Lent 2 - Contrasts of the Cross - Betrayal/Faithfulness

Text: Matthew 26:47-50z
Series: Contrasts of the Cross
Theme: Betrayal/Faithfulness
Place: Amazing Grace Lutheran Church, Myrtle Beach, SC
Date: February 21, 2010

At the height of his career Benedict Arnold was a major general on the American side during the Revolutionary war. He showed himself as a fearless conqueror and capable leader, eventually obtaining the command of the fort at West Point. He seemed to have it all, but to him it wasn’t enough.
He felt he was passed over for promotion so he began talk to Britain. Soon he traded loyalty to his country for a British commission and monetary reward. For money Arnold plotted to surrender West Point to the British. A despicable deed, right? He was willing to betray his own people and country.

Arnold and his chief accomplice, John Andre, were discovered and their plot uncovered. Andre was hung, but Arnold escaped. He would go on to lead a couple of raids against the Colonies and then live the rest of his life as an exile in England under scorn and without recompense. Some might argue Arnold received what he deserved. I think we would agree there is nothing worse than a traitor, right. Nothing worse than someone who is willing to betray friends for money. Sound familiar?

When you hear the name Judas, what comes to mind? Betrayer? Dirty rotten double-crosser? Bum? Outcast? Hypocrite? Black sheep? But remember he was one of the twelve. He was included in that group of twelve men who had accompanied Jesus on a full-time basis throughout his three-year ministry. Those twelve men had enjoyed every possible privilege that would go with counting Jesus as a close companion. They walked with him, talked with him, laughed with him, cried with him, witnessed his spectacular miracles, listened to his comforting words. He guarded them, guided them, led them and fed them. Judas was one of the twelve.

Judas seems to have had it all. One of the 12 most privileged people in all of recorded history. A disciple, follower, friend of the Savior. The others trusted him enough to elect him treasurer. Does it get any better than that? It would be better, if only for 30 more pieces. And the only way to obtain that would be to hand over the Savior of the world to those who want to kill him. Judas!

His heart was greedy for green, but stone cold to the Rabbi. So deeply he had sunk into the lust for personal gain he was willing to assist in the murderous plot of an innocent and irreproachable individual. So far away he had turned that a paltry sum of thirty silver pieces more than satisfied his covetous cravings.

This man - Judas, outwardly, looked and appeared to be one of the Twelve, but inwardly he was outside the Twelve. And here came Judas, one of Jesus’ own disciples. The pre-arranged signal? A kiss! In the Garden of Gethsemane he carried out his diabolical deed. We’re told, While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. That makes no sense. Doesn’t that want to make you sit up a little bit and wonder, “Would I ever have done something like that?”

There is another man I know. This person, was born again through the waters of baptism - brought to saving faith in Jesus Christ through the powerful work of the Holy Spirit. This person has sat at the feet of Jesus, guarded, guided, led, fed, and trained by the Rabbi himself. This person has seen the power of Jesus at work…the spiritually dead made alive…the spiritual deaf able to hear…the spiritual blind able to see. This person has heard the bitter words of condemnation to those who are puffed up and filled with conceit. This person has heard the words of soothing comfort of free forgiveness to the wretched and weary heart burdened with sin.

Ah, but there is a problem. While this person has shown an outward expression of discipleship there is a part that inwardly has departed and deserted, betrayed and been disloyal to Jesus. This man’s heart is filled with greed for personal gain. This man’s heart has been stone cold to the Savior who saved him. This man has rebelled against God. This man has taken advantage of others, spoken poorly of others, made excuses to God, and not taken him seriously. All of it is a slap in the face to Jesus. Worse yet this man tries to cover it up. This man is right there with Judas, smothering Jesus with kisses that are not true, giving him hugs that have other motives, telling him words that are filled with lies.
This man is me. This man is you. Every time we sin, Jesus is betrayed…by something I say or think or do that basically hands him over to his enemies over and over and over again.

When you and I hear Bible stories about the followers of Jesus, we don’t mind identifying with Mary of Bethany, the quiet student at Jesus’ feet. We don’t mind identifying with John, the beloved disciple of Jesus who wondered, “Lord is it I who will betray you?” We don’t mind even identifying with Peter, the bold spokesperson, who got too close to the fire and denied Jesus! But never Judas, right? We would never betray Jesus. We would never stoop that low. Yet, every time we sin, we’re betraying him. When I sin, I am a Judas to Jesus and so are you.

