CENTRAL THOUGHT
Some believers still betray Jesus in many ways today.
Hymn: “All to Jesus I Surrender”
THE BETRAYAL AND DEATH OF CHRIST
TEXT: MATT. 26:14-16, 20-25
INTRODUCTION:
A very painful experience in life is betrayal by someone close to you. Instead of protecting your interests, he/she tries to destroy you by stabbing you in the back. According to the record of the gospel of Luke 22:47-48, Judas Iscariot, one of Christ’s disciples, came with the multitude and betrayed Jesus Christ (his master) with a kiss and handed Him over to the Jewish leaders for trial and to be crucified. A careful study of Christ’s ministry show that Judas Iscariot was one of his close disciples. He virtually experienced all that Jesus did and heard all that He said about His betrayal, arrest, suffering, death, and resurrection; but the end result showed that his heart was not with Jesus. This is a warning to believers that: “he that thinkest he standeth should be careful lest he fall.” (1 Cor. 10:12). All that happened during this betrayal and death is the focus of this study.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
This study is intended to explain
- The relationship between Christ and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him
- The various ways people betray others and the consequences
- The lesson to learn about it
- The significance of the splitting of the temple curtains and the death of Christ.
BIBLE TRUTH:
QUESTION 1A) WHO BETRAYED JESUS AND WHAT WAS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BOTH OF THEM?
Matt. 26:14-16, 20-23; Mark 14:10, 43-49; John 13:1
Judas Iscariot was in close relationship with Jesus Christ; one of His chosen disciples. The conspirators of the death of Jesus Christ found a willing instrument in him. This happened that the scriptures might be fulfilled, but it was not mentioned that Judas Iscariot must be the one to betray Him. On several occasions Jesus had told His disciples that “one of you will betray me”, but because Judas Iscariot was neither careful nor watchful with his lifestyle (a greedy man), he fell victim of the devil’s strategy to hand over his master to the Jewish leaders for crucifixion.
QUESTION 1B) WHAT EVENTUALLY HAPPENED TO THE PERSON THAT BETRAYED HIM? Matt. 27:3-5
When Judas Iscariot saw that Jesus Christ was condemned to be crucified by the Chief Priests and elders, he repented himself and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the Chief Priests and elders. They said, “What is that to us? See thou to that… and he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, departed, and went to hang himself”.
QUESTION 2) IDENTIFY SOME OF THE WAYS PEOPLE BETRAY OTHERS TODAY AND THE CONSEQUENCES.
As long as satan is still possessing the hearts of some people today, they become his agents to betray others. A stranger cannot betray whom he/she does not know. David declares this is Psa. 41:9, 55:12-13. Before someone can betray another, there has to be some elements of envy or jealousy that leads him/her to sharing private information of a trusted friend with others; talking negative words behind one’s back or having unhealthy relationships from the beginning. Generally speaking, betrayal of trust is found wherever relationship is found: between husband and wife, parents and children/wards, colleagues, employers and employees, church members and leaders, etc. Just as it ended with Judas Iscariot, the consequences of betrayal are numerous, some of these include: hatred, sadness, quarrels, destruction of relationships, unending discord, lack of trust and confidence for others, broken homes and divorce, depression, termination of appointments, suicide, death, and eternal damnation in hell fire.
QUESTION 3A) READ THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES AND IDENTIFY THOSE WHO TESTIFIED THAT CHRIST WAS INNOCENT.
John 18:38, 19:4 and 6; Matt. 27:3-4,19; Luke 23:15,41,47. Amidst the numerous accusations and railings against our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, there were still people who testified that He was innocent:
I. Judas Iscariot who betrayed Him declared: …”I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.” (Matt. 27:4)
II. Pilate said, “I find in Him no fault at all.” (John 18:38, 19:4,6)
III. The thief (at the right side) that was crucified with Jesus said, “…for we receive the due reward of our deeds, but this man (Jesus) hath done nothing amiss.” (Luke 23:41)
IV. The Centurion, when he saw what was done, he glorified God saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.” (Luke 23:47)
V. Pilate’s wife sent to her husband to warn him saying, “Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him.”
QUESTION 3B) WHAT DOES THIS TEACH US ABOUT THE DEATH OF CHRIST?
The testimony about Christ’s innocence teaches us that He truly came into this world as The Lamb of God to take away man’s sin and restore us back to God in fulfillment of the Scriptures (Gen. 3:15, Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:21). By His death, Jesus was able to satisfy God’s demand for man’s restoration.
QUESTION 4) WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FOLLOWING?
I. The splitting of curtain before the Holy of Holies in the temple (Mark 15:38). Access to God became possible after the death of Christ. It paved the way to have direct link and
relationship with the Father. We can go to Him freely without any barrier or veil of sin. We can dare to call Him Abba Father.
II. The death of Christ (Rom. 5:10-11). Of all the numerous religious groups and their leaders in the world, only Jesus Christ (the Lamb of God) paid the full price by shedding His precious blood when He was crucified on the cross of Calvary. This reconciled the world back to God and saved man from eternal damnation. The death of Jesus Christ:
A. Brought forgiveness and reconciliation between God and man (Col. 1:20)
B. Provided freedom from the bondage of sin and its consequences (Heb.2:15)
C. Provided full ransom for man’s redemption from the bondage of sin (1 Tim. 2:6)
D. Christ conquered death by His death
E. God was showing His love to the world (John 3:16)
F. He became an example to whom the whole world must look up to
G. Divine justice was satisfied
H. His death was the substitution for man’s death
I. Brought eternal life as death and condemnation lost its hold on us
J. Permanently freed us from the captivity of satan and his cohorts
K. Delivered us from the power of sin and its consequences
L. Put an end to all the inadequate sacrifices that were made for the remission of sins (Rom. 10:4)
M. Blotted out the ordinances that were against us (Col. 2:14)
N. Gave us salvation from sin and access to the presence of God (Eph. 2:12)
O. Destroyed the wall of partition that separated us from God (Eph. 2:14)
P. Washed away our filth with His blood (Eph. 1:7)
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION:
Our Lord Jesus Christ bore the same and sufferings in order to pay the penalty of our sin once and for all. He signed our liberty with His own blood by dying on the cross to release us from the awful slavery of sin. To benefit from His sacrifice, the sinner must trust in the finished sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary, confess, repent, and forsake his/her sins and follow Jesus. The backslider must return to his/her first love for Christ, and those still standing must make deliberate effort to remain steadfast and unmovable no matter the challenges of life.
MEMORY VERSE:
ISAIAH 53:5
“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and by His stripes we are healed.”
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE:
MON: Judas Iscariot betrayed his Master. (Matt. 26:14-16,20-23; Mark 14)
TUE: Jesus was innocent. (Luke 23:15,41,47; Matt. 27:3-4,19)
WED: Jesus the Lamb of God. (John 1:29; Isa. 53:1-12)
THU: Consequences of betrayal. (Matt. 27:1-10)
FRI: Beware of your relationship. (Psa. 41:9,55:12-15; John 13:18)
SAT: The death of Jesus. (Rom. 5:10-11)