Jesus Betrayed!

January 11, 2015

JESUS BETRAYED!—The Greatest Crime in History

Matthew 26:14-16, 20-25, 45-56; 27:3-10; Luke 22:47-54; John 13:21-30; 18:1-12

There are certain names in history that will always be associated with betrayal: Benedict Arnold who betrayed the Continental army in the Revo- lutionary War.

Another name known for treachery was Marcus Brutus, who was among the assassins of Julius Caesar. Caesar not only trusted Brutus, he favored him as a son. According to Roman historians, Caesar first resisted the onslaught of the assassins. But when he saw Brutus among them with his dagger drawn, Caesar ceased to struggle and, pulling the top part of his robe over his face, asked, “You too, Brutus?”

There are infamous traitors in the Bible: Delilah, Absalom, and Ahithophel to name a few. The most notorious traitor of all was Judas Iscariot. His name always appears last in each biblical list of the apostles, except in Acts 1, where it doesn’t appear at all. Whenever the name Judas Iscariot is mentioned in the Bible, it always linked to his betrayal of Christ. His name will forever be synonymous with betrayal:

Matthew 10:4— …Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
Mark 3:19— And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.
Mark 14:10— And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.
Luke 6:16— And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
John 6:71— He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
John 12:4— Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,
John 13:2— And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him;

The betrayal of Jesus is one of the most notorious crimes ever committed.

I. The DEVILMENT in the man. (John 6:64, 70-71).

The devil is a deceiver. Satan works best when unsuspected.
Judas was “a mole” amongst the twelve. A “mole” is like a double- agent—An enemy who poses as a loyalist within the ranks of an organization while covertly working against it, usually to steal from it.

He was an Apostle— Wrought miracles. Helped distribute the bread and fishes that fed 5,000.
He was a preacher.
He was baptized.
He was Jesus’ friend (Ps. 41:9 cf. Mt. 26:50). A close associate (Ps. 55:12-14 cf. Acts 1:17). The ones who can hurt you the most are the ones who are closest to you.
He was trusted (the treasurer). Judas was an embezzler.
He sat with Christ at the last supper. He was completely unsuspected—When Jesus announced at the Lord’s Supper He would be betrayed by one of them, they all questioned, “Is it I?” No one, but Christ knew who the “mole” was (John 13:2, 11, 21-27).
He was LOST! He didn’t LOSE salvation—he never had it! John 17:12—“…those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.”
1. He was a TARE among the WHEAT! Looked identical. There are some who are IN church but not IN Christ. Their name is on a church roll, but not in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
2. If Judas were alive today, you would find him in church on Sunday! If Judas lived in Port Orchard, I don’t doubt he would attend BBC. Who knows? He might be sitting in the same pew as you. Or he might even be closer than that.
3. One of the ways Satan works is by disguising himself in the character of others (2 Cor. 11:13-15).

II. The DESIRE behind his motives (Mt. 26:14-16).

A. The motive behind Judas’ deed of betrayal? MONEY! (1 Tim. 6:10).

B. How much did it take to buy him off? 30 pieces of silver (Mt. 26:15). A cheap price. Judas sold out the Lord Jesus Christ for less than twenty-five bucks (modern currency).