12-8-19 Sermon Notes
“Overwhelming – Betrayed” Mark 14:26-52
Last week, we zeroed in on the significance of Jesus being called Jesus of Nazareth. This week we will focus on the betrayal of Jesus.
Introduction
We often think that the only person who betrayed Jesus was Judas Iscariot. However, if we dig a little deeper, we find that He was betrayed by many more followers including His disciples. You may be asking, how did His followers betray Him? One of the definitions of ‘betray’ is “to fail or desert especially in times of need.” This definition will be the springboard for today’s message. Before we do that, let’s take a look at the betrayal of Jesus by Judas and the connection of that with a prophecy in the Old Testament.
After seventy years in Babylonian captivity, the Israelites, by the decree of King Cyrus of Persia, returned to their Palestinean homeland. Some fifty thousand Jews made the long journey.
One of their initial projects was to begin rebuilding the temple of Jehovah. The foundation was joyfully laid (Ezra 3:11). Due to Samaritan opposition, however, the work was suspended (Ezra 4:24). And so, for the following fourteen years, the project lay dormant. It was the task of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to arouse Israel from her lethargy and to provide encouragement toward the completion of God’s house.
Out of this background comes the book of Zechariah. Near the end of the document, in a profoundly remarkable utterance, Zechariah foretells the rejection and betrayal of Christ:
And I said unto them, “If you think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear.” So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said unto me, “Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prized at of them.” And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord (Zechariah 11:12-13).
In amazing fashion, the New Testament records the fulfillment of this divine prediction. Consider the following elements:
There was to be a bargain made in connection with Jesus’ death—a haggling of terms. This is exactly what happened. Judas struck a deal with the chief priests (Matthew 26:15).
Zechariah figuratively represents the Lord as making the bargain with the leaders. This is a hint that Jesus would voluntarily give himself to die (John 10:17-18; Galatians 1:4).
The betrayal price was to be thirty pieces of silver. That was the very amount paid to the treacherous Judas (Matthew 26:15).
The paltry sum—the price of a slave (Exodus 21:32)—was sarcastically described as a “goodly price,” and was an insult to God himself! This reveals the intimate connection between the Father and the Son.
The money would be “thrown” into “the house of God.” The New Testament reveals that Judas, in a fit of remorse, returned the money. When the chief priests refused it, he cast it into the holy place of the temple (Matthew 27:5).
Zechariah indicates that the silver coins would eventually go to the “potter.” Matthew affirms that the blood money was subsequently used to buy a “potter’s field” in which strangers were buried (Matthew 27:7).
This is a remarkable prophecy, and it powerfully contributes to the overwhelming case that can be made for the Bible’s divine inspiration.
Now on to the scriptures that point toward the betrayal of Jesus by more than just Judas.
Read Mark 14:26-52 New International Version (NIV)
26 “When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:
“‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.’
28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”
30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”
31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.
Gethsemane
32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”
35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Jesus Arrested
43 Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.
44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
48 “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” 50 Then everyone deserted him and fled.
51 A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, 52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.”
Message
Let’s examine the verses and find out how Jesus was betrayed and by whom.
- 27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:
“‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’
Zechariah 13:7 New International Version (NIV)
The Shepherd Struck, the Sheep Scattered
7 “Awake, sword, against my shepherd,
against the man who is close to me!”
declares the Lord Almighty.
“Strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered,
and I will turn my hand against the little ones.”
This was not a condemnation statement by Jesus. It simply illustrated that He was in command of the situation by stating the fact that every one of them would desert Him at some given time.
- Verse 28 – “But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” After dropping the bombshell of telling the 11 disciples (remember Judas has left the scene) that they would ‘betray’ Him, Jesus reassures them that they will not be cut off from joining Him after He is arisen because of their betrayal.
- Verses 29-31 – “Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”
Picture Peter at that moment motions toward the other 10 disciples as he said that.
- 30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”
- 31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.”
That is a pretty strong statement by both Peter and the other disciples. It is interesting that Jesus doesn’t respond with ‘You do not know what you are talking about. I am right and you are wrong!’
- It is worth pondering what Peter would have done if the soldiers had come at that very moment to arrest Jesus. It is not difficult to believe that he would have defended Jesus with his very life since Peter often lived in the moment. And indeed, when they did come to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, it is recorded in John that Peter was the one who cut off the servant’s ear with his sword as mentioned in verse 47. Yet, we find a little later that Peter ‘stood down’ when confronted by the young servant girl during the trial of Jesus.
Now, lets move to the Garden of Gethsemane and find further evidence of how the disciples let down Jesus.
- 32 “They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Sounds like a pretty simple request, doesn’t it? Let’s see how the disciples responded.
- 37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. 41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Three times Jesus found the disciples asleep. His response to this was pretty charitable when He said, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
- And now, the arrest of Jesus. 43 “Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.”
- We have already mentioned the slicing off of the servant’s ear and it is worth noting at Luke tells us that Jesus healed it. Here we find the famous verses about Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss. Yet, as we have discovered there were more than just Judas who betrayed Jesus. Verse 50 “Then everyone deserted him and fled.”
We just mentioned the miracle of Jesus restoring the servant’s ear, but there was another miracle and that being that Peter was not cut to pieces by the soldiers.
- We have one more example of the extent of the betrayal. Let’s look at the following verses – 51 “A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, 52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.”
- We do not know the identity of the young man (some say it was John Mark), but whoever it was had a clothing malfunction and a courage malfunction.
Concluding Remarks and Application
So, what does the betrayal of Jesus have to do with us? Well, before we point fingers at Judas and the disciples, we might do well to take an inventory of areas of betrayal. Do we read the Bible enough? Do we pray enough? Do we tell others about Jesus enough?
The encouraging thing is even when we are not faithful, we do not have to depend on it for our salvation. Instead, we can rest on the faithfulness of Jesus which in turn makes us more faithful.