The Treachery of a Traitor

Introduction

John 13:18-30

The very word “traitor” stirs up certain feelings of indignation in all of us. The thought of someone who has gained our confidence and trust betraying us is utterly disgusting and humiliating.

One name that flashes into our minds when the word “traitor” is spoken is Benedict Arnold. His name has lived on in infamy as the traitor of our country for more than two hundred years. Today there stands a monument somewhere in New York State, built to honor Revolutionary War heroes. Around that monument there are four places, but only three statues to various generals who served in the Revolutionary War. “Why is the fourth place vacant?” you ask. That place was intended for Benedict Arnold, who became a traitor.

However, there is a man who will forever bear far greater reproach for his treachery than any other man. That man is Judas Iscariot. He betrayed not merely a country, but the Lord of glory Himself.

It was bad enough that Judas betrayed the Lord at all. But the really sad part of it all is that he trampled underfoot Christ’s love for him. It is almost unthinkable that a man could personally live and fellowship with Jesus for three and a half years and still betray Him. Is it any wonder that no one in our day would even think of naming one of their sons “Judas?” It is a name that is associated with all that is vile and treacherous. It is the name of a traitor.

My, how Judas must have broken the heart of Jesus. In our text, Christ described His traitor as a friend by alluding to Psalm 55: 12-14, which says: “For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.”

Apparently, the friendship that existed between Jesus and Judas was only one-sided. Jesus cared for Judas. Judas however, cared only for Judas. My, what selfishness! What treachery! But such was the man Judas Iscariot.

Before we puff out our chests and declare, “I’d never betray Jesus!” let’s look at what led to Judas’ betrayal of Christ.

Theme - The treachery of Judas was produced by…

I. The Priority of Judas’ Life

John 13:29a “…Judas had the bag…”

1 Timothy 6:10a, “For the love of money is the root of all evil…”

A. How His Priority Was Revealed.

1. Notice Mary’s Loving Act.

John 12:3, “Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.”

NOTE: Mary’s generous, selfless act of love for Christ filled the room with a sweet aroma. But there is another thought that sticks out to me in this loving act: Because Mary wiped the ointment-covered feet of Jesus with her hair, the fragrance of her love for Christ followed her everywhere she went that day. The principle of Mary’s act is still true today. Think about it. If you truly love Jesus, your life will carry the sweet aroma of that love, which will permeate all that you do.

2. Notice Judas’ Loveless Agitation.

John 12:4-6, “Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.”

The bottom line here is that Judas had given over his life to the god of materialism. Money, and the things it could buy, was the priority of Judas’ life. His greed had trapped him.

Judas’ situation reminds me of the method used in Africa to catch monkeys. The natives will cut a hole in a coconut just large enough for the monkey’s hand to go through. They then put fruit inside the coconut. When the monkey sticks his hand in the shell to get the fruit, his clenched fist traps him. His clenched fist cinches his fate.

Judas was a greedy man. Material things were his first priority. Therefore he was critical of Mary’s generosity to the Lord. How you respond to what others do for the Lord says a lot about your own relationship with God.

Like Judas, some people’s priorities are all wrong. Surprised to see an empty seat at the Super Bowl stadium, a diehard fan remarked about it to a woman sitting nearby. “It was my husband’s,” the woman explained, “But he died.”

“I’m very sorry,” said the man. “Yet I’m really surprised that another relative, or friend, didn’t jump at the chance to take the seat reserved for him.”

“Beats me,” she said. “They all insisted on going to the funeral.”1

In contrast to the woman just mentioned, I think Tom Landry had his priorities straight. Tom Landry, former coach of the Dallas cowboys said, “The thrill of knowing Jesus is the greatest thing that ever happened to me...I think God has put me in a very special place, and He expects me to use it to His glory in everything I do...whether coaching football or talking to the press, I’m always a Christian...Christ is first, family second and football third.”2

B. How His Priority Was Rebuked.

John 12:7-8, “Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. 8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.”

In essence, Jesus was saying to Judas, “Judas, you’re focused on money, while this woman is focused on Me. Let her alone!”

It seems almost impossible that Judas could daily hear Christ’s messages and see His miracles, and yet still remain unchanged in heart. The principle is much like sealing up a bottle and dropping it into the ocean. The inside will stay dry, even though it is surrounded by water. Judas had done this with his heart. Greed, selfishness and lust had sealed up his heart against the Lord. A heart sealed up in this way will remain unmoved, untouched, and unchanged by any amount of holy associations or activities.

