Jesus, Judas, Me
The art and science of picking teams
Remember out on the playground, two captains, picking the two different teams.
For some of you. That was a great experience, for others, it was traumatic.
You can tell a lot about the captain by how they choose their team. What do they value?
Do they value size, speed, experience?
Do they value popularity? Do they value people's feelings, making them feel included or invited?
Today, in this station of the cross, this step in Jesus’ journey of his Passion, leading to his death and resurrection,
We see a moment that reveals a lot about him as a Captain.
We see this insider view of those He purposely chose to be on his team.
We learned that God has a different set of values than us often times.
Our issue to work through is that God’s will and plan is often worked out through values that conflict with our own
We value things like: not getting hurt, having certainty, security, winning. God values transformation.
What that means is that the same opportunities that will lead us into the greatest and most positive transformation and ultimate meaning in our lives directly conflict with our default values
These same opportunities for growth leave us tempted to turn and run in the opposite direction.
However, Jesus could not fulfill God’s will for his life without facing challenges and real hurt.
And we can’t either, John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Today we look at the most unlikely pick Captain Jesus made, Judas.
And I pray the Holy Spirit will impress upon our hearts a new way to view our hurt.
It is mind blowing: but Jesus specifically and intentionally chose Judas, a traitor.
Luke 6:12-16 shows a snapshot of Jesus picking his team of 12 main disciples/apostles.
12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: 14 Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
John 12:6 tells us Judas was the treasurer and a thief: he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
Judas was Always the last on the list, last pick, but still on the Dream Team.
He disclosed Jesus’ whereabouts to the chief priests and elders who were seeking to kill Jesus.
He sold Jesus out for 30 pieces of silver.
Matthew 26:14-16 14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
He came with armed guards Gethsemane Matthew 26:47 47 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.
There he identified Jesus with a kiss, addressing him as “rabbi” or “master.” Matthew 26:48-50 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”[d]
Luke provides even more detail of this infamous kiss. Luke 22:47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Judas’ motives? Why did he do it? Was it greed, money?
Also, we know Satan was behind the scenes working on, in, and through Judas.
Also, we know this betrayal wasn’t a small thing to Jesus, it affected him greatly to be betrayed like this.
At the last supper: John 13:21-27 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” 22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.” 25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
This begs the question…. Why would Jesus choose Judas?
What does this say about Jesus, what He values?
John 6:64, 70-71 Confirms Jesus did know ahead to time what Judas would do.
64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)
Why Judas? Well, a better question might be; why does Jesus choose any of the people he does?
Even more, why would He choose me, or you?
Because we are all Judas at some point.
In the storyline of Judas we can see the Gospel so clearly.
The late Pastor Tim Keller puts it so beautifully: ”We only grasp the gospel when we understand, that we are the worst sinner we know and that if Jesus came to die for us, there is no one he wouldn't die for."
Additionally, It was part of Gods plan for Jesus.
It fulfilled prophecy Matthew 27:9, Zechariah 11:12-13. Prophecy of 30 pieces of silver.
Also, through this betrayal Jesus can identify with us in our hurt.
Let’s look at Jesus’ Trial.
Have you ever been in a situation where it felt like there was no way to win.
Like Jesus’ injustice of a trial here, someone, or group is going to find something to use against you.
You can feel the difference between sincere questions and accusative questions meant to entrap.
Let’s look as Jesus is taken into custody, at the painful trial of Jesus, and some takeaways.
Matthew 26:50-68
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” 55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. 57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. 58 But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome. 59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward 61 and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” 62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”[e] 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?” He is worthy of death,” they answered. 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”
What to do when you’ve been hurt
Jesus kept his integrity even when others didn’t, those who live by the sword die by the sword…
He didn’t let the bad behavior of others cause him to lower his level of maturity.
2. He was rooted in the bigger story
Don’t you know I have legions of angels at my disposal
But there is a bigger story in the pain here. So that God’s plan can be revealed.
There is always a bigger story attached to the smaller details of our hurt.
3. He spotted and called out their hypocrisy.
He didn’t fall for the bait.
