BELIEF OR BETRAYAL

(Luke 22:21-23)
July 16, 2017

Read Luke 22:21-23 Now, the order of events at the Last Supper is unclear.
But Luke, as elsewhere, is probably not chronological. Luke records Jesus
calling out His betrayer right after the Lords Supper, but it probably occurred
earlier. In vv. 24-29 he tells of the disciples greatest argument. That
probably occurred as they entered the room and explains why no one
washed feet until Jesus did (John 13:3-11). This may have happened just
before the Passover meal, or possibly during it at the time of a ceremonial
hand-washing. Jn 13:4 Jesus rose from supper to wash their feet,
symbolizing the need for humility which was hardly their strong suit!

Then came the startling disclosure that one of them would betray Him which
both Mt and Mrk place before initiation of the Lords Supper. So does John in
the most detailed account. Jn 13:21: After saying these things [footwashing]
Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, Truly, truly, I say to you, one of
you will betray me. 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom
he spoke. 23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at
Jesus side, 24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was
speaking. 25 So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, Lord,
who is it? 26 Jesus answered, It is he to whom I will give this morsel of
bread when I have dipped it. So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it
to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Passover was a long meal. After the
washing they ate bitter herbs, by dipping bread into a paste made from fruit
and nuts symbolizing bitter slavery in Egypt. Thats when Jesus gives the
morsel to Judas, seated on the Lords left. Thus John on his right, and Peter,
across the table, saw this action which was not so obvious to the others. Jn
13:27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to
him, What you are going to do, do quickly. 28 Now no one at the table knew
why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the
moneybag, Jesus was telling him, Buy what we need for the feast, or that he
should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread,
he immediately went out. This almost certainly means that while Judas was
present for the Passover meal, he was gone by the time Jesus turned
Passover into Lords Supper. The Lords Supper would mean nothing to
Judas. Hes not worshiping the Savior; hes selling Him down the river.

In any case, Lu 22:21-23 is all about betrayal. And v. 23 is particularly

challenging. Jesus prediction creates a startled reaction: 23 And they began to
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question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.
This shows a humility seldom seen in the 12 up to now. And it shows a clarity
of thought. Jesus tells them repeatedly He is going to die and they dont get it.
But He tells them once that one of them will betray him, and immediately
each wonders if it will be himself! Amazing. Why did it hit them like that?

Heres why. Days earlier theyd seen Jesus enter Jerusalem claiming publicly
for the first time to be Messiah. They were convinced the time had come, the
kingdom was imminent, and they were jockeying for position. But then, rather
than clean out the Romans, He cleaned out their temple. Rather than start a
revolution, He kept preaching and teaching. Further, His public claim has
inflamed the leaders. Something has to give, and they were wondering how it
would all end. If Jesus actually were arrested and killed, how would they fare?
It was a very real and legitimate concern that by each that he might fold.

Have you ever thought how youd do under such pressure? When Jesus does
not do as we think He should; when He seems unresponsive, does faith fail?
We are all vulnerable. But this passage is teaching, hang in there. Dont
follow Judas! Unbelievers might affirm you now, but think ahead. How will
it be in the end? Betraying Jesus is deadly. Appearances to the contrary, Jesus
knew everything that was going on and was in complete control. Appearances
to the contrary, placing faith in Him is always the right answer. Note how
Jesus is in complete control of His own destiny and ours!

I. Jesus Comprehended
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But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. Jesus
knew exactly what was going on. He could have stopped the whole thing on a
dime. Control was His. Many people see Judas as the anti-hero who brought
Jesus down! They think Jesus life was about taking on a corrupt political
system, but He wasnt moving fast enough for Judas, so Judas sold Him out.
They believe the resurrection was a product of the apostles imagination that
Jesus death ended everything. They believe the betrayal caught Him by
surprise. Death crushed His dreams. Jesus is like Julius Caesar, who, at the
heights of his powers was cut down by the betrayal of one of his best friends
thus, his surprised cry Ettu, Brutei You, too, Brutus even as he was
being stabbed to death. Surprised by the betrayal of a close friend.

But rest assured Jesus was neither surprised nor overwhelmed. He knew
exactly what was going on -- the hand of him who betrays me is with me on
the table. He knew. He had known it from the very beginning. Hed often
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predicted His betrayal. Mt 20:18: See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the
Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they
will condemn him to death. Betrayal was no surprise to Jesus. Jn 6:64b, For
Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who
it was who would betray him. Jesus knew, even when He chose Judas. Jn
6:70-71: Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.
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He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the Twelve, was
going to betray him. Jesus knew from Day 1. Judas thought he could fool
Jesus. But he only fooled himself. No one pulls the wool over Gods eyes!

God knows every action, word and thought. Nothing escapes His notice. He
has never known surprise, and we will not be the first to fool Him. He knew
Judas and He knows you and me. We can hide nothing from Him. Sin can
only be covered by Jesus blood, never by our devices! The record of
rebellion and betrayal follows us to the bitter end. Judas didnt bring Jesus
down, Jesus brought Judas down. He could have been saved the same way
we can by placing his sin under the blood. But never by covering up on our
own. He couldnt and we cant. Jesus knows whos real and whos not.

II. Jesus Cared

Not only did Jesus know; Jesus cared. Jn 13:21 After saying these things,
Jesus was troubled in his spirit. Troubled why? At the thought of His own
coming death? No. He was troubled for a friend who was about to self-
destruct. And He did all He could to pull Him back from the brink. When
John asked who would betray Him, Jn 13:26: Jesus answered, It is he to
whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it. So when he had
dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas. The other disciples didnt hear this
only John and Judas who were nearest Jesus. But whats He doing? Hes
giving one more chance. Hes saying, Judas I know it all. I know what
you have done; I know what you are about to do. The only person you are
fooling is yourself, Judas. Turn back while you still have time. Thats what
this was about. Jesus cared that His friend, thinking he was betraying Jesus,
was in fact about to blow himself up. Jesus cared enough to try one last time.

