Judas: Apostle and Betrayer

(Origin of this lesson idea unknown)

Introduction

1.      What is the first thought that pops into your mind when you hear the name Benedict Arnold?

2.      What thought comes to our minds when we hear the name, Judas Iscariot?

a.       Matthew 26:21-25

b.      How could any person be so evil?

3.      Most of us see such gap between Judas and ourselves that we could not even seriously consider being in danger of being like Judas.

a.       How could the Christian today learn anythingn that could be applied to his own life from someone who would betray Christ?

b.      How many of us can honestly say that we are innocent of the blood of Christ?

Discussion

I.                    Judas was an apostle!

A.     When we think of an apostle we generally think of the cream of the crop so far as Christians go.

B.     Being an apostle did not prevent Judas from betraying Jesus (cf. Jn. 6:66-71)..

C.     Just because we are Christians does not mean that we will not sin, or become lost.

1.      The Bible warns us against letting our guard down and taking our faith for granted.

2.      1 Corinthians 10:12

3.      1 Thessalonians 5:4-6

D.     The Israelites were God’s chosen race.

E.      Solomon had it all, but turned from God over to pagan gods.

F.      Judas was hand picked by Jesus.

G.     Are we so much better than they were, that we couldn’t also go the way of the world?

1.      “But, I am a Christian.”

2.      Yeah, and Judas was an apostle, but that didn’t keep him from betraying the Son of God.

a.       With the most affectionate gesture of love and good will—a kiss—he betrayed his own friend and Savior.

b.      Not a fist, but and act of friendship.

II.                 Judas’ initial intent was not to betray Jesus.

A.     What could have driven Judas to do such a horrible thing?

B.     Sin seems to have a way of becoming easier and easier the more we do it, and it tends to grow in intensity.

1.      Have you ever heard of “gateway” drugs?

2.      When we act against our conscience, it becomes less sensitive.

a.       The more we ignore it, the duller it gets, until it becomes, as Paul said, as if it has been seared with a hot iron (cf. 1 Ti. 4:2).

b.      I have heard that when an animal is branded, it has no more feeling in the place were it was burned.

c.       That is how some people’s conscience becomes—numb.

d.      A person without a conscience can do just about anything.

C.     Judas didn’t just wake up one day a saint, and all of a sudden think to himself, “I think I’ll betray the Son of God today.”

1.      He had been working up to that moment for a long time.

a.       His problem started out as greed.

b.      He was the treasurer, and a thief (Jn. 12:1-8).

2.      If he is stealing out of the apostle’s moneybag, what is he doing?

a.       He is betraying them little by little.

b.      His conscience is getting duller and duller.

c.       In time, the unthinkable, became thinkable.

3.      When the time came for Jesus to be betrayed, Judas was so numb to it that he went to the Pharisees.

4.      It was planned and deliberate!

a.       Matthew 26:14-16

b.      He could have changed his mind, or reconsidered, but he was looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

5.      How many people do you think are good and faithful Christians, and then one morning something happens and all of a sudden they leave the church for good?

D.     No matter how good of a Christian we may be, because we are all human, and because we all sin, it is a possibility for any one of us.

E.      One thing that is interesting to me is that the other apostles didn’t even seem to notice!

1.      Judas was an actor.

a.       He pretended to be someone he wasn’t and the other apostles didn’t seem to suspect a thing.

b.      When Jesus told them that one of them was going to betray Him, they had no idea who it could have been (Jn. 13:18-26).

2.      So, not only does this show that it is possible for us to go in a similar direction, but it is also possible for those we would not suspect.

III.               By the time Judas realized what he had done it was too late (Mt. 27:1-10)!

A.     There is not a doubt in my mind that if Judas could have undone what had already been done, he would have done it.

1.      When Judas saw that Jesus was condemned, then he was sorry.

2.      It is almost like he didn’t expect that to happen.

3.      By the time he saw what was happening, it was too late.

4.      I wonder how many people are sitting in a prison cell somewhere right now wishing they could turn back time, once you go past a certain point, there is no going back.

5.      Judas went back to the chief priests and elders and said, “I don’t want it anymore; I’ve changed my mind.”

a.       I bet that was a terrible experience for him.

b.      Once he had done it, though, it was too late to change his mind.

B.     Whenever I think about a young person getting a life sentence, I sometimes imagine what that must feel like.

1.      I’ve heard of minors being tried as adults and getting life sentences.

2.      What must that feel like to be sitting there in that small cell, not even completely through your childhood years, and your life is over?

a.       At least as a prisoner, you can close your eyes and go to sleep.

b.      At least as a prisoner, you can have hope (you can still have eternal life).

c.       At least as a prisoner, it has to end sometime; you can’t live forever.

3.      When a person goes to hell, it will be far worse than any prison sentence.

a.       There will be no rest, no breaks.

b.      There will never be any hope of going somewhere better one day.

c.       There will be no end to look forward to.

4.      So many are going to find themselves there and want to have a second chance, but it will be too late.

a.       Like Judas, they too will realize what a horrible mistake they have made and cry out and want to give the money back, but it will be too late.

b.      They will be sincerely sorry for what they have done in this life, but it won’t do them any good there.

C.     Jesus is the only one who can get us to where we are trying to go.

1.      Without Him, it is absolutely hopeless.

2.      Jesus is the last one, we would ever want to betray.

3.      Judas was so torn up about it, that he hanged himself.

4.      Matthew 26:24

5.      Judas’ suffering didn’t end at the end of that rope.

6.      Without Jesus, it always turns out the same way.

Conclusion

1.      If we are human, then we can all learn something from Judas.

2.      If an apostle can betray Christ, then certainly a Christian can become lost.

3.      Even a sin like greed can swell up into something far greater.