The Gospel According to Matthew
Question of the Day: Is there anything you really love that you wish you didn't love?
Jesus Arrested
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”[d]
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.”Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
In this passage Jesus is sold or betrayed, defended violently, and deserted.
Let's look at each one.
1. Sold or betrayed by Judas.
We are going to talk a lot more about Judas next week, but it is important to note that in Desire of Ages Ellen White writes, "The history of Judas presents the sad ending of a life that might have been honored of God. Had Judas died before his last journey to Jerusalem he would have been regarded as a man worthy of a place among the twelve, and one who would be greatly missed. The abhorrence which has followed him through the centuries would not have existed but for the attributes revealed at the close of his history. But it was for a purpose that his character was laid open to the world. It was to be a warning to all who, like him, should betray sacred trusts."
"His character was laid open." How would like that to be done to you? That really struck me this week. What would people see if my "character was laid open."
I realize that good works can't get me to heaven! It is by the grace of Jesus and Jesus alone! In the life of Judas we see that the lack of character development, the lack of a surrendered life in all areas leads to an ultimate rejection or betrayal of the grace giver, Jesus. So character, surrender, doing what we know the Holy Spirit is asking us to do, plays an important part in our acceptance of Jesus.
She goes on to write, "Judas had naturally a strong love for money; but he had not always been corrupt enough to do such a deed as this. He had fostered the evil spirit of avarice until it had become the ruling motive of his life. The love of mammon overbalanced his love for Christ. Through becoming the slave of one vice he gave himself to Satan, to be driven to any lengths in sin."
OUCH!!!! OUCH!!!
How many times do we hang onto our vices, we frankly don't want to give them up, or do the work it will take to be freed from them.
Are you a slave to a vice?
Are you a slave to sugar?
Are you a slave to self righteousness?
Are you a slave to perfection?
Are you a slave to substances?
Are you a slave to fashion?
Are you a slave to pornography?
Are you a slave to hurt?
Are you a slave to anger?
Are you a slave to Jesus?
2. Peter, Simon Peter gets violent and tries to defend his Lord and cuts a mans ear off.
This is the good guy, ready to defend Jesus, right?
Justifiable anger?
How does Jesus respond?
Are we ever violent, or have we "cut" off anyone's ear in defense of our Lord?
Do our words on face book or our determination that we will defend Him drive us to stop being kind, loving, welcoming, or helpful?
In our defense of Jesus and who He is do we forget what he said in the last chapter when he says that those on His right side will be those who have fed the hungry and welcomed strangers. Even those who were arresting Him and getting ready to kill him were treated kindly by our Savior.
Do we couch our ear chopping behind, "standing up for what is right?"
OUCH, OUCH!!!!
3. Deserted.
Can you imagine Peter, Peter running? Seriously? This is the guy who just whipped out a sword and chopped a guys ear off in defense of Jesus and now with all the others he runs. Deserts Jesus leaving Him all alone. Wow.
How do we desert Jesus?
How have we deserted Jesus?
When he asks us to do something and we don't do it?
When he calls us to go somewhere and we don't go there?
When we don't turn to Him when our lives are seemingly falling apart?
When we turn to our vices instead of to him?
When we are hurtful in our defense of Him?
When we don't spend time with Him?
When we don't welcome the stranger or feed the hungry, or cloth the naked, or minister to the sick?
When we focus on our own hurt so much that we fail to give Him credit for being with us the whole time?
How have you deserted Jesus?
Who am I? Sadly I am someone who has betrayed Jesus too many times. I have lived a lifetime of going to vices because I "needed" them instead of NEEDING Jesus! Sadly, I have hurt others in an "righteous" attempt to defend Him, and I have certainly deserted Jesus too often. Who am I? A child of God who has been saved by the Grace of Jesus and with the help of the Holy Spirit, I can and am being transformed into someone who surrenders fully to JESUS and JESUS alone! Who am I because of who He is? In the process of being transformed! He hasn't only SAVED me, he also TRANSFORMS ME!!!
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