But what happed? Jn 13:27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered
into him. Jesus said to him, What you are going to do, do quickly. Judas
made his decision. He ceded complete access to Satan and went to his
destruction. In fact, Jesus sent him on his way. He had trampled the love of
Christ underfoot and would pay an eternal price the price of betrayal.

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A few years ago National Geographic reported that after a forest fire in
Yellowstone some forest rangers surveyed the damage. One ranger found a
bird a carbonized, petrified shell, covered in ashes. He turned the bird over
with a stick and 3 tiny chicks scurried out from under the dead mothers
wings. Mom covered the chicks rather than run dying so the babies could
live. Just as Jesus died so we could live. Like Jesus in Lu 13:34: O
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are
sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen
gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Thats the love
Judas trampled when he left that night. And it is that kind of love we betray if
we will not repent and submit to His Lordship. How anyone can do that I do
not know. But I know this, Jesus cares! But Judas chose to go it alone.

III. Jesus Complied

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For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined. This is love in action.
Knowing the whole plot; knowing exactly what was coming; knowing that if
He simply asked the Father will at once send me more than twelve legions of
angels (Mt 26:53); knowing the horror of the break with His Father that
awaited Him Jesus went anyway. Why? Why in the world, when escape was
well within His grasp, would He comply? Because He knew the price of
eternal separation from God all of us would pay if He did not go. And He
knew it to be the Fathers will. And so He walked into the eye of the storm to
absorb the wrath of God that rightfully belonged to you and me. Never in
history has there been an act of love like that.

Jesus knew a friend would betray Him: Psa 41:9: Even my close friend in
whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. But this
was the whole reason He came. So He went as it has been determined.
Determined when? I Pet 1: 19 we were ransomed with the precious blood of
Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown
before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for
the sake of you. Jesus death was not a Jewish plan, a Roman plan or a Judas
plan. It was a God plan set in motion before time began. Prophesied: Isa 53:6:
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turnedevery oneto his own
way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. And so Jesus went
as it has been determined not by Judas, but by God.

Jesus knew: Jn 10:17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down
my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it
down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority
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to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father. Jesus was no
Caesar, surprised at the betrayal of a friend; Jesus was God in the flesh dying
for every repentant sinner. Think of that! Rather than kill Judas for treachery,
Jesus went to the cross to pay the penalty for his sins if he would only
believe, which he refused. We must be crystal clear: No one took His life; He
gave His life so that we could have life.

A few years ago an 8-year-old named Stevie had a brother who had leukemia
and needed a bone marrow transplant. Stevie was the only perfect match.
Asked if hed be willing to donate the marrow, he paused briefly then said, ,
Yes. On the day of the procedure, just before they took him to the operating
room Stevie looked up and asked, Mommy, how long will it take me to die?
Stevie literally thought in giving the bone marrow he would die instead of his
brother. But he was willing anyway. Thats love. Thats Jesus. He went as it
has been determined because as He says in Jn 15:13, Greater love has no
one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. How dare we
trample that love by refusing to go with Him to the cross He went to for us.

IV. Jesus Condemned

Judas turned Jesus down and Jesus leaves no doubt as to his fate. 22 For the
Son of Man goes as it has been determined [theres the good news], but woe to
that man by whom he is betrayed! Mt 26:24b adds, It would have been
better for that man if he had not been born. Oh, Judas, why did you not turn
away? Given a last chance, how could you betray the Son of God?

But the same question applies to us, for every act of rejection is another act of
treachery. It is a denial of the Person and Work of Christ and thus a betrayal
in its own right. And just as Judas could not escape, neither will we? Heb 2:
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how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? There is no
escape. Jesus told it like it is. It would have been better for that man if he had
not been born. Thats how serious it is to betray Gods own Son.

Remember the betrayal in Sound of Music? The young Austrian, Rolf, courts
the oldest von Trapp daughter, Liesl. But he is seduced by Nazi propaganda.
Late in the movie, against his better instincts, he betrays the family who are
fleeing the Nazis. Theyve taken refuge in a convent when soldiers, including
Rolf, come searching. All goes well until Liesl gasps upon seeing Rolf, thus
exposing them. Capt von Trapp tries to talk sense to Rolf. He is clearly
conflicted, but ultimately he summons the guards and betrays the family. But,

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of course, the one he ultimately betrayed is himself. He chose the wrong side
and would eventually be condemned along with the rest of Hitlers gang.

So with those who reject Christ. They betray Him by their rejection, but in
the end, they betray themselves. John 3:36: 36 Whoever believes in the Son
has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the
wrath of God remains on him. As one old Scottish preacher said,
Unbelievers cannot go to hell but over the bounty of Gods great mercies.
They must wade to it through the blood of Christ. Rejection = betrayal =
condemnation.

Conc So heres the deal. This sermon brings all of us to a crossroad. One
way is labeled Betrayal; the other Belief. There is no other road. We must all
choose. Believe or betray. Judas or Jesus. No one fools God. He knows hearts.

Australia was originally populated as a penal colony for Great Britain. Only
convicts were sent there. Not long ago a Briton flew to Australia and was
asked by immigration, Do you have any felony convictions? The man
replied, Sorry. I didnt realize that was a still a requirement for entry!
Thats like Gods kingdom. Its for sinners only. The entry requirement is
admission of guilt and acceptance of Gods love, mercy and forgiveness based
on Jesus death in your place. How good is that!? Thats grace. Thats the
gospel. Betrayal or belief. Judas way or Jesus way? Lets pray.