Sermon nuggets Fri Aug 29
Theme Pretenders
Verses- John 13:27-32
27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him,28 but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him.
29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor.
30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.31 When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him.32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
Condemned.
It said earlier that the Devil prompted Judas to speak with the Scribes and priests, and then later it said that Satan entered into him. I notice the progression of Satanic possession, by first yielding totemptations, then growing into oppression, and finally possession.
After Satan entered into Judas, Jesus attitude immediately changed. Not because he was possessed by Satan. There were other examples of demonic possession and Satanic control over people who were freed from that power. But now Jesus let him go to do what he wanted to do it. Judas had crossed the line of grace, and no more did Jesus reach out to him. All Jesus wanted now was to get rid of him.
We could talk about this as prophecy and certainly debate the theology of election. We can discuss the consequence of his suicide and death and remorse, but the fact remains in this passage Jesus didn't stop Judas. He could have. The point I want to make is...Jesus let him live out the consequences of his decisions to the degree that he was responsible. He stood condemned. There are times when we fight God. There are times when God fights us. Our life however is often given to us to go our own way. There was no point in delaying the purpose decided by Judas to accomplish. Judas was instructed to get it over with since it was to be done and be done by him; it would be well to be done quickly.
Since it was the custom at the Passover those who had, sharedwith those who had not. It was the time when people gave tothe poor. That was what the disciples assumed Judas was about to do. But Judas had other things on his mind. So did Satan. He was used.
The consequences for Judas was not 30 pieces of silver, it was eternal condemnation. The light of the world was forever gone from his life after 3 years of close contact with Christ. Judas did not just betray Jesus, he betrayed his own soul. He was not condemned for his sin, but for his lack of faith in the Savior which resulted in his betrayal. The saddest thing that can happen is when the grace of God is rejected and we hear the voice of God no more.
There is a time when God just lets us keep pretending, even when we show others how much we love Him by kissing Him.
Pastor Dale