What is the price for betraying a friend? If you were to betray your family, you would get scolded. The punishment fits the crime. If you were to betray the president, you would go to jail. The punishment fits the crime. If you were to betray the infinite God, you would be sentenced to an infinite eternity in hell. The punishment fits the crime. Friends, we have betrayed the infinite God everyday of our lives. How can Jesus ever forgive me?

Look in the Garden and witness it. Look at the heart of Jesus! It is why we are here today. Jesus knew full well the evil that lurked in Judas’ heart. He could have zapped Judas into eternal fire right then and there. That’s what Judas deserved. But Jesus did not kill him right then and there. Instead the Lord appealed to him. Jesus said to Judas, Friend, do what you came for. Seems odd to call the one betraying you a friend, right? And yet we see the heartbeat of the Lord Jesus. A heart that calls out to the one who sold him out. A heart that expresses concern and compassion for the sick soul. Can you hear Jesus calling out, “Oh Judas! Wake up! Come back to me! Don’t close the doors to your heart! Judas, look what you’ve done…now look to me. Remember what I’ve done. I love you – you have forgiveness through me.”

I know a man who works the same way with people today. Through the gentle whisper of his Word he calls out, “friend.” Despite time and again, being sold out for much less than 30 pieces of silvers, he continues to say, “friend”. To those who share in the guilt of the cross, the guilt of Jesus’ death, Jesus calls out “friend”. He comes to us Sunday after Sunday through his Word and calls you, “friend” offering you forgiveness. Just like to Judas, Jesus says to you and me, “Friend, look what you’ve done…now look to me. Remember what I’ve done for you. Remember where I walked for you. Remember what I accomplished for you. Remember what I secured for you. It all began by the betrayal of man at 30 silver coins.” But look at what it has accomplished for you.

The Bible says, In him (Christ) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. Long before the world was created, God the Father, foreseeing the helpless, hopeless condition of lost mankind, knew the purchase price for you soul. His Son of you. His life for yours.

Dr. A.J. Gordon was pastor of a church near Boston many years ago. One day he met a little boy out in front of his church. The boy was carrying a rusty old bird cage and several little birds were fluttering around on the bottom of the cage. Dr. Gordon asked, “Where did you get those birds?” The boy answered, “I trapped them out in the field.” “What are you going to do with them?” the preacher asked. “I’m going to take them home and play with them and have some fun with them.” “What will you do with them when you get through playing with them?” Dr. Gordon asked. “Oh,” said the boy, “I guess I’ll just feed them to a old cat we have around the house.” Then Dr. Gordon asked the boy, “How much will you take for the birds?” And the boy answered, “Mister, you don’t want these birds. They’re just little old field birds, and they can’t sing very well.” Dr. Gordon said, “I’ll give you two dollars for the cage and the birds.” “Alright,” the boy said. “It’s a deal, but you got the worst of it. ”

Money can pay for all sorts of things. But it cannot pay for sin. I know the man who paid for that. So do you. He gave his blood. It wasn’t cherry Kool-Aid pouring from the wounds. It wasn’t tomato paste on his back from the scourging that he took. That was blood. Jesus’ blood was indeed the payment that looked so awful but brought us grace. It did what a hundred trillion dollars couldn’t do; it did what a hundred gazillion dollars couldn’t do. It did what all the silver and gold and platinum and diamonds and whatever precious gem couldn’t do. Jesus’ blood paid for the sins of the world - even the sins of Judas.

Can you imagine anyone on the American side of the Revolutionary war ever going up to Benedict Arnold and saying, “friend”? I doubt it and I don’t think Benedict ever thought that he deserved it. We, too, may look at the many times we’ve betrayed Jesus and conclude – “We don’t deserve to be called friend!” But that’s the beauty of the Gospel – it doesn’t depend on your deserving. That would be looking in the wrong place – ourselves. Look to the cross – there Jesus calls you “friend”. There all the times we’ve betrayed Jesus are nailed to that cross – nailed to the one who has never betrayed you, but been faithful to you. There Jesus looks at you and says, “You’re my friend. What does that mean? Well, let me put it this way: “I’ve never betrayed a friend.”