Me, Betray Jesus?

As we are being challenged to read and study the book of John, I wanted to share some of my personal sermon notes with you to help you understand the book. I preached through the entire book over the course of 1 year when I pastored First Baptist Church Del Rio. Enjoy!

Introduction—Have you ever had a close friend or relative betray you or your confidence? At the time it probably didn’t seem possible that it could happen, did it? Maybe you have been a person who betrayed someone else’s confidence. It is really easy to do with technology today. Someone sends you a message and doesn’t mention not to tell anyone, and within seconds you send information on to someone else and now guess who’s the bad guy?

Betrayal comes in many forms. Here are some of the ways betrayal comes packaged: lying, cheating, stealing, gossiping, deceiving, humiliation, and etc., etc., and etc.

If someone has betrayed you, or you have betrayed someone, you are not alone. Our Lord Jesus was betrayed in so many different facets, but none like they way Judas did. Judas betrayed Jesus right to His face and in the presence of others. Betrayal doesn’t usually work that way, because it is so deceptive. Judas had a ton of gall and Jesus knew it. Let’s look at our passage today in John.

Read—John 13:18-30

18 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’ 19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. 20 Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.” 21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” 22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.” 25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

Pray

When God tests you, he always gives you a way out
Do you believe God tests you?
Why on earth does He do that when He knows all things anyway?
The tests God allows us to go through are for us to have our faith proven to be real and authentic. And don’t you want that?
Jesus explains in verse 18, an Old Testament passage from Psalm 41:9, how what Judas is about to do will fulfill prophecy.
Psalm 41:9—Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.
David wrote this Psalm defected by a close and personal confidant.
So here is the test: Jesus announces the deception so there will be no confusion about who He is. He says in verse 19, I am telling you now so when it does happen you believe who I am.
Jesus is moving his ministry to a level that is now needed more than ever. Closeness, relational, and one where followers will know that following Jesus is a serious commitment.
Christianity has become somewhat of a game. You scratch God’s back and He will scratch yours. God is did not come here to play games, He came here to set you free. He can only do that as He tests your allegiance.
As we can see from this text following Christ isn’t for everyone. It is difficult, tough, and challenging.
But here is the good news: God will be with you before, during, and after the test.
1 Corinthians 10:12-13—So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
I wonder since Jesus basically announces to the group that someone will turn against Him, if He was allowing Judas to make the right decision? I know the Scripture says this was to fulfill prophecy, but the God we serve gives us so many chances and opportunities to do the righteous action.
Then when Jesus says in verse 21, one of you is going to betray me, I figured Judas heart has already been hardened against Christ. He may not have even realized what was happening since His focus was not on Jesus.

Application—Has God been testing you recently? If He has, He has something amazing in store for you!

God knows your heart, so allow Him to sift you
He is planning something for you. He wants the best for you. He wants to know He can trust you with many ministries and service opportunities.
Display Slide 20 Luke 16:10—“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”
Display Slide 21 Luke 22:31-32—“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Your heart is the place that matters most to God. He want to sift you to rid your of heart of impurities.
Judas was the one who decided that self-indulgence was more appealing than following Christ. How does a person who claims to be walking with Jesus, take a turn for the worst?
Here how it happens: if your heart is what matters most to God, then how does it become filled with the pureness of God, the qualities of God, and the holiness of God?
It starts with your mind. Some say that you think with your heart, but it can lead you astray when your mind has been filled with ungodliness, as was the case with Judas.
Your mind and heart are connected so that as you fill your mind with the things of God, you then figure out how to transfer that to your heart. The way you transfer the things of God from your mind to your heart is by reading, studying, and staying in the Word of God.
Jesus said—Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your mind, with all of your strength, and with all of your soul.
This is where your instructions come from as you fill you mind in order to fill your heart
Romans 12:2—Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Transforming your mind allows you to know what God’s will is for your life.

Application—Has God been sifting you recently? If He has He is about to use you for something big!

Betrayal is from Satan so choose wisely whom you will serve
Satan is a real person with a real agenda. He is not a figment of our imagination as many well believing Christians think.
Barna survey from 2009 of nearly 2,000 self professing Christians
80% agreed that God is all powerful, all knowing, and ruler of the universe
60% agreed that Satan is not a real living person.
40% agreed that Jesus was not sinless
60% agreed that the Holy Spirit is not a real living being
25% disagreed that the Bible is accurate in all it’s teachings
40% agreed that the Bible, the Koran, and the book of Mormon are all different expressions of the same truth
1 Peter 5:8-9—Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
Satan wants us to believe he is just a guy in red jumpsuit running around with a pitchfork in his hand. It makes him more timid, and he is far from timid.
Judas found out how real Satan was. As soon as he took the bread from Jesus, Satan entered him. That statement should be enough for anyone to believe in Christ as the Lord.

Application—Are you being tempted to betray Jesus today? Don’t because God has something in store for you that will change your life.

Conclusion—Betrayal is not the end of the world. If you have betrayed Jesus, or someone, your sin is forgivable. God would love to have you back in a right relationship with Him. Remember when God tests you, He always gives you a way out, When God wants to sift you, allow Him so that your faith can be strengthened, and Satan is the father of all lies, so betrayal comes from him. Choose Jesus today!

Stay in the Light, 1 John 1:7,

Pastor Larry