March 2, 2016 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: Matthew 26:47-50 “PORTRAITS OR OUR SAVIOR FROM MATTHEW” “A BETRAYED FRIEND”

MIDWEEK LENT 4

March 2, 2016

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: Matthew 26:47-50

“PORTRAITS OR OUR SAVIOR FROM MATTHEW”

“A BETRAYED FRIEND”

Matthew 26:47-50 (NIV 1984)  “While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.  ⁴⁸Now the betrayer had  arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.”  49Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.  50Jesus replied, “Friend, do what you came for.”  Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.”

          Today’s picture of Jesus is one of betrayal. Betrayal is one of those words you just have to kind of spit out of your mouth. It is distasteful. Say the names of Brutus, Quisling, Benedict Arnold and yes, Judas Iscariot, and see what emotions they evoke in those who know their stories. Our picture of our Savior from Matthew is that of a Betrayed Friend. What look do you think Jesus had on His face when He met Judas? Many artists have tried to portray that look with their portraits of Jesus. What do you think the face of the betrayed looks like? For me it’s in the eyes. They seem to accuse. I think of a friend of mine that I feel I betrayed years ago. My dog Sal. After she got incurable lung cancer I had to take her to the Humane Society to be put to sleep. I still remember her eyes as I handed the lead over. I know it had to be done but boy did I feel like the betrayer.

          That brings us to our first point in this picture of Jesus. In order to be betrayed you must first be a faithful friend. Who can find a more faithful friend than Jesus? Jesus was a faithful friend to Judas. He had called Judas to be one of the Twelve Disciples who got the further honor of being one of the Apostles. These were the ones Jesus sent out and gave the ability to do miracles and cast out demons. His faithfulness went further. Judas was given the responsibility of being treasurer for the disciples. Anyone who has ever done the work of a treasurer for an organization and is entrusted with the safekeeping and wise spending of other people’s money knows that this in a huge responsibility but it also means people trust you. That is an honor. Jesus was even more faithful to Judas. Jesus is God. He knew who would betray him. He knew the battle going on in Judas’ heart. A little earlier before Judas went to get the armed crowd, while all the other disciples were with Jesus celebrated the Passover, the Last Supper, this is what Jesus did. “When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” 22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” 25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “Yes it is you.” That’s a pretty pointed warning from a faithful friend.

          Jesus is our faithful friend too. What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! Jesus has chosen us to be His own. He’s shared His teachings with us too. Jesus said, “Greater love has no man than this that He lay down His life for His friends.” Jesus did that for us too. He also entrusted us with the treasure of His Gospel. We get to be His salt of the earth, His light of the world, His witnesses to the ends of the earth. Like with Judas He gives us warning before we rush headlong in to sin. Our conscience warns us, our belly warns us, the presence of an authority or spouse or other person he sends warn us. Jesus is our faithful friend. Only someone who really is a friend can be betrayed.

          And only someone who is a friend can be the betrayer. Pontius Pilate could not betray Jesus. The chief priests and Pharisees could not betray Jesus. Only a friend of Jesus could betray Him. Jesus knew what was coming. As he gathered the sleeping disciples from the Garden of Gethsemane He said, “Rise, let us go! Here comes my Betrayer!” Then as we heard about in the reading Judas arrived with the armed crowd ready for action, ready to take Jesus down in case He tried any of the miracle stuff. But there was no fight in Jesus. “Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.  50Jesus replied, “Friend, do what you came for.” “Friend,” Jesus said. Doesn’t sound like He’s spitting out a name. Judas! Friend. Judas had been a friend of Jesus. I think he still was. Later when Judas discovered what his greed had led to he tried to undo it. He tried to stop the process. He tried to stop Jesus’ death. He gave the money back. But they wouldn’t take it. They wouldn’t stop. So in sorrow, regret and despair Judas hanged himself. Judas was a friend. It takes a friend to do the betraying.

          And now we have to talk about us. We are friends of Jesus. He chose us and called us friends and we are glad for it. We do love Jesus in return. We are many things to Jesus including His friends. And only a friend can do betraying. When unbelievers sin it is sin but there is no element of betrayal there. They are not Jesus’ friends. In some cases they don’t even know any better. But we do. Kids when you lie you betray Jesus. You choose to be a friend with the Devil rather than Jesus because lying is the Devil’s native language. Why do you betray Jesus’ friendship? Adults when our speech, words that we use in person or on Facebook blend in with the world, when people can’t tell by how we are acting , talking, dressing that we have Christ’s higher standard we betray Him. He had James tell us that friendship with the world and its sinful ways is hatred toward God. Hatred. And betrayal because we know better!

          Judas at least had the common decency, the human honor, to feel so bad he tried to undo things, he tried to make it better. But there’s the thing with sin. No human efforts can make it better. Even Judas taking his own life couldn’t pay for even one sin. But Jesus did. “Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.” There is no army large enough to control one Jesus. He went willingly because He was on the path to pay for sin. “Friend,” Jesus called Judas. Not Betrayer. Friend, Jesus said. Come back to me. I will undo your sin. Friend, Jesus says to you and to me. When we choose to betray Jesus and make friends with the Devil with our lying tongues, when we choose to betray Jesus by valuing the unbelievers’ foul language, suggestive clothing, liver killing drunkenness, brain altering drug use, God’s Holy Temple defying pornography, He still calls us Friend because He wants us with Him now and forever.

          So what do you think the face of the Betrayed Savior looks like? How would you paint it? It’s not the accusing eyes. It’s not the look of “How could you?” He already knows! It’s the look that says, “Friend. Come back to me. I love you. I forgive you. I have always loved you. With me you will do better than this. You will feed my sheep. You will take care of my lambs. You are my friend. But I am your Savior.” Any betrayals of Jesus weighing on your heart today? If not now when they do run, don’t walk run to Jesus in prayer. He’s waiting for you. Amen.