Betrayal - Mark 14:1-2; 10-11
Betrayal - Mark 14:1-2; 10-11
By Pastor Lee Hemen
February 13, 2011 AM
He had been a successful Army officer, capturing several enemy strongholds, and the decisive factor in the victories of several major battles. Yet, even though he was successful in battle Congress did not reward him as they had done others of lesser skill. After his wife died, suffering from war wounds, mounting indebtedness, and the care of several children the hero of so many battles turned betrayer to his nation. While he was able to capture enemy strongholds on the battlefield he could not conquer the enemy’s stronghold in his life. He fled after being discovered, and ended his remaining years living away from his native land. Benedict Arnold became synonymous with the moniker of betrayer.
What causes someone to betray another? Disappointment, not being appreciated, or perhaps a false sense of self-worth can contribute to someone betraying another. In the gospel narratives we find one person who is recognized as the ultimate betrayer, Judas Iscariot. For thousands of years people have speculated on why Judas did what he did to his friend, teacher, and mentor Jesus. In all of history there is no one else that garners as much animosity and anger as Judas. In fact, anyone who betrays another is known as a “Judas.” Why would anyone betray Jesus and yet we still find those who do even in our day and age. Today, let’s take a closer look at betrayal.
READ: Mark 14:1-2; 10-11
There are folks who go through life blaming others for everything bad that happens to them. They actually have fooled themselves into thinking that they are never to blame for what ultimately catches up to them for their bad choices in life. Just as we do not live in a vacuum where our decisions are concerned, we discover in Mark’s gospel that…
I. Betrayal does not happen in a vacuum!
1. “How can I excuse my behavior?” is the first question of betrayal! We discover that there was a concerted decision on each person’s part in the betrayal of Jesus. With “the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread” only “two days away,” we find “the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him.” These men were already plotting to find a way by deceit, trickery, or craft to try and get Jesus arrested. How shocking and sad to discover that the religious leaders of Jesus’ day were so frightened by what Jesus represented but also in what he did that they wanted to kill him. Even if it meant these pious men had to lie! Betrayal knows no bounds. It seeks to destroy the one it is focused on in any way it can but it does not happen in a vacuum. There is planning and cunning involved. In fact we find that these men had been planning this for a long time. Clear back when Jesus had raised his friend Lazarus from the grave, they had been plotting how to kill him. We discover that immediately afterward “the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. ‘What are we accomplishing?’ they asked. ‘Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.’” (John 11:47-48 NIV) There it is, the real reason they feared Jesus. Their personal position of power as priests and the recognition that came with it was threatened. They held sway over the kingship of the Herods and so it was doubly important to their “bottom line” for the nation to survive as well. The people had begun to see Jesus as the promised Messiah. His leadership style and the way he presented new insights to the law the crowd liked. Jesus did not talk piety, he lived righteously. He did not just talk the talk, Jesus walked the walk and his example was in stark contrast to the worldly nature of those who were supposed to be spiritual leaders. They were threatened and began to look for some sly way to get Jesus. John tells us, “So from that day on they plotted to take his life.” (John 11:53 NIV) We do the very same thing when we plot and scheme out our excuses for not following the Lord as we should. Betrayal does not happen in a vacuum!
EXAMPLE: It has surprised me to learn throughout the years that Christians can plot and scheme on how they will betray Jesus. We do it when we know we should tithe, witness, or serve but make excuses as to why we do not. Believers are guilty of planning to betray Christ when we decide to follow our own selfish desires instead of joining Jesus in his will. Whether it is in justifying our selfishness, plotting to use our day of worship for our own agenda, or just deciding we will not tell someone about the gospel we can be guilty of betrayal. Sure, we can declare that we never betrayed Christ whereby he died on the cross because of our disloyalty, but the fact remains believers can be guilty of “crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.” (Hebrews 6:6) One of the greatest barriers for nonbelievers coming to Christ is the hypocrisy of believers! I will never forget sitting across from a fellow Christian who wanted to know what I thought about someone who “held back part of his tithe and put it in a high yield savings account for other things in the church,” that he had decided the church needed! Step by step and scheme by scheme we plot out how we will betray Jesus. What excuse we will give. The Bible warns us that we will ultimately have to give an accounting of our betrayal. (Matthew 12:36) Betrayal does not happen in a vacuum!
