“Why The Betrayal and the Denial?”

March 22nd, 2010 Posted in Sermons

Midweek V – Questions on the Way to the Cross

“Why The Betrayal and the Denial?”

March 17, 2010

 

Sermon Text: Matthew 26:14-16, 47-56, 69-75 [show]Matthew 26:14-16 Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?" And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him. (ESV) Matthew 26:47-56 While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I will kiss is the man; seize him." And he came up to Jesus at once and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you came to do." Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?" At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples left him and fled. (ESV) Matthew 26:69-75 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you mean." And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." And again he denied it with an oath: "I do not know the man." After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you." Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly. (ESV)

 

Grace, mercy and peace be unto you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

 

It is interesting how we look at the unkind, down-right nasty, wicked and evil things that people do… and invariably the question arises, “Why would they do that?” Why indeed.

 

To us, it is not even in the realm of possibility… or… is it?

 

To us, we would not think of doing this or that… or … could it be that we sometimes ponder such things… even if it is just for a fleeting moment?

 

A common phrase you hear today is “Don’t go there.” Well, the fact of the matter is… we do… we do go there even if it is just in thought… and more times than we would like to admit.

 

And yes, we see Judas’ betrayal of our Lord (and with a kiss no less)… and it abhors us.

 

We watch with disgust how Simon Peter denied being one of Jesus’ disciples not once… not twice… but three times… one right after another and with such vehemence! And this, the man who said he would rather die than deny the Lord? Wow.

 

So how did it come about? Why the betrayal and the denial? Simply put, it was due to sin and Satan. Sin and Satan got to Judas… and he gave in to the temptation. Sin and Satan got to Simon Peter… and he caved in… to the pressure.

 

 

Now keep in mind these were two of our Lord’s own disciples. They were among the Twelve. They saw all the miracles and witnessed firsthand the power of Christ over all things including wind and waves and even death itself. They heard Jesus speak like no one else… with great authority, compassion and love.

 

And still they did what they did, my friends. Judas, in spite of all of this, handed Jesus over to the blood-thirsty Jews for a few silver coins. Peter backed away from not even knowing our Lord, let alone being one of His followers… and all to save his own skin.

 

But lest we single out these two disciples, we need to remember that the other ten were no better. Jesus told the lot of them, “You will all fall away because of me this night.”
(Matthew 26:31 [show]Matthew 26:31 Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' (ESV)
)

 

And they did… to a person… and we do… we really do as well… to a person… all of us… every last one of us. We betray and deny our Lord with our words and with our actions again and again at various times and in various places and situations.

 

Why? Why the betrayal and denial on our part? Again, it is for the same reason. It is due to sin and Satan at work in us… many times working overtime no less.

 

And such evil forces bearing down upon us could easily drive us to despair. It could lead us to just throw up our hands and admit defeat… that we are truly held prisoner by our own sinful flesh and that Satan really and truly is our lord and master.

 

The only problem with all of this is that for us as Christians, it is simply not true… not any longer… not in Christ Jesus… not in our baptism… not in our faith which continues to grow and grow… not with the Holy Spirit diligently preserving and protecting us, giving us the power to resist all evil forces… all temptation and all inclinations to sin.

 

In Christ, Judas and Peter could have resisted, but they did not. Judas was remorseful for what he did, but he still went out and hung himself.

 

Peter was remorseful as well, but thanks be to God that his remorse gave way to repentance and it will be our risen Christ… before His ascension… who will forgive and restore Peter as one of His own.

 

And thanks be to God that in Christ Jesus there is the very same divine forgiveness and restoration for us as well. For all the times we have failed the Lord, denied the Lord, betrayed our Lord, sinning against Him and His Holy Word in thought, word and deed… there is forgiveness. And it is sure and complete.

 

All of our shortcomings… all of our transgressions are no more. They have all been blotted out with the precious blood of our Savior, Christ Jesus.

 

There is no one to accuse us. The verdict has been rendered and we are not guilty. All because of Jesus… He who allowed the betrayal and the denial to take place… along with the arrest, the mocking and the beating. He who allowed Himself to be found guilty… guilty as charged… for our sake. He who went to the cross for us and for our salvation.

 

Why the betrayal and the denial? It was all part of the plan, my friends. As was said before, it is not that Judas and Peter had no choice. They did. Yet it all still happened just as planned… divinely planned. It still happened just as it has been recorded… with God using these things for our good. Indeed He will never let anything… ANYTHING… get in the way of His love and mercy for us.

 

If all of this does not put a smile on your face this evening and send you home and to bed this night with great peace and comfort, than nothing will.

 

Rejoice in the forgiveness of the Lord and in His great love for you. Amen.

 

May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting.
Amen.

 

 

“Why The Betrayal and the Denial?”

3/17 /10 The Rev. Mark H. Hein

St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church, Lockport, IL