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Judas Iscariot: "Not the Messiah, but God's Son?" Text:
Matthew 26:6-16; 27:3-10 In our midweek Lenten series we are considering a number of individuals who came into contact with Jesus, especially as he approached his crucifixion, with special interest in the variety of responses to him. We began with Nicodemus as an example of a man with initial interest and the planting of faith, then reluctance because of social and political pressure, but finally a demonstration of faith inspired by the cross. Tonight we consider the tragic story of the Apostle Judas Iscariot as a warning against misguided belief and to understand what true repentance is.
We don't know much about Judas Iscariot. He was called to follow Jesus like the rest of the twelve. With the others he had heard the teachings of Jesus and was an eyewitness to his mighty signs and miracles. He was even there in the upper room at the institution of the Lord's Supper. He was probably a Zealot, the political party that wanted to get rid of the foreign rule of the Roman Empire. Some, like Judas, combined their political agenda with their religious hopes and viewed the promised Messiah as a military king who would reestablish the earthly throne and kingdom of David and free the people from political oppression. Many try to figure out Judas' motive for betraying Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Some think he was trying to force Jesus' hand; others say that Judas finally decided that Jesus was a phony, so he was only cutting his losses, getting what he could. Whatever his hidden motives, the point is that Judas betrayed Jesus. Either way it appears that Jesus was not the kind of Messiah Judas was waiting for.
This is the first thing for us to consider. For even today when Jesus Christ doesn't seem to meet the expectations people have of him he is rejected or betrayed. Some expect Jesus to relieve their suffering and if suffering continues they're tempted to reject Jesus as uncaring. When we have to put up with some sort of injustice or unfairness he is rejected as weak. Whenever Jesus doesn't fit our image or meet our expectations, he may be rejected. Central to conversion and spiritual awakening is the power of the Word of God to give us the proper expectations by revealing our true need, namely, for release from our sins, deliverance from death and reconciliation with God, and how the death and resurrection of Christ is the only answer to that need. How did the Apostle Paul say it? “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” [Romans 8:18, 35, 37-39 (ESV)].
The second thing for us to notice from the story of Judas Iscariot is the proper understanding of repentance. Was it his shock when Jesus actually allowed himself to be arrested, tried and crucified that caused Judas to repent? Yet his remorse and sorrow was not complete repentance. For true, saving repentance consists in both sorrow over and confession of our sins and faith by which we receive the forgiveness of our sins.
When Judas “saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood'” [Matthew 27:3-4 (ESV)]. That is always the first step in repentance, the realization of sin. Behind these words is the unspoken realization that Jesus is the Son of God and the true Messiah of God. Even this late, Judas could have received forgiveness. But then he cut himself off from Jesus and in his remorse threw the money he had received for betraying Jesus into the temple, and committed suicide, hanging himself in despair.
By the tragic example of Judas Iscariot we are warned not to reject Jesus even and most especially in times of discouragement, despair or confusion. We all have times of weakness. Any one of us could give up on Jesus. Even when we have even been brought to realize our sin and guilt, like Judas it is possible to dwell on our guilt, to hold on to it and to take matters into our own hands rather than simply turning or returning to Jesus, confessing our sin and guilt and receiving his forgiveness. What Judas didn't realize is that even his sinful betrayal of Jesus was being paid for on that cross. In the same way Jesus has taken all our guilt and shame to the cross and forgives us. He takes our weakness. He strengthens and restores us.
Remember that the Apostle Peter also betrayed Jesus by his three-fold denial of even knowing him. Like Judas Peter felt remorse. After his third denial a rooster crowed. “And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.' And he went out and wept bitterly” [Matthew 26:75 (ESV)]. Unlike Judas, however, Peter did not cut himself off from Jesus. How many are there that, in times of trouble, end up with no more hope than Judas deciding to just quit going to church, and in this way cut themselves off from ever hearing the word of forgiveness? It was a deep-seated faith alone than made Peter hang in there. It was after the amazing Easter event that Jesus showed himself to be alive and appeared to Peter and spoke his three-fold absolution that restored and strengthened the chief apostle (John 21:15-19).
May the Word of God give you the proper and true expectations and estimations of Jesus as your Savior from sin, death and despair, and inspire in you the firm faith that will not let go of hope in God. Faith prays the words of Psalm 42, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God” [Psalm 42:5 (ESV)].___________________
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