Treachery is seen by society as one of the worst acts someone can do to another person or nation. There have been thousands of books, plays, and movies that have dealt with folk’s unfaithfulness. It mystifies those of us who would never consider doing so why anyone would ever betray their friends or countrymen. Many excuses have been offered, yet we discover here in Mark’s gospel that…
II. Betrayal is basically greedy!
1. “What’s in it for me?” is the motto of the betrayer! At its core betrayal is built on selfishness and greed. Not just financial, but in personal self-indulgence as well. We begin to think we deserve our station in life, we deserve our recognition, or that our every whim deserves to be catered to. Judas suffered from all of these. Only Judas was from an area or town known as Kerioth, and John designates him as “Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.” (John 6:71) All the others were rebel zealots, tax collectors, or fishermen. Therefore some believe that while Judas, being from the district of Judah and the rest of the disciples being all Galileans, he was disappointed with the Messiah Jesus portrayed. Judas saw himself more sophisticated. Jesus willingly healed anyone. He often met with tax collectors, prostitutes, and the dregs of society. Perhaps Judas wanted more from the Messiah, a Messiah who would be not only a priest but a warrior-king who would defeat the Romans. Since Judas is identified with Simon the Zealot when he is listed in Matthew 10:4, was he also a rebel? Some think he could have even been part of the sicarii (dagger men). These were a cadre of paid assassins among Jewish rebels intent on driving the Romans out of Judea. However, some historians maintain these hit men did not arise until a decade after Judas’ death. Did Judas therefore commit his cowardly act of betrayal because he wanted to force the issue of Jesus taking on the mantle of Messiahship that he and the Zealots desired from Jesus? We are not told, but if so, we find selfishness at the center of his betrayal. John relates to us that “Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.” (John 6:64) This was part of Judas’ intrinsic character. He was the one who is identified by John that gripes about the nard being used by Mary to anoint Jesus, “He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.” (John 12:6 NIV) John drives this point home when he reminds us later when Jesus is asked during the Passover meal which disciple would possibly betray him, Jesus tells Judas to go and quickly do what he is destined to do. “Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor.” (John 13:29 NIV) Judas therefore saw money and power as motivating factors for his life. Betrayal is basically greedy!
EXAMPLE: Judas and the others were greedy. Like many of us today they wanted to control Jesus. They wanted him to do what they desired. When we procrastinate, when we lie, lust or are lazy, when we continually surrender the spiritual strongholds in our lives that we face each day we are desiring that Jesus become in our life that which he cannot. Either Jesus is both Savior and Lord or he is not. The answer is not to take the coward’s way out as Judas ultimately does, but to be more like Peter who also betrays Jesus through his denial but ultimately is restored to Jesus. We are given hope as Paul would cry, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24 NIV) The wonderful good news is that the answer is found in the one we are betraying! As Paul would answer his own distress, “Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25) Dear child of God if today you struggle with the strongholds of sin in your life John reminds us of a beautiful truth that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 NIV) You may weep, “But what if I return to my sin?” John tells us, “If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.” We betray Jesus, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:6-7 NIV) We must daily moment by moment confess our betrayal and thereby conquer the stronghold of sin in our life. If we do not, we betray Jesus because we greedily want him to acquiesce to our sinfulness. And betrayal is basically greedy!
Conclusion:
We have learned the startling truth that betrayal exists within each of us moment by moment. That betrayal does not happen in a vacuum and that it is basically greedy. Now, let me ask you, “How will you deal with your betrayal today?”
