June 29, 2012
The leading priests and leaders put together a plan to trap and arrest Jesus. Their plan was to have Jesus killed so they could get rid of their problem once and for all. Or so they thought. While the scheming and planning was being done in secret (again—or so they thought), Jesus was not taken by surprise. He knew exactly what they were thinking and planning, and He tried to prepare His followers for what was going to be happening. He knows. He knows our hearts and thoughts and He knows the heart and thoughts of those who attack us.
Judas, who up until now appeared to be one of the twelve in heart and soul, was actually a religious unbeliever. No one knew. He wasn't sought out by the enemies of Christ, he himself was an enemy of Christ. He went to the priests and asked them, "What will you pay me for giving Jesus to you?" They offered him thirty silver coins. For thirty silver coins, Judas was willing to expose himself for who he truly was and to turn Jesus over to the priests. He was a active participant. He sought out the priests, he received money, and he "watched for the best time to turn Jesus in." And all the while he is doing this, he continues to "act" like he is a follower of Christ and does not reveal he is an enemy to Christ.
Jesus sat down to have the Passover meal with His twelve followers. Only He and Judas knew that there were actually only eleven followers. As they were eating Jesus reveals the truth to them, "One of you will turn against me." The eleven are shocked and saddened. "Surely, Lord, I am not the one who will turn against you, am I?" Even Judas, knowing he is the one, has the audacity to ask the same question. What arrogance. Only a religious unbeliever could do what he did. The other eleven said, "Lord" is it me? Judas said "Teacher" (or Rabbi) is it me?
Jesus said, "How terrible it will be for the person who hands the Son of Man over to be killed." (Matthew 26:24) We look at Judas and (rightfully so) think what he did was unfathomable. But Hebrews 6:4–6 describes people who are nailing the Son of God to a cross again. "Some people cannot be brought back again to a changed life. They were once in God's light, and enjoyed heaven's gift, and shared in the Holy Spirit. They found out how good God's word is, and they received the powers of His new world. But they fell away from Christ. It is impossible to bring them back to a changed life again, because they are nailing the Son of God to a cross again and are shaming Him in front of others."
In Matthew 26:24 - Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man. He is not yet the sacrifice. In Hebrews 6:4 - He is called the Son of God. His death as a man for our salvation is complete, and He is now the heir of God. How terrible it will be—and was—for Judas. How terrible it will be for those who have turned their backs on God and by doing so nail Him to the cross again. "It would have been better for him if he had never been born."
Jesus led His followers in the Lord's Supper. What should have been a sacred and solemn moment evidently meant nothing to Judas. After the Lord's Supper was completed, they sang a hymn and left for the Mount of Olives.
Next Entry: Matthew 26:1–75 (Continued)
The leading priests and leaders put together a plan to trap and arrest Jesus. Their plan was to have Jesus killed so they could get rid of their problem once and for all. Or so they thought. While the scheming and planning was being done in secret (again—or so they thought), Jesus was not taken by surprise. He knew exactly what they were thinking and planning, and He tried to prepare His followers for what was going to be happening. He knows. He knows our hearts and thoughts and He knows the heart and thoughts of those who attack us.
Judas, who up until now appeared to be one of the twelve in heart and soul, was actually a religious unbeliever. No one knew. He wasn't sought out by the enemies of Christ, he himself was an enemy of Christ. He went to the priests and asked them, "What will you pay me for giving Jesus to you?" They offered him thirty silver coins. For thirty silver coins, Judas was willing to expose himself for who he truly was and to turn Jesus over to the priests. He was a active participant. He sought out the priests, he received money, and he "watched for the best time to turn Jesus in." And all the while he is doing this, he continues to "act" like he is a follower of Christ and does not reveal he is an enemy to Christ.
Jesus sat down to have the Passover meal with His twelve followers. Only He and Judas knew that there were actually only eleven followers. As they were eating Jesus reveals the truth to them, "One of you will turn against me." The eleven are shocked and saddened. "Surely, Lord, I am not the one who will turn against you, am I?" Even Judas, knowing he is the one, has the audacity to ask the same question. What arrogance. Only a religious unbeliever could do what he did. The other eleven said, "Lord" is it me? Judas said "Teacher" (or Rabbi) is it me?
Jesus said, "How terrible it will be for the person who hands the Son of Man over to be killed." (Matthew 26:24) We look at Judas and (rightfully so) think what he did was unfathomable. But Hebrews 6:4–6 describes people who are nailing the Son of God to a cross again. "Some people cannot be brought back again to a changed life. They were once in God's light, and enjoyed heaven's gift, and shared in the Holy Spirit. They found out how good God's word is, and they received the powers of His new world. But they fell away from Christ. It is impossible to bring them back to a changed life again, because they are nailing the Son of God to a cross again and are shaming Him in front of others."
In Matthew 26:24 - Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man. He is not yet the sacrifice. In Hebrews 6:4 - He is called the Son of God. His death as a man for our salvation is complete, and He is now the heir of God. How terrible it will be—and was—for Judas. How terrible it will be for those who have turned their backs on God and by doing so nail Him to the cross again. "It would have been better for him if he had never been born."
Jesus led His followers in the Lord's Supper. What should have been a sacred and solemn moment evidently meant nothing to Judas. After the Lord's Supper was completed, they sang a hymn and left for the Mount of Olives.
Next Entry: Matthew 26:1–75 (Continued)
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