Sermon Nuggets Thur Aug 28
Theme Pretenders
Verses- John 13:21-26 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."
22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant.
23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.
24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."
25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?"
26 Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon.
Revealed
While others were taken up with Christ, Judas was concerned about money and self. He was trusted by the others to handle the funds. No one suspected anything was wrong. Of course, that is typical isn't it? No one suspects what goes through our hearts, minds, and evenactions.
I thought of the interview that James Dobson had with Ted Bundy, the convicted serial rapist and murderer a few years ago. He seemed like a really nice guy- clean shaven, handsome, polite, soft spoken. He admitted that no one suspected him of the heinous crimes he committed because that was so unlike his regular character.
Jesus gives them a riddle sort of. When he reveals to them that one of them will betray him, they all get concerned and ask, "Is it I?"Jesus reveals that it is the one to whom he gives the bread he dips in the bowl.
In the east to eat bread with a person was a sign of friendship and an act of loyalty. For one who had eaten bread at someone's table he pledged his friendship. To turn against the person was a bitter thing.
T.E. Lawrence told how when he sat with the Arabs in their tents, sometimes the Arab chief would tear a choice piece of fat mutton from the whole sheep which was before them and hand it to him, often a most embarrassing favor to a western palate, for it had to be eaten! So when Jesus handed the morsel to Judas, again it was a mark of special affection. I believe it was also Jesus way of confronting Judas with his sin. What was he going to do about it?
Now I've always been troubled by the fact that He tells the disciples that his betrayer will be the one to whom He gives the bread. When He does give it to Judas they are still sitting there with their tongues hanging out of their mouths not knowing who it is that will betray him. Didn't he just tell them?
Well, it seems to me it is in the context of the complex. Or frankly, it was a riddle that they didn't get until after it happened. Why? They were all dipping bread with Jesus and thought he was emphasizing the fact the person is in this room. But the private conversation and confrontation with Judas made it special between them. The rest did not realize it until after the resurrection.
I believe Jesus wanted Judas to know that He knew. Jesus was confronting Judas with his sin. Judas knew. Jesus knew. But Judas didn't know until then that Jesus knew. This was a message to Judas. It was Christ's confrontation charging him with betrayal.
Instead of confession and repentance, he turns on Jesus and leaves for the crime. Jesus does not broadcast the failure of Judas to his disciples. Perhaps if Jesus did reveal his identiey, he might not have gotten out of the room, the disciples would have prevented him from leaving. But I think Jesus also wanted to His disciples to know this was no surprise to Jesus. Judas was necessary to bring about His death which was itself necessary to bring about the redemption of the world. Judas meant it for evil, but God used it for good.
Psalm 41:9 "Even my close friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me." The psalm is historical as well as prophetic. David was lamenting over his own betrayal by his trusted adviser Ahthophel, who sided with Absalom.
Judas was a sinner, but so were the others. But when God confronts us with sin, when the Spirit of God convicts us of our wrong doing or wrong attitude, we need to seek repentance and forgiveness. I think we have the story of betrayal by one of the disciples to remind us that sin and devilish work can also be an inside job, done by friends or allies-fellow Christians and church members.
Just like the disciples wondered if it could be themselves, so it is good to examine our own lives to be sure our hearts and actions are right.
Pastor Dale
