So Close, yet so Far: Surprising Story of Judas

Notes: ”So Close, yet so Far: Surprising Story of Judas Iscariot”

Matthew 26

Pastor Greg Laurie

SERIES: God Came Near

Sunday, September 13, 2015 — 10:00 a.m.

Judas Iscariot is one of the most misunderstood of all the people in the Bible. He was not pushed into doing what he did. Judas Iscariot did it for himself.

1.     Jesus came to give us life in its fullest measure.

 John 10:10 NKJV The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

2.     Jesus came to seek us, save us, and bring us into a right relationship with the father.

1 Timothy 1:15 NKJV This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

Matthew 18:11 NKJV For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

Luke 15:1-7

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

15 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

3.     Jesus came to die for us

Hebrews 9:26 NKJV He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

Matthew 20:28 NKJV just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

He removed sin by the death and His own sacrifice.

4.     Jesus came to break satan’s power in people’s lives.

1 John 3:8 NKJV He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Judas Iscariot was doing his part in bringing Christ to the cross.

Some suggest that Judas was a good guy that was trying to help Jesus. This just is not true.

The Bible tells us that Judas was a wicked man. He wanted to betray Jesus, he did it for money, and he couldn’t wait to betray his Lord.

God and Satan were both moving towards the death of Jesus at this time, different motives but same objective.

Satan wanted Jesus tortured, humiliated, murdered, and most of all, stopped. The Father wanted Jesus sacrificed, atoning, and risen.

Judas made his choice and his choice made him. Judas could have resisted that temptation.

You can also choose to resist temptation. You are not defined by your temptations.

Judas himself initiated the betrayal of Christ.

Matthew 26:14-16 NKJV Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.

Judas had been plotting and planning to betray Jesus. Judas did it out of greed, purely for money.

Jesus never sinned, so Judas could not say Jesus was a hypocrite and that is why he betrayed Jesus. No, Judas did it for his own greed.

Matthew 26:21-24 NKJV Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?” He answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me. The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”

The men were all sitting around the same table; they would have been sort of laying around a low table.

Jesus then gives Judas some of his food.

Matthew 26:39-50 (NKJV) 39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” 40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless[a] I drink it, Your will be done.” 43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.” 47 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” 49 Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 50 But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?”  Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.

Peter, James and John could all see that Jesus was in anguish. Jesus was sweating blood.

Gethsemane means, “olive press”

Jesus was there under such extreme pressure, being pressed.

What is your role to a friend that is under pressure? Just be there for them.

Jesus didn’t need anyone to explain what was happening, He just needed friendship. Sometimes people don't need a sermon, they just need a friend.

When we are under spiritual attack, we are to cry out to God!

You should never be afraid to commit an unknown future to a known God.

Spread out your petition before God and then add, "Thy will, not my will be done." Let the Lord chose for you.

Jesus had to deal with the fact that He was going to have to drink from the cup of the wrath of God.

Jesus could have stopped these people, but He didn’t. He just said “I Am”. He confirmed His deity and let Himself be captured.

The people had to have Jesus identified because He did not stick out.

Jesus of Nazareth was quite ordinary in appearance.

Isaiah 53:2 NKJV For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him.

Matthew 26:49 Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

To kiss someone on the cheek was a mark of affection or love. Judas was excited to betray Jesus.

Jesus still called Judas, friend.

Have you ever been betrayed by a friend or family member?

Matthew 27:2-5 NKJV And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!” Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.

The name Judas means son of waste.

Judas was not repentant, he was remorseful.

Repentance means to be sorry enough to stop, remorse is sorry that you got caught.

The easiest place to get a hard heart is in church, if that is where you don’t want to be and not gaining a need for repentance.

God will strengthen you in whatever faith you want to have, a softer or harder heart will be granted to you.

How do you want God to bless you?