Classes from Judas and Jesus
Think about the arms of 13 males on the Final Supper—twenty-six arms passing the bread, passing the cup, operating fingers via hair, wiping crumbs from beards, one second on the lap, the following on the desk.
Jesus then remarks, “Behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the desk” (Luke 22:21). The arms instantly slip again.
These phrases, spoken at what Jesus is aware of to be His final Passover meal, ship a shock via His twelve disciples. Every man seems round at each different. Which one among them did He imply? There have been so many arms there that night!
A Thriller
If we’ve learn the Gospel of Luke from the start, we already know the perpetrator: “Judas Iscariot, who grew to become a traitor” (Luke 6:16). It had already occurred that “Devil entered into Judas known as Iscariot, who was of the variety of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief monks and officers how he would possibly betray him to them” (Luke 22:3–4). By all of historical past since then, Judas’s identify has been mud, and few individuals immediately learn of his betrayal with any shock.
But to eleven of the lads at that desk, it was a shock: “They started to query each other, which ones it may very well be who was going to do that” (Luke 22:23). It doesn’t say, “And all eyes turned to Judas.” They hadn’t a clue! Judas was adept at hiding what was occurring inside. He had moved of their firm and managed to disguise his treachery from those that had been nearest and dearest to him.
It’s very straightforward for us to cover from each other. It’s very straightforward to disguise what’s occurring within the coronary heart. We could assume that we all know one another very effectively, however who actually is aware of the ideas of a person or a girl besides the spirit that’s inside them? (1 Cor. 2:11).
A Solemn Reminder
Judas’s deceit is a solemn reminder that we are able to idiot one another, and we are able to idiot ourselves. Jesus warned the disciples that there can be these on the final judgment who will have the ability to say to the Lord, “We ate and drank in your presence, and also you taught in our streets,” but he’ll say to them, “I inform you, I have no idea the place you come from. Depart from me, all you staff of evil!” (Luke 13:26–27).
The problem on the coronary heart of being Jesus’ disciple just isn’t whether or not we like sermons, attend talks, or are members of a church. The actual challenge is whether or not there was a real encounter with the residing God within the Lord Jesus Christ. Tragically, there can be some in our church buildings to whom the Lord will say, “I’m sorry. I don’t know who you’re, and I don’t know the place you’re from.”
Judas was adept at hiding what was occurring inside.
Paul described this dynamic to the leaders of the Ephesian church: “I do know that after my departure fierce wolves will are available amongst you, not sparing the flock; and from amongst your individual selves will come up males talking twisted issues, to attract away the disciples after them” (Acts 20:29–30; emphasis added). In different phrases: “The hazard isn’t simply from these exterior your group; it’s from these inside who’ve the appropriate language and present up in the appropriate locations on the proper time, however they’re nonetheless slaves of sin. They’ll prey on the brothers and sisters. It might be you.”
A Deliberate Consideration
The answer to this predicament just isn’t paranoia and mutual mistrust. It’s to “pay cautious consideration” (Acts 20:28), to “take heed” (KJV), to “preserve watch” (NIV). Take note of what? “To yourselves and to all of the flock,” says Paul. Because of this the oversight of godly elders in a neighborhood physique is essential. It’s why the scrutiny and accountability of church membership is important. It’s why the instructing of biblical doctrine is indispensable. It’s why church self-discipline is merciful. And, after all, it’s why every man and girl should cry out within the secret place,
Search me, O God, and know my coronary heart!
Attempt me and know my ideas!
And see if there be any grievous approach in me,
and lead me in the way in which eternal! (Ps. 139:23–24)
On that historic night time, two arms on the desk night time belonged to a traitor who had traveled with the Lord however whose coronary heart beloved the world. Two different arms belonged to the Savior, quickly to be nailed to the tree. Twenty-two belonged to those that can be discovered overlaying their faces as they huddled of their hiding locations.
But within the mercy of God, the twenty-two would once more grasp the plow as they seemed ahead to the Lord’s promise of the dominion: “You might be those that have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you could be eat and drink at my desk in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Luke 22:28–30). How would they do that? By clinging in religion to the Lord who purchased them with His blood, by strolling within the energy of the Spirit who sanctified them, and by retaining cautious watch of themselves.
This text was tailored from the sermon “Betrayal” by Alistair Begg.
