Betrayal Part 2 | Matthew 26:47-56

Scripture

• Matthew 26:47–56

About this sermon

Introduction: Judas Iscariot leads what amounts to a small army — an alliance of Jewish religious leaders, the temple guard, and a dispatch of Roman soldiers — to arrest a single man — the Son of God. It was, and will forever be, the most despicable act of betrayal in the history of the world. What makes it that is the GLORY AND PERFECTIONS OF THE ONE WHO WAS BETRAYED. Review: • THE BETRAYAL (vs.47-50) This morning, we began looking at that betrayal. We saw: The strange alliance on display in the arresting force — reminding us of the sinful and therefore self-serving character of lost humanity. The outrageous sign that Judas had arranged — an enemy chose a sign of friendship and affection in the interest of deceptive destruction. The outrageous pretense in the giving of that sign — voicing the words, and pretending the behavior, of a disciple. And yet we saw the glorious kindness and calmness of our Savior. The despicable nature of man’s sinful character is fully on display, but the glorious nature of Christ’s majestic dignity and calm are also fully on display. SOMETHING THAT WE MUST ASK WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS SCENE IS HOW SOMEONE LIKE JUDAS CAN EXIST. The obvious answer is that there is no wickedness beyond the ability of man in his sin. Mankind in his sin is a devil. Cruelty, deception, murder, ruin, — none of it is too great a darkness for mankind in his sin. There will forever be only ONE Judas Iscariot, only ONE biblical fulfillment of the betrayal of the Son of God, BUT HELL WILL BE FULL OF PEOPLE WHO WERE IDENTIFIED AS DISCIPLES BUT PROVED TO BE APOSTATES. Apostates exist because men lie to themselves about the fruits of regeneration. Apostates exist because men lie to themselves and to others about why they have associated themselves with Jesus. Apostates exist because men enjoy many of the things that accompany Christianity, even as they refuse the yoke of Christ Himself. • THE BETRAYED (vs.51-54) But now we turn our attention to the Lord Jesus Christ. What do we see from Him at this moment? • NOT DESTRUCTIVE (vs.51-52) We see that He is not destructive. • THE WILLINGNESS TO FIGHT When they laid their hands on Jesus, there was a disciple (John tells us it was Peter) who lopped off the ear of the high priest’s servant. ESV John 18:10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) It would not be surprising if Peter thought, “THIS IS THE MOMENT OF TESTING THAT JESUS SPOKE OF.” Peter had said that he would go to the death with Jesus, and this was his moment to prove it. • THE WILLINGNESS TO SAVE But Peter had misunderstood and misidentified his moment of testing. That would come later in the night. JESUS PUTS A STOP TO WHAT PETER IS DOING, BY NOTING HIS WILLINGNESS TO EMBRACE WHAT HE MUST DO TO SAVE US. ESV John 18:11 So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?" CHRIST’S KINDNESS AND WILLINGNESS TO SAVE, AS WELL AS ANOTHER SUPERNATURAL TESTIMONY TO HIS IDENTITY, IS SEEN IN HOW HE REMEDIED WHAT PETER HAD WOUNDED. ESV Luke 22:48 but Jesus said to him, "Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" 49 And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, "No more of this!" And he touched his ear and healed him. • THE WARNING ABOUT THE SWORD (vs.52) ESV Matthew 26:52 Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. FIGHTING FOR A KINGDOM BELONGS TO THOSE WHO ULTIMATELY WIN NOTHING. Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall. Kingdoms are won, through battle, for a time, but are eventually lost in the same manner. THERE IS NO ETERNAL KINGDOM ON THIS SIDE OF CHRIST’S KINGDOM ON EARTH. ESV John 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world." BUT THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE, WHEN THE SWORD IS USED IN A WAY THAT IS ILLEGITIMATE. There is a role for the sword, but it is not to advance a spiritual kingdom. J.C. Ryle — “The sword has a legitimate role. It may be used righteously, in the defense of nations against oppression; it may become positively necessary to use it to prevent riots and looting on earth; but the sword is not to be used in the propagation and maintenance of the Gospel. Christianity is not to be enforced by bloodshed, and belief in it extorted by force. It would have been better for the church if this sentence had been remembered more frequently!