Usually, people will try to hurt others because of the insecurity inside themselves.
Jesus doesn't’ fight back, he holds up a mirror.
Jesus says, Hey, I have been doing this for years, now all of a sudden you are ready to kill me.
When you live for Jesus, or when you start living in a healthier way, sometimes people won’t like it
and will try to bring you down.
If someone is coming after you in an unloving, unChristlike way, you aren’t the one at fault, they are
Instead of allowing that to poison your thinking and make you second guess yourself, hold up the mirror to them
HOW?
4. You don’t need to provide an answer to everything.
False witnesses, but v 63 Jesus remained silent
You don’t owe an answer to insincere or inappropriate questions.
Some behavior just isn’t worth a reply and silence is the best remedy
it helps us remember who we are. Jesus knew who he was.
Know who you are. Jesus knew he was the Son of God “as you say”,
You don’t need to explain your self to people out to hurt you.
5. Give up trying to control the uncontrollable - Jesus released that.
The more you try to control the uncontrollable the less influence you actually have.
Everyone deserted Jesus, and people were back stabbing him, he could have rained down fire,
Instead he entrusted himself to God.
During a particular trying time in my life I had a short saying I leaned on, “Trust Jesus in all things.”
That was my simple assignment for each day.
Trusting Jesus requires surrendering our deluded attempt to control everything.
Peace and perfectionism cannot co exist.
6. See the blessing in disguise
While we want to work toward conflict resolution and reconciliation with others
Sometimes, not often, but sometimes, God does remove a hidden thorn, a toxic person from your life
Through a painful moment now that gives you peace in the long term.
Sometimes a conflict resolved can really make a relationship stronger and that is what we hope for in most cases.
But sometimes God is removing someone from your life, for a season, or indefinitely,
The more you try to keep that person in your life the more it’s like putting the thorn back in that God removed.
It doesn’t have to mean no contact, though it some cases it might need to,
It might just mean better and clearer boundaries.
7. Live for an audience of one
Jesus just has His eyes on the Father this whole time.
He is not really even paying much attention to the others.
He is never trying to be what others want him to be, He solely focuses always on what the Father has for Him.
Quit trying to please other people so much.
Please God and then you will be in a condition to offer your best to those around you.
And there is a graciousness we can have with ourselves in that mindset,
When we don’t have to please everyone, we have time to heal, process, and be restored.
8. Meditate (Pray) but don’t ruminate or isolate
You may never know why something hurtful happened. That is ok.
Don’t fixate on why and miss what’s next.
Don’t forget about community, find people who are safe to talk to about things you are struggling with.
Not gossip, it’s sincere help processing with someone removed from the situation that can be unbiased
9. Bless don’t curse, pray for your enemies.
Surrender hatred and bitterness. You must forgive. You need to forgive. You can forgive.
That doesn’t mean you must be close, or even in contact.
But we have to let go of the hatred and bitterness. Jesus said.
Luke 6:27-28 27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
In 41 years of life and in over two decades of ministry I have had people hurt me, and I have hurt other’s also.
And there is always that temptation to think or speak badly of someone,
To continue to want to get them back and just have that animosity in your heart
You might not think about it all the time but a certain instance will bring it to mind or maybe you see that person.
And like I said it’s not even about becoming close with that person because maybe that just isn’t in the cards,
However, to carry bitterness is like poison, you might be justified to hate them
But the hate doesn’t hurt them - it hurts you!, it’s toxic in us,
What I do when I feel like I am struggling with wanting to pull out the sword and strike,
I remember the words of Jesus. And just pray: Lord Bless So and So.
Bless them and keep them, make your face to shine upon them and give them peace.
And that lifts the burden, it drains the poison of hurt and bitterness from my soul.
That is God’s grace working in us, helping us to do what we can’t on our own.
This is the Gospel, we need it today.
Will you allow Jesus to forgive you for your worst sin today?
Will you allow Jesus to heal you of your deepest hurt today?
Will you allow Jesus to help you forgive your worst enemy today?