II. The Propensity of Judas’ Life

A propensity for something is a leaning in a certain direction. It is an tendency or inclination toward a particular behavior or action.

A. The Scriptures Revealed His Propensity For Betrayal.

John 13:18, “I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.”

Jesus is quoting from Psalm 41:9 here. The Old Testament had predicted the betrayal of the Messiah. The words “hath lifted up his heel,” in the Greek language, “…is a picture of violent hatred, of utter contempt. It is a picture of the propensity toward betrayal.”3 The Scriptures had Judas pegged all along.

B. The Savior Revealed His Propensity For Betrayal.

Jesus indicated that His betrayer would have certain distinctions. He would be a disbeliever. John 6:64, “But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.” He would be controlled by the devil. John, 6:70-71, “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.”

The potential for betrayal was recognized by all the disciples. Matthew 26:21-22, “And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?”

God’s Word tells us that the human heart is “…deceitful above all things, and desperately

wicked” (Jer.17:9). If we allow things such as materialism, lust, or religious pride to take the throne of our heart, we too have the potential for betraying Christ.

Bro. Jerry Vines accurately stated the case when he said, “Judas Iscariot had the life of an outward saint but the heart of the devil.”4 A defiled heart gives one the propensity toward betrayal.

Jesus sought again and again to speak to Judas’ conscience that fateful night. Jesus, in humility, washed Judas’ dusty feet (John 13:5). My, how the water with which Jesus bathed Judas’ feet must have burned his soul that night. Jesus, in loving kindness, offered Judas the sop of honor and friendship (John 13:26-27). My, how that sop of bread must have soured the stomach of Judas, knowing that soon he would betray his Master.

To be betrayed by someone you love is the height of treachery, as this historical account testifies: No treachery is worse than betrayal by a family member or friend. Julius Caesar knew such treachery. Among the conspirators who assassinated the Roman leader on March 15, 44 [B.C.] was Marcus Junius Brutus. Caesar not only trusted Brutus, he had favored him as a son. According to Roman historians, Caesar first resisted the onslaught of the assassins. But when he saw Brutus among them with his dagger drawn, Caesar ceased to struggle and, pulling the top part of his robe over his face, asked the famous question, “You too, Brutus?”5

III. The Profaneness of Judas’ Life

The word “profane” may mean different things to different people. But actually one could say that: A profane person is one who has no room whatsoever in his life for God. A profane man is one who has utter contempt and disregard for God.6

A. This Is Seen In His Agreement With Betrayal.

Matthew 26:14-15, “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.”

Judas sold out Jesus for the price of a common slave. Many since then have sold Him out for much less, such as a few moments of pleasure, popularity, revenge, or pride.

B. This Is Seen In His Arrangements Of Betrayal.

1. Judas decided where to stand.

John 18:3-5, “Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? 5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.”

Judas had no room in his heart for Jesus, so when the time of decision came, he took his stand with the devil’s crowd. Where are you standing today, my friend? Are you standing with Judas, or with Jesus?

A man once said, “There are an infinity of angles at which one falls, only one at which one stands.”7 One cannot be neutral about Christ.

2. Judas decided what to say

Matthew 26:48-50, “Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. 49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid   hands on Jesus, and took him.”

I find it extremely touching that even after Judas had maintained a secret contempt for Jesus for three and a half years, which ultimately resulted in treachery and betrayal, one of the Lord’s last words to Judas was “friend” (v. 50).

In Matthew 27:3, we are told that Judas “repented.” But the word used there does not refer to genuine sorrow of heart over one’s sin. Rather, it speaks of mere remorse and regret like one feels over having made a miscalculation that resulted in unexpected results.

I can imagine that as Judas, in his remorse, threw those thirty pieces of silver on the floor of the Temple at the feet of the priests, every coin must have rang out the word, “Traitor!” “Traitor!” “Traitor!”

 

1 Coffee Break.
2 Source unknown.
3 Jerry Vines, Interviews With Jesus, published by Broadman Press, Nashville, Tennessee; pg. 36. 4 Ibid, pg. 37.

4 Today in the Word, August 13, 1992.
5 Ibid, pg. 39.
6 G.K. Chesterton.