lives on the line for love of their country. It is a great and noble cause. But to serve Jesus, to live for him, even to die for him, is a far greater cause. What can I do to love, to serve, to follow Jesus – not just on Sunday mornings, not just a bit here and there – but with all my life, my time, my money. “To love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength?” But so often, we fall far short of this. Even to the point of betrayal. And so we turn to three betrayals, starting with Judas.
2. Three betrayals
Judas
See his downfall. The whole story in Matthew 26 and up to his trial is framed by the story of Judas – it starts and ends with him. “The chief priests … schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. But they said, ‘Not during the feast or the people may riot’”, v3-5. Huge crowds poured in from all over Israel at Passover. So how could they arrest Jesus without a riot? They needed inside knowledge on Jesus. Judas provided that inside knowledge.
Here is another stark contrast. Mary exchanged a year’s wages worth of perfume – an incredible price for a single woman – it was probably a valued heirloom (Jn 12:5). She gave this for Jesus. But Judas sold his Master very cheaply - for tuppence. 30 pieces of silver was a paltry sum – the compensation paid for a slave (Ex 21:32).
$$$$$$$$$ » Jesus
Jesus » $
Next, Jesus was gathered with the twelve. For 3 years they had lived with him, seen his compassion and his miracles, heard his teaching, seen him weep over Jerusalem, and walked with him on many roads. They knew his courage as he dealt with hostile Pharisees and demon possessed men. Jesus told them plainly he was about to be killed. Not just killed, but crucified. At the Passover. That is – any day now. “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified”, v2. They were sharing a meal – the most intimate of times given that hospitality was a cherished privilege in the middle east. A Passover meal, no less. It was like being invited to a wedding that included only a few special guests. And then Jesus dropped his bombshell: “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me… He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me”, v21, 23_._ See the tension mounting as Judas looks on - as Peter, John, Levi, Andrew and the rest all ask “_Is it I, Lord?”_ Finally, he is left. He could still back out. He could still repent. Then Jesus hammers home the fate that awaits him: “_Woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born”,_ v24. Judas doesn’t reply like the others with _Lord_, but _Rabbi_ (Teacher). He, the disciple who was about to spurn his teacher and his teaching. Whether brazenly or feebly, Judas parrots the question, “_Is it I Rabbi?”_ And Jesus replies, “_You have said so_”, v25.
It can be hard to turn back when you are heading in the wrong direction. Ever been with a driver who is lost and yet they just keep on going (Ladies?) No, they won’t stop and ask. No, they won’t go and get a map. They just keep heading in the wrong direction. Everyone in the car knows it, but they just won’t admit it. The problem can be pride, or wilful blindness. You just don’t want to admit that you are wrong, you are lost. Are you heading in the wrong direction? Do you need to stop and consider? Stop and turn around. Stop and seek help? Friend, please do it today.
But for Judas, there was no turning back. Judas kept up the hypocrisy, the pretence. Leading “a great crowd with swords and clubs” (v47), into this private place of prayer, he said “Greetings Rabbi” and kissed him – to mark him for arrest. Hypocrisy is such a horrid thing. Religious hypocrisy even more. The paedophile who invokes Jesus’ name. The preacher who speaks of Jesus while denying the things that Jesus taught.
Later, Judas changed his mind and tried to return the money. But there was no turning back. The Jews had delivered Jesus over to Pilate. In fulfilling Jesus prediction, Woe to that man, Judas hung himself. There have been lots of speculations of what went through the mind of Judas. Why he betrayed Jesus. Why he regretted it later. What he thought would happen. We are not told. But we do things that are evil and don’t always understand why. We know evil is wrong – there is not much point in analysing it. When we do evil, the Bible is clear on the remedy. Repent! Turn around! Stop! And come back to the Lord who is always ready to forgive. Come back before it is too late.
Peter
Interwoven with the betrayal by Judas is another betrayal. This time it is Peter. The most loyal disciple. He vowed to follow Jesus to his death. Though they all fall away … I will never fall away, v33_._ But like Judas, things went downhill for Peter. As predicted, Peter would deny his Lord three times. But even before that, Peter had already failed his Lord three times. Three times Jesus called on Peter with James and John to watch and pray. To pray with him while he uttered that agonising plea in the garden, _My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me,_ v39_._ Yet three times they failed. While their Lord and teacher was in agony, dripping sweat like drops of blood, they slept. He had just told them that one of them would betray him; that he was about to be crucified and then said, _My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me,_ v38. Yet they couldn’t even muster the strength to stay awake. It was not a calculated betrayal like Judas but it was still a betrayal of trust.
We have all been given responsibilities. Will you prove worthy of your trust? In the end, we can do no one any real good if we do not first bring them to the Lord. We cannot serve well if we do not first serve our Lord. So, do you watch and pray for those the Lord has brought into your circle? Your difficult neighbour or cousin, your grandchildren? Do you watch and pray that you yourself will not fall into temptation? The temptation to anger, to impatience, to selfishness, to a lack of faith?
Having failed at the first turn, Peter tried to make up for it – bravely lashing out at the first man within his reach (v51). Bravely perhaps, but foolishly and faithlessly. Contrast the quiet and faithful attitude of Jesus: “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” v53-54.
If we don’t follow our Lord as he commands, we are not following him at all. Vague good intentions don’t work. To the Christian who is sleeping with someone of the same sex, or otherwise committing adultery, it doesn’t matter if he says he loves his bed-mate. It is wrong. I repeat, if we don’t follow our Lord as he commands, we are not following him at all.