----
Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2011 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
February 13, 2011 AM
He had been a successful Army officer, capturing several enemy strongholds, and the decisive factor in the victories of several major battles. Yet, even though he was successful in battle Congress did not reward him as they had done others of lesser skill. After his wife died, suffering from war wounds, mounting indebtedness, and the care of several children the hero of so many battles turned betrayer to his nation. While he was able to capture enemy strongholds on the battlefield he could not conquer the enemy’s stronghold in his life. He fled after being discovered, and ended his remaining years living away from his native land. Benedict Arnold became synonymous with the moniker of betrayer.
What causes someone to betray another? Disappointment, not being appreciated, or perhaps a false sense of self-worth can contribute to someone betraying another. In the gospel narratives we find one person who is recognized as the ultimate betrayer, Judas Iscariot. For thousands of years people have speculated on why Judas did what he did to his friend, teacher, and mentor Jesus. In all of history there is no one else that garners as much animosity and anger as Judas. In fact, anyone who betrays another is known as a “Judas.” Why would anyone betray Jesus and yet we still find those who do even in our day and age. Today, let’s take a closer look at betrayal.
READ: Mark 14:1-2; 10-11
There are folks who go through life blaming others for everything bad that happens to them. They actually have fooled themselves into thinking that they are never to blame for what ultimately catches up to them for their bad choices in life. Just as we do not live in a vacuum where our decisions are concerned, we discover in Mark’s gospel that…
I. Betrayal does not happen in a vacuum!
1. “How can I excuse my behavior?” is the first question of betrayal! We discover that there was a concerted decision on each person’s part in the betrayal of Jesus. With “the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread” only “two days away,” we find “the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him.” These men were already plotting to find a way by deceit, trickery, or craft to try and get Jesus arrested. How shocking and sad to discover that the religious leaders of Jesus’ day were so frightened by what Jesus represented but also in what he did that they wanted to kill him. Even if it meant these pious men had to lie! Betrayal knows no bounds. It seeks to destroy the one it is focused on in any way it can but it does not happen in a vacuum. There is planning and cunning involved. In fact we find that these men had been planning this for a long time. Clear back when Jesus had raised his friend Lazarus from the grave, they had been plotting how to kill him. We discover that immediately afterward “the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. ‘What are we accomplishing?’ they asked. ‘Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.’” (John 11:47-48 NIV) There it is, the real reason they feared Jesus. Their personal position of power as priests and the recognition that came with it was threatened. They held sway over the kingship of the Herods and so it was doubly important to their “bottom line” for the nation to survive as well. The people had begun to see Jesus as the promised Messiah. His leadership style and the way he presented new insights to the law the crowd liked. Jesus did not talk piety, he lived righteously. He did not just talk the talk, Jesus walked the walk and his example was in stark contrast to the worldly nature of those who were supposed to be spiritual leaders. They were threatened and began to look for some sly way to get Jesus. John tells us, “So from that day on they plotted to take his life.” (John 11:53 NIV) We do the very same thing when we plot and scheme out our excuses for not following the Lord as we should. Betrayal does not happen in a vacuum!
EXAMPLE: It has surprised me to learn throughout the years that Christians can plot and scheme on how they will betray Jesus. We do it when we know we should tithe, witness, or serve but make excuses as to why we do not. Believers are guilty of planning to betray Christ when we decide to follow our own selfish desires instead of joining Jesus in his will. Whether it is in justifying our selfishness, plotting to use our day of worship for our own agenda, or just deciding we will not tell someone about the gospel we can be guilty of betrayal. Sure, we can declare that we never betrayed Christ whereby he died on the cross because of our disloyalty, but the fact remains believers can be guilty of “crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.” (Hebrews 6:6) One of the greatest barriers for nonbelievers coming to Christ is the hypocrisy of believers! I will never forget sitting across from a fellow Christian who wanted to know what I thought about someone who “held back part of his tithe and put it in a high yield savings account for other things in the church,” that he had decided the church needed! Step by step and scheme by scheme we plot out how we will betray Jesus. What excuse we will give. The Bible warns us that we will ultimately have to give an accounting of our betrayal. (Matthew 12:36) Betrayal does not happen in a vacuum!
