Selling Out

Mark 14:43-52

Today we must deal with an especially difficult subject—betrayal

-1^st century Greek: betray—to hand over someone treacherously

--betrayal is infinitely more destructive than merely letting

someone down or talking about them behind their back

--it’s the ultimate violation because it comes from a trusted friend

---that’s why we speak of adultery as betrayal

----at least we should—we wrongly minimize its damage and

its pain when we call it an “affair” or “cheating”

--and if the action itself weren’t bad enough, betrayal is made even

worse because—borrowing a legal phrase—it is done with

“malice a forethought”

---betrayal isn’t impulsive...its effects cannot be explained by

or excused by, “I don’t know what came over me. I just

wasn’t thinking clearly.”

----to the contrary, betrayal requires planning...betrayal

requires intentionality...betrayal does not “just happen”

Let’s jump right into it by examining the anatomy of the betrayal

-Judas was one of the Twelve...one of Jesus’ closest followers and

friends, to the point that he was entrusted as the group’s treasurer

--there’s nothing else remarkable about him...nothing else that

would cause you to suspect he was capable of such an offense

--but because he was an insider, he did have opportunity

-he took advantage of that opportunity when Jesus was in Bethany,

a tiny village just two miles east of Jerusalem

--Read John 12:1-6

--then Luke, Mark, and Matthew all tell us that it was after those

events that Judas put his plan into motion

---Read Matthew 26:14-16

What’s significant to notice is that Judas is not in control here...

neither are the Jewish religious leaders who are hell-bent on

destroying Jesus

-during all of this, Jesus remains at the helm of the events that

would appear to be spiraling out of control

--the actual betrayal of Jesus took place when Jesus—not

Judas or the Jewish religious leaders —initiated it

Read John 13:18

-the last part refers to Psalm 41:9 à Even my close friend, whom I

trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

--remember, sharing bread signifies trust and intimate friendship

Read John 13:19-30

-I’m amazed that no one figured out that it was Judas

--that means that he played the part of the faithful follower so

convincingly that he had fooled them all...all except Jesus

-earlier in His ministry, in John 6, Jesus was teaching the crowds

that He was the only source of true life...it was a teaching that did

not go over so well

--listen to their reactions à Read John 6:41-42, 60-64

--the point is that Jesus knew all along about Judas and what he

would do...still, Jesus called Judas to follow Him because it

was part of God’s plan

And all of that leads us to a dark night...to an olive grove just outside

the walls of Jerusalem...where Judas’ part in the ultimate betrayal is

completed with a hypocritical kiss of friendship

From there, Judas’ betrayal sets into motion a cascade of additional

betrayals that lead to the cross

-the Greek word that we translate as “betray” is the same word that

is used when the Sanhedrin hand Jesus over to Pilate...the same

word that is used when Pilate hands Jesus over to the will of the

mob...and the same word that is used when Pilate hands Jesus

over to be executed

Judas’ story ends as abruptly as it begins à Read Matthew 27:1-5

-30 silver coins could not justify his misdeed...no amount of remorse

could erase his guilt

--that’s because as much as it hurts to be on the receiving end of

betrayal—some of you know that part first hand—the one who

betrays will inevitably endure immeasurable suffering

---the only relief the betrayer will ever know is found in the

forgiveness of the one who was betrayed

-but Judas chose not to take that risk...and despite regretting his

mistake, he could never bring himself to go to Jesus

-in the end, Judas saw Jesus only as innocent victim, never as Lord

So that’s kinda’ the breakdown of what happened...but a critical

question remains

-why?

--how could Judas do such a thing?

-why would he sell out?

--how could he even think of handing over Jesus to them when

he had to have known it would certainly lead to His execution?

-for twenty centuries, those questions have haunted us

--not only because his actions did lead to Jesus’ brutal death...

but because it also forces us to ask another question no one

wants to face head on: could I have done the same thing?

---could I be Judas?

-it’s a quite a disturbing thought, to say the least...that is, if you’re

honest enough to recognize that the potential is in all of us

Of course, you could logically argue that it’s impossible for us, today,

to betray Jesus—after all, to whom would we hand Him over?

-but before we try to move quickly past Judas, there are a few

more things to take to heart

I can’t emphasize strongly enough that Judas’ downward spiral was a

gradual process, not a spur-of-the-moment decision

-and that’s true of practically every time we sin

--rarely do we wake up with the intention of sinning

---I think I’ll look at internet pornography today

---Today would be a good day to ruin someone’s reputation

with some strategically placed gossip

---Tonight I’ll persuade my boyfriend to cross the line

---This afternoon, I think I’ll lie to my boss

Here’s how the Bible outlines the progression—Read James 1:13-14

-did you catch that?