Following the arrest, they all fell away, as Jesus had predicted_, Then, all the disciples_ – Peter included - _left him and fled,_ v56_._ Again, Peter tried to make up lost ground – _following at a distance,_ v58_._ But now, brave Peter, Peter who swore he would die with his Lord, buckled before a servant girl. Three times Peter denied his Lord. Unlike Judas, Peter’s regret turned to true repentance. And three times, the Lord restored him after the resurrection (Jn 21:15-17).
No one is beyond God’s mercy. You may think the Lord can never forgive you for what you have done. You may think that, but the Lord doesn’t think like we do. Peter thrice denied his Lord and was restored. The Lord can forgive and restore you too. All you need to do is to seek his forgiveness. Feeling sorry for yourself is not repentance. Judas regretted but didn’t repent. Feeling sorry that you have got yourself into a mess is not the same as a heartfelt apology. Repentance involves turning, a change of heart and of life. A reaching out for forgiveness. Have you truly repented? Turned your life around and over to the Lord? Or are you just feeling sorry for the mess you are in?
The Jews
The third strand interwoven through this story – the third betrayal – is by the High Priest, Caiaphas and the Jewish leaders. I say betrayal because of all people, they should have been the ones to welcome and to worship their Messiah. Yet John said, Jesus came to his own and his own people did not receive him. Although the world was made through him the world did not know him, Jn 1:10-11. In the murder of Jesus, we see mankind (Jews and Romans) killing their creator, we see God’s chosen people killing their Messiah. We see those who are lost and dead in their sins killing the only one who can save them - the Saviour who would and did bring them life.
The Jews plotted to kill him. The chief priests … schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him v3. There had been previous plots to trip Jesus up, but this is the first time they have agreed to kill him. They arrested and tried him in a kangaroo court. They exchanged silver for the life of their Messiah – who was a stranger to them. They later traded that same silver for the potter’s field – to bury other strangers. It is all so easy to know all about Christianity and miss Christ. These leaders knew God’s word by heart, but they did not know Christ, the living Word. They knew what could lawfully be done with blood money but failed to recognise that his blood “is my blood of the new covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins”, v28. People can go to church for years and yet Jesus can be a stranger to them. Do you know Jesus?
3. Jesus
Finally, we come to Jesus. Far from being a helpless victim, Jesus is fully in control. Humanity and even God abandoned Jesus to walk that lonely path. It was not just a path to death, and to a most painful crucifixion. On that path, Jesus took into himself the entire evil of humanity. He who knew no sin became sin for us, 2 Cor 5:21. It was not the crucifixion but the sin bearing that so repulsed and traumatised Jesus in the Garden. Yet even in his agony, he prayed with unwavering resolution, “Not as I will, but as you will”, v39_._
Three times he prayed – the most earnest, faith-filled prayers ever uttered, and yet his Father denied his request. Hear that – God said no to his son’s anguished prayer. It is a lie to say God will answer any prayer if you have enough faith. God will heal you if you have enough faith. It is a lie. God decides which prayers he will answer – we don’t.
Jesus knew he was the Passover lamb to be sacrificed for our sin. Four times he warned his disciples of this (Mt 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:18-19; 26:2). In all the betrayals, denials, arrest and trial, and with the crucifixion only hours away, he still showed love and pastoral care for all, even for his betrayer Judas. Jesus was fully in control. Jesus knew his Father’s will. He knew that all this has taken place that the Scriptures … might be fulfilled, v56. He knew that In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial, v12. He knew with the Passover that My time is at hand, v18. He knew that the ancient Passover was about to be fulfilled in his own body and blood. He knew one of you will betray me, v21. And he knew this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times, v34.
Delivered over
Something truly extraordinary took place in the lead up to Jesus’ death. Sheer unadulterated evil was at work to destroy the Saviour of the world. 13 times in today’s passage, it is written that Jesus was delivered over or betrayed to evil and to death (Greek: παραδίδωμι means “to hand over” or “betray”). Yet in this very transaction, God was at work to save these same evil men from death. They delivered the innocent man to death so that he could deliver evil men from death.
Sinners > Jesus to death
Jesus > Sinners to life.
This evil was necessary for God to bring life, and life to his enemies. That is the staggering truth of the cross. It is so ridiculously amazing, so extravagantly audacious – I’m running out of extreme descriptions – it is so alarmingly generous that no one could ever invent such a story. God in his over abundant mercy sent his only son, his dearly beloved son, to be slaughtered, crucified at the hands of evil men – betrayers like Judas, political schemers like Caiaphas, hopelessly unreliable men like Peter. God sent Jesus to die at the hands of his enemies so that he could give them and us life.
One of the many bits of evidence that the Bible is credible is that we have the account of Peter’s betrayal. This account must have come from Peter himself. We don’t usually tell hugely embarrassing stories of our own failures. Yet Simon Peter did. From being Simon, an unreliable reed that bent with the wind, Peter did prove to be a reliable rock (cf., Jn 1:42). He later announced to the Jews, “this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men”, Acts 2:23. Both God and men were both at work in the cross. Joseph said something similar to his enemies – his own brothers - many centuries before, You meant evil against me but God meant it for good, Gen 50:20. Do you fret over evil? Do you worry that Putin is going to blast off nuclear weapons in his madness? Perhaps he will. But be assured there is no power of evil that God cannot harness and turn to good. Christ has the victory over sin and death. Jesus promised Peter that I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, Mt 16:18. Jesus overturned evil on the cross and extinguished it. Embrace the life he offers you today.