Treachery is seen by society as one of the worst acts someone can do to another person or nation. There have been thousands of books, plays, and movies that have dealt with folk’s unfaithfulness. It mystifies those of us who would never consider doing so why anyone would ever betray their friends or countrymen. Many excuses have been offered, yet we discover here in Mark’s gospel that…
II. Betrayal is basically greedy!
1. “What’s in it for me?” is the motto of the betrayer! At its core betrayal is built on selfishness and greed. Not just financial, but in personal self-indulgence as well. We begin to think we deserve our station in life, we deserve our recognition, or that our every whim deserves to be catered to. Judas suffered from all of these. Only Judas was from an area or town known as Kerioth, and John designates him as “Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.” (John 6:71) All the others were rebel zealots, tax collectors, or fishermen. Therefore some believe that while Judas, being from the district of Judah and the rest of the disciples being all Galileans, he was disappointed with the Messiah Jesus portrayed. Judas saw himself more sophisticated. Jesus willingly healed anyone. He often met with tax collectors, prostitutes, and the dregs of society. Perhaps Judas wanted more from the Messiah, a Messiah who would be not only a priest but a warrior-king who would defeat the Romans. Since Judas is identified with Simon the Zealot when he is listed in Matthew 10:4, was he also a rebel? Some think he could have even been part of the sicarii (dagger men). These were a cadre of paid assassins among Jewish rebels intent on driving the Romans out of Judea. However, some historians maintain these hit men did not arise until a decade after Judas’ death. Did Judas therefore commit his cowardly act of betrayal because he wanted to force the issue of Jesus taking on the mantle of Messiahship that he and the Zealots desired from Jesus? We are not told, but if so, we find selfishness at the center of his betrayal. John relates to us that “Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.” (John 6:64) This was part of Judas’ intrinsic character. He was the one who is identified by John that gripes about the nard being used by Mary to anoint Jesus, “He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.” (John 12:6 NIV) John drives this point home when he reminds us later when Jesus is asked during the Passover meal which disciple would possibly betray him, Jesus tells Judas to go and quickly do what he is destined to do. “Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor.” (John 13:29 NIV) Judas therefore saw money and power as motivating factors for his life. Betrayal is basically greedy!
EXAMPLE: Judas and the others were greedy. Like many of us today they wanted to control Jesus. They wanted him to do what they desired. When we procrastinate, when we lie, lust or are lazy, when we continually surrender the spiritual strongholds in our lives that we face each day we are desiring that Jesus become in our life that which he cannot. Either Jesus is both Savior and Lord or he is not. The answer is not to take the coward’s way out as Judas ultimately does, but to be more like Peter who also betrays Jesus through his denial but ultimately is restored to Jesus. We are given hope as Paul would cry, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24 NIV) The wonderful good news is that the answer is found in the one we are betraying! As Paul would answer his own distress, “Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25) Dear child of God if today you struggle with the strongholds of sin in your life John reminds us of a beautiful truth that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 NIV) You may weep, “But what if I return to my sin?” John tells us, “If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.” We betray Jesus, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:6-7 NIV) We must daily moment by moment confess our betrayal and thereby conquer the stronghold of sin in our life. If we do not, we betray Jesus because we greedily want him to acquiesce to our sinfulness. And betrayal is basically greedy!
Conclusion:
We have learned the startling truth that betrayal exists within each of us moment by moment. That betrayal does not happen in a vacuum and that it is basically greedy. Now, let me ask you, “How will you deal with your betrayal today?”
----
Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2011 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
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