Betrayed with a Kiss

Betrayed with a Kiss

Were You There? – Judas Iscariot

Sermon based on Luke 22:1-6, 47-48

February 6, 2008 – Ash Wednesday

 

Luke 22:1-6,47-48

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, ^2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. ^3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. ^4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. ^5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money. ^6 He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present… ^47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, ^48 but Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"

 

Good evening. I'm sure you know my name. Everybody does. Not because I'm famous, but because I'm infamous. Like Jezebel, my name lives on in infamy to this day. I'm Judas. Judas Iscariot, to be precise. I'm from Kerioth, a town just south of the Dead Sea.

I was one of Jesus disciples, as I'm sure you know. I say was because, sad to say, I'm not his disciple anymore. I followed him around for three years. I saw the miracles, heard his teaching, knew him like few others did. And if you can believe it, he was my friend. I loved him. But… I didn't love him as I love him as much as I loved money.

I admit it. I loved money and what it could buy. To me money was power. I was the treasurer for Jesus and his disciples and I loved the job. People gave generously and I helped myself generously. How angry I was the time that woman poured expensive nard on Jesus feet. What a waste! To think of the money we –well… I—could have had!

Not long after that event, I devised a plan to make that money back. I knew the chief priests hated Jesus. I knew they were looking for a way to arrest him. I'd talk to them, tell them I'd help… for the right price. They offered me thirty silver coins, the equivalent of 120 denarii or 120 days' wages. Roughly $10K in your money today.

What easy money! I'd help them get Jesus and keep my end of the bargain. Then I'd watch the Rabbi slip right through their fingers. Perhaps he'd walk though the angry mob like he'd done once before! No harm, no foul. And I'd be ten grand richer. What a deal!

A few days later the timing was right. Jesus had just called me out while we were celebrating the Passover. He said, "the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish [is going to betray me]." (John 13:26) Then he handed me the bread. And I was filled with an unexplainable rage. I didn't know why, but at that moment I hated him. I wanted to hurt him. So I took off to do what I had planned to do.

Whenever we were in Jerusalem we always went to the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus loved to sit on the hill overlooking the city and teach us there. It was his favorite spot and there was no reason to believe he'd go anywhere else after the meal tonight. I knew where he'd be alone so the chief priests could arrest him without making a scene. I alerted them and they in turn called the temple guard. And in a few hours time we had more than enough men. I thought they were maybe overdoing it. But they seemed to expect a fight.

When we arrived at the garden, Peter, James, and John, the elite three that thought they were better than the rest of us, were fast asleep and there was Jesus. He looked like he'd already had a rough night since I'd left. But what did I care? I had the silver. I walked up to him and kissed him on the cheek, as was our custom, and greeting him, "Rabbi!" But he knew. "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"

And all of a sudden things didn't turn out the way I'd expected. I mean, they did at first. Jesus spoke and the guards fell to the ground, knocked down by some unseen force. I thought "Now he's going to escape, just as I planned." But he didn't. They got up and though Peter tried to fight them, Jesus scolded him. He let himself be captured! He let himself be chained! He let them rough him up and drag him away! I was shocked and confused. So I followed and watched. After two short trials—mock trials, where they'd already condemned him before he spoke a word—they sentenced him to death and led him away to Pilate to make it happen.

I was even more shocked. It seemed like he would let himself be killed. He would die. And it was all my fault. I betrayed him. I betrayed innocent blood. I betrayed the Son of God… to his death. And I did it all for a few pieces of silver.  And I did it with a kiss.

Now I know you look at me with a mixture of pity and disgust, but before you call me wicked or evil, let me remind you that your beloved Peter also betrayed him. He denied that he even knew who Jesus was! And before you write me off as one who deserve my eternal fate, let me ask you: Don't you deserve the same? You're not innocent either. You too betray Jesus. You too betray him with a kiss. You too betray him for a little wealth.

Have you ever been more interested in what's on TV than what's in your Bible? Then you too have betrayed Jesus. Ever been more concerned with how you appear to your friends than how you appear to Jesus and done what you knew was wrong? Then you've betrayed Jesus. Ever been more concerned with how your investments are growing than how his kingdom is growing? Then you too have betrayed for a little money. Ever wanted to appear holy and kind when your intent was to hurt and to harm? Then you too have betrayed him with a kiss.And for such betrayals you are no better than I. You deserve the same fate as mine. You deserve to have the endless regret for all of eternity in torment—that same regret I feel every day.

Don't think I'm happy about what I've done. I've regretted my actions ever since that day! When I saw what happened I was seized with remorse. What had I done?! How could have done it?! I knew better! Yes, satan entered me, but I let him. Yes, my actions were prophesied and by them Scripture was fulfilled, but that doesn't mean I'm not guilty. I had no one to blame for my actions but me.

Suddenly those thirty silver coins, once the object of my desire, of my worship—my god—now became disgusting to me. They were an all-too-vivid reminder of my cowardly betrayal. They reminded me how disgusting I now was to myself, and how disgusting I must be to Jesus and to the Father.

I wanted so badly to make things right. So I took the coins back to the chief priests. I confessed my sin to them longing to hear that I could be forgiven. "I have sinned." I said, "For I have betrayed innocent blood." (Matthew 27:4) The priests didn't care about my confession. They offered no absolution. They refused to free me of my guilt, but instead told me, "What is that to us? That's your responsibility." (Matthew 27:4) Those words stung. They cut to the heart. I threw down the money and ran out determined not to let them see me weep.

Utter despair is all I felt. My sin was too great, even for Jesus… or so I thought. I felt that I could never be forgiven for what I'd done. I'd betrayed Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah, my master, my friend. I felt there was no hope for me and lest I have to see the hurt in his eyes or hear the other disciples add more shame and guilt to what I already felt, I would try to end the pain myself.

I found some rope and climbed a hill. And there, just at the edge of the cliff was a short tree. I threw the rope over the lowest branch and tied it quickly. I tied the other end around my neck. Then I jumped off the edge. My fate is now sealed. It is too late for me. I will regret my actions forever in eternity, always knowing that things could have been so different, so easily… If only… If only…

But it's not too late for you! And though you've heard that misery loves company, I cannot wish my fate on anyone. I don't want you to join me here where I am. And so I wish for you a genuine remorse over sin. I wish for you to feel the same regret over your sinful thoughts and words and deeds that I felt. But, I pray that you don't stop there. Don't let it lead you to despair. You're remorse is the first part of repentance. But add to it, trust.

What he did, he did for you. He allowed himself to be killed that horrible day to pay for your sins. He did it for me too, forgave my sins… but I didn't believe. Repentance isn't just remorse. I had that. It's also trust. Trust in what he did for you. As true God, his death on the cross paid for every sin—every lie, every doubt, every betrayal you've ever committed. Believe it! And be forgiven. Be free from your guilt and be at peace. No longer tormented by your sin like I am for eternity. Even though you too have betrayed Jesus with a kiss for a little wealth, you are forgiven. Believe it. I beg you. Don't be like me. Amen.

--
In Him,
Pastor Rob Guenther

Gethsemane Lutheran Church
pastorguenther@gmail.com
www.TheMainThing.us
(919) 847-0579

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"For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." - 1 Corinthians 2:2