Word of Salvation – Vol.51 No.15 – April 2006

 

Betrayed by How Many?

 

A Sermon by Rev Allan Quak on Matthew 26:47-56

Scripture Reading:  John 18:1-11

Suggested Hymns:  BoW 159; 154; 330; 416

 

Congregation in the Lord.

When you go to the top part of the Niagara Falls there is a point which is called “the point of no return”. No boat, no matter how powerful the engine, is able to pull away from the surging of water heading over the falls. Once that point is reached, a crash at the bottom of the falls is inevitable. In many ways we could say that our text is the point of no return for Jesus. From this moment all the events linked to His death will unfold. From this moment He is under constant guard and cannot escape. From this moment His destiny is in the hands of the Pharisees, Pilate, the crowds and the soldiers.

Now imagine if you were on the deck of a boat that had reached the point of no return at Niagara Falls. What would be happening? For some it would be the pure terror of the inevitable … “I know I am going to die”. There could be the individual drive to try and preserve yourself and fight for the safest place on the boat … if there is one. For some there would be that real sense of regret, “Why did I ever come on this tour?” That’s how it would work … don’t you agree?

Now let’s go back to Jesus and His situation. Do you sense any terror? Not at all. Jesus has just been pouring out His heart to God in prayer in the garden of Gethsemane – Luke tells us that Jesus was so overwhelmed by the situation that He was sweating drops of blood. But three times He prays to God, “Not My will but Your will be done”. Such words are not said lightly. Jesus is about to face a once-in-an-eternity pouring out of God’s anger onto His Son. Jesus knows He is in for the most difficult part of His ministry. Yet Jesus faces that moment with a determined resolve.

Or take the situation of the whole arrest debacle which we read about in John’s Gospel. Here comes a group of people. Judas – on the verge of earning 30 pieces of silver. Some officials from the temple – just to make sure they get the right man. A detachment of soldiers – just in case there is a battle. They have torches lanterns and weapons. All Jesus and the 11 disciples have are two swords. Yet when Jesus says three words, “I am He … they drew back and fell to the ground.” He may be at the point of no return, but we don’t detect a hint of terror in Jesus. In fact, He is probably the only one in the group who doesn’t feel scared in some way.

Well, if there is no terror, has Jesus turned to self-preservation? Do we see this occurring in Jesus? Not really. When Judas comes to give Him the “kiss of death”, Jesus doesn’t turn away; He says, “Friend, do what you came for”. It almost seems like Jesus is forcing the issue. The same applies when Jesus rebukes Peter. Peter is ready to fight to the death for His master. Does Jesus thank Peter for that act of bravery? Far from it … he gives Peter an earful, “those who live by the sword will die by the sword”. Jesus is not happy about the actions of His bodyguard. Indeed, in that same context, we hear another extraordinary truth from Jesus. “Do you think I cannot call on my Father and He will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels”. One angel is powerful enough to hold back the four winds, imagine what 12000 of them could do. Self preservation is only a word away, yet Jesus – even though Jesus is at the point of no return – He does not take advantage of it.

So there is no hint of terror and there is no hint of self-preservation. Could it be that we see in Jesus a sign of regret about this turn of events? Again, we say no. Jesus has known for a long time that Judas was going to betray Him. Right back in John 6:70-71 we read, “Jesus [said], “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil! (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray Him)”.

That being the case, Jesus could have exposed Judas at any time between then and now – but He doesn’t. A prime opportunity occurred at the Lord’s Supper, which was only a few hours earlier. Jesus declares there – one of you is a betrayer. Each disciple answered, Surely not I, Lord. When it came to Judas Jesus reveals the truth “Yes! Yes it is you” – but not in a way that makes the other disciples suspicious of what is happening. Jesus knew and could have exposed Judas. Is He now regretting it? As Judas comes with that kiss, does Jesus say, “Oh, I wish I had told everyone about the real person you are”.

Here’s another thought – it flows out of John 18:1-2. “When He had finished praying, Jesus left with the disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and He and His disciples went into it. Now Judas, who betrayed Him, knew the place because Jesus had often met there with His disciples”.

That could lead to regret couldn’t it. “I should have gone to a new location”. “It would have been better to leave town altogether”. “I wish I wasn’t here”. Is that what we find Jesus saying? No. The point of no return has to be this way, otherwise, “how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?” Jesus is at the point of no return. The death and the suffering which is His to endure can no longer be avoided. Yet … Jesus has peace … and Jesus is willing to accept God’s will in this matter … and Jesus has no regrets.

Let’s stop for a moment and think about ourselves. Do we have times when our world turns against us? More specifically, have we had times when we have felt betrayed? Betrayal is a hard thing to accept because, by its very nature, it can only come through a friend or a loved one. It’s not a stranger who is inflicting hurt. It’s not a random act. It doesn’t happen by being a victim of circumstance. Betrayal is a weapon only found in the hands of the ones you love. Betrayal is an inside job. It’s more than just rejection. Rejection opens the wound – betrayal pours salt on it. It’s more than just loneliness. Loneliness leaves you out in the cold – betrayal closes the door. It’s more than just insult. Insult attacks your pride, betrayal breaks your heart.