--first, God never tempts us to sin

--but when we are tempted it happens like this:

---we have an evil desire of our own (e.g., lust, greed, pride)

---that desire drags us away and entices us...we are presented

with an image of how happy we would be if we’d just give in

to this desire—a desire, we’re positive, that is only natural

and perfectly rational...in fact, we’ll often go as far as to talk

ourselves into believing we deserve to have this desire met

----but those are all lies...because listen to what happens

next à Read James 1:15

---that’s the truth temptation doesn’t want you to know

----even in the best case scenario, sin leads to death—it

always has; it always will

----in spite of all its fabulous promises, sin can never deliver

anything that is good and long-lasting

-----if it’s remotely good, it won’t last

-----the only long-lasting thing that sin can give is death

It’s one thing to be tempted (which is not sinful, by the way)

-but it’s another thing to entertain the thought (seems innocent)

-it’s another thing to contemplate it (to mull it over in your mind)

-it’s another thing to explore the options (like asking the chief priests

how much they would pay...discussing with them and the officers

of the temple guards how it all might “go down”)

-it’s still another thing to agree to do it...but...

-why did he go ahead and go through with it?

--Judas was given so many opportunities along the way to turn

around...God gave him so many chances to catch a glimpse of

the consequences of what he was about to do (1 Cor. 10:13)

---sure, backing out may have been costly—he himself could

have been arrested or killed—but nothing nearly as costly

as selling out Jesus

What about the Gospels’ references to the work of Satan in Judas?

-John 13:2 à The evening meal was being served, and the devil

had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon,

to betray Jesus.

-John 13:27 à As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered

into him. (also mentioned in Luke)

So while Satan was active, Satan entered Judas only after he had

made several decisions...the last one was accepting the bread to

fulfill Jesus’ prophecy...and serving as a symbol of his willingness to

carry out the betrayal

-remember, Judas was not overpowered by Satan and forced to

play this part against his will

-it was much more than greed or even disillusionment in Jesus that

led Judas to his treachery...this was primarily a spiritual battle

So, in the end, what are we supposed to do with Judas?

-some have shown him sympathy—figuring he was recruited by

Satan or was just a pawn used by God to do what was necessary

-most have vilified him...in The Divine Comedy, Dante finds Judas

agonizing for eternity in the lowest, most horrific circle of hell

But I believe we first need to be aware of the fact that, to some

degree, we are all susceptible to similar temptations

-we are all capable of committing horrendous sins against God

--we must be most on guard when we believe we are immune

--after Paul gives illustrations of sin from Israel’s history, he

cautions us all in 1 Corinthians 10:11-12 à These things

happened to them as examples and were written down as

warnings for us...so, if you think you are standing firm, be

careful that you don’t fall!

---I know I run into the most problems when I think I have

“arrived” (spiritually) and I imagine how proud of me God

must be and I figure I pretty much don’t need His help

That’s how subtle this stuff is...

-it hits us when we least expect it—when we are in the inner circle

(like Judas was), when we have a position of responsibility and

power (like Judas did), when “the common people” look up to us as

a spiritual role model (like Judas experienced)

--pretty soon we’re no longer needy, no longer dependent on God

---and we convince ourselves God is no longer necessary

Or if not in spiritual accomplishment, it comes in the form of a gradual

disappointment with God or the Church

-and we find ourselves selling out...compromising or exchanging

what is precious for what is trivial and temporary

--purity for affection

--integrity for money

--family for success

--modesty for attention

--truth spoken in love for political correctness

--witness for not being labeled a “Jesus freak”

--morals and values for popularity

--reputation for acceptance

--our Lord and Savior for 30 silver coins

Frankly, there’s a lot of that going around—Christians who are selling

out...those who are simply trying to get out of life here and now as

much as possible...without any regard for the consequences

-it is the sin of Judas in the 21^st century...making Jesus a non-

player...making Him insignificant...making Him no longer a factor

or a consideration in our lives...saying we want Him as Savior,

but not as Lord (as if we can make that distinction)

--and we sell Him out...we betray Him

Listen à God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord...but join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done, but because of His own purpose and grace.

(2 Timothy 1:7-9a)

We have been saved by God...and we have been called by God to

live a holy life—a life set apart, a life that will not sell out

-we tend to hear only the stories of compromise and consequence

--we rarely hear of those who live faithfully to God and to others

---but selling out is not inevitable

*in Genesis 39, when Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph, did

he sell out?

*in Daniel 3, when the king attempted to force Shadrach, Meshach,

and Abednego to bow down to an idol...and even when he

threatened their lives, did they sell out?

*in Daniel 6, when the king outlawed prayer to any god or any

person except him...and even though the punishment would result

in being thrown to the lions, did Daniel sell out?

*in high school, when a friend of mine had plenty of girls waiting in

line and eager to sell out to him, did he sell out?

When our youth mission team was in Durango, some of us worked at

a resale store that benefited Habitat for Humanity

-I saw one of our girls with a price tag stuck on the front of her shirt

--instead of a dollar amount, she had written “NFS”—Not For Sale

-not out of pride nor out of empty promises nor out of hypocrisy, but

may we all be able to say, “I am not for sale. I cannot be bought

or sold. In the strength of Jesus, my Lord and my Savior, I will

not compromise...and...I...will...not...sell...out.”