That’s betrayal and it can take many forms … and it can claim many victims.

* The women who discovers her husband has been having an affair for two years.

* The wife who is made to feel useless because she is not the bread-winner.

* The man who doesn’t know where his wife and children have gone.

* The husband who is continually derided in public by his wife who never has a kind word to say about him.

* The parents who find out their drug-addicted son has been stealing money from them.

* The parents who discover their daughter is pregnant despite all assurance that “I don’t do that sort of thing”.

* The family which never sees their dad because work is more important.

* The children who must miss out on even the basics because their parents have a gambling addiction.

* The children who miss out because their parents think building a house is more important than making a home.

All these, and many others, are victims of betrayal. Victims who feel they have come to the end. And they are lost. And they are lonely. And they have no peace. And they are afraid. And they are full of regret. But, as we look at our text, we can see that it doesn’t have to be like that. For Jesus has shown that, in the midst of betrayal, we can have a totally different attitude. And the reason this is the case hinges around one very significant word: Friend. Despite the fact that, humanly speaking, it is Judas who is about to put Jesus onto the point of no return, Jesus does something amazing. He calls Judas friend.

And it is not said with sarcasm. His words to Judas are the culmination of an attitude which Jesus has shown all the way along. Very early on Jesus knew who the betrayer was – but we are never given any indication that Judas was treated any differently, or that he was left out, or that he was mistreated, or that he was neglected. And when the statement is made at the Lord’s Supper table that one of them would betray Jesus – there wasn’t a sudden whisper, “It’s Judas – Jesus told me privately”. None of the other disciples had any idea. Judas was smart enough to keep the truth hidden. And Jesus never gave the game away. He had known what the betrayer was going to do, yet Jesus treated Judas as if he was faithful.

When Jesus calls Him friend, it is well meant – because Jesus sees what many don’t. Jesus knew that Judas had been seduced by a powerful enemy – Satan himself was clamouring at Judas’s heart. And Jesus knew how hard it was for Judas to withstand. It doesn’t justify what Judas did. It doesn’t minimise the deed. It doesn’t release Judas from his choices. But it does help to bring peace. As long as you hate your enemy a jail door is closed – but you are the one who’s locked up. When you forgive your enemy it’s also true that you are the one who is released. This is the answer of Jesus … in the face of betrayal show forgiveness.

Does that sound too unrealistic – or even simplistic? Perhaps the thought of trying to understand the Judases of this world seems too gracious. If you think it is, then let me ask you to suggest a better answer. Will harbouring anger solve the problem? Will getting even remove the hurt? If you could punish them, how much would be enough? All our answers just cause the problem to continue. Jesus is providing an answer – a real answer to deal with the terrible hurt of betrayal. And that answer comes by applying His love in a consistent way.

You see there is only one person who allowed Himself to be brought to the point of no return, and that is Jesus. He went as the One who was willing to take our sin. He was the One who accepted the cross where He was cursed by God and cursed by man. Earth didn’t want Him and heaven was against Him … on the cross He was hanging in a no-man’s land in between. And then, when all was done against Him He died … the eternal One becoming breathless.

And Jesus did that so that we don’t have to go to the point of no return. You don’t have to be in the same class as Judas to be classified as a betrayer. Judas may have been the one who “dobbed” Jesus in – but he wasn’t the only one of whom it could be said “Here comes My betrayer”.

Think about John, Peter and James – they slept while Jesus prayed even though Jesus specifically asked them to keep watch.

Or what about Thomas, Andrew and Nathanial – just some of the disciples who ran when Jesus was arrested.

You can paint Peter into the same corner. Adamant that he would stand by Jesus. Ashamed when he denied Jesus three times.

There are others as well. The Jewish leaders: the men who were charged with dispensing goodness and who were keeping watch for the Messiah … men who now vow to kill him. The crowd who called for Barabbas to be released … probably a similar crowd that were hailing Jesus as king. Caiaphas the high priest who knew all the laws … yet who bent them because of jealousy.

Of them all it could be said “Here comes my betrayer”. Of us the same could be said. Whenever we reject Jesus’ rule in our lives we betray Him as well. Yet to each one Jesus says, Friend. “I don’t want to be at odds. I want to forgive. I don’t want you to suffer what I am going to suffer. I’m willing to give you another go”. And then He went to the cross to prove it. That’s forgiveness – real forgiveness demonstrated by One who is at the point of no return. And that forgiveness has been shown to us, no matter what you have done … forgiveness which brings freedom from sin. And that is the forgiveness which we can show to others, no matter what they have done … forgiveness that brings freedom from the jail of hurts, loneliness, fear and regret.

Amen.