“Betraying Christ”
(Luke 22:1-6)
Series: Certainty in Uncertain Times
Rev. Todd A. Linn, PhD
Henderson’s First Baptist Church, Henderson
- Take your Bibles and join me in Luke’s Gospel, chapter 22 (page 710; YouVersion).
We’re in the last three chapters of Luke. There is a certain order in the last three chapters of the synoptic Gospels–Matthew, Mark, and Luke–that makes it easy to remember where to locate a few things. Chapters 22, 23, 24 are, respectively, Lord’s Supper, crucifixion, resurrection. Same in Mark 14-16, 14 is Lord’s Supper, 15 is crucifixion, and 16 is resurrection. Matthew, too: 26, 27, 28; Lord’s Supper, crucifixion, resurrection.
So we’re entering into the last three chapters of Luke’s Gospel and focusing primarily upon Christ’s death. You know, only two Gospels give us details of Christ’s birth, but all four Gospels give us many and careful details about Christ’s death because Christ’s death is the integral part of God’s crowning work of redemption. This morning’s passage is six verses, Luke 22:1-6.
- Please stand in honor of the reading as we cherish the Word together:
1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover.
2 And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.
3 Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.
4 So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them.
5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money.
6 So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.
- Pray.
Introduction:
Judas is something of a scary character in the Gospel narrative. He is a striking illustration of what we mean when we speak of the doctrine of perseverance, or “perseverance of the saints.” This doctrine teaches that all true believers persevere in their faith to the end: “All who are chosen by God, redeemed by Christ, and given faith by the Spirit are eternally saved. They are kept in faith by the power of Almighty God and thus persevere to the end.”
Some of you are familiar with the classic Christian allegory Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. Dads, get a copy of Pilgrim’s Progress and read it to your family, a chapter an evening. It is a great story that illustrates what it means to live the Christian life. Bunyan tells of a dream he had of a man named Christian and he perseveres in his faith along with his friend Hopeful. And when the two reach the gate of the celestial city at the end of their lives, the symbolism continues as they present “certificates” which stand for the saving grace they had received when they trusted Christ indicating that they belonged to God. Christian and Hopeful are then escorted through the gate into heaven by two angels Bunyan calls “Shining Ones.”
Then Bunyan says in his dream he then saw that there was someone else trying to make it through the gate of heaven. His name was Ignorance. He writes:
Now while I was gazing upon all these things, I turned my head to look back, and I saw Ignorance come up to the river…
When he arrived at the gate…he began to knock, assuming that he would quickly gain entrance. But the men who looked over the top of the gate asked, “Where did you come from?” and “What do you want?” He answered, “I have eaten and have drunk in the presence of the King, and He has taught in our streets.” Then they asked him for his certificate, so that they might show it to the King; so he fumbled in his coat for one, and found none.
Then they said, “Have you none?” And the man answered not a word. So they told the King, but He would not come down to see the man. Instead, He commanded the two Shining Ones, who had conducted Christian and Hopeful to the city, to go out and bind Ignorance hand and foot and take him away…
Then Bunyan adds, “Then I realized that there was a way to hell even from the gates of heaven…”
Now that is an extraordinary statement, isn’t it? “I realized that there was a way to hell even from the gates of heaven.” Bunyan warns that not all those who refer to themselves as Christians are truly Christians. Not everyone who uses religious language or does Christian work is necessarily a true believer. In the words of Jesus, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 7:21).” And such was the case of Judas Iscariot. If we can learn anything from Judas we had better learn to examine ourselves as to whether we are truly in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5).”
But we may also learn from Judas how we, too, may be guilty of betraying Christ in a number of different ways. Let’s consider that possibility as we study these verses a little more closely and then I will leave for your family discussion three cautionary considerations. Look at verse 1:
1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover.
The very fact that Luke tells is that the Feast of Unleavened Bread “is called Passover” is another reason we know Luke, himself a Gentile, was writing primarily to Gentiles–non-Jews. If he were writing to Jews–like Matthew was in his Gospel–then he wouldn’t have explained that this was called Passover, because his audience would be like, “Well, duh!” It would be like writing to you, “Now Kentucky is part of a larger country, which is called America.” No kidding. What is the Passover?
The Passover was the “opening-day feast” beginning the seven-day “Feast of Unleavened Bread.” The Passover was a Jewish festival to be observed just once a year, a special time when the Jews would recall their miraculous deliverance from Egypt. You’ll remember from reading through Exodus that the final plague sent by God to Pharaoh was the death of the firstborn. The Jews protected themselves from the plague by smearing the blood of a sacrificial lamb upon their doorposts so that the Angel of Death would “pass over” their homes. Unleavened bread was eaten to remind the people of their haste in fleeing Egypt, the bread did not have time to rise. So by the New Testament times thousands upon thousands of people would enter into Jerusalem for this annual feast. Verse 2:
2 And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.
This is not the first time we have read of the envy and anger of the religious leaders towards Jesus (Luke 19:47, Luke 20:19). They have now made their mind up that Jesus must go. He must be killed. The chief priests and the scribes, however, “feared the people.” Remember this is Passover and there are a lot of people in town. The Jewish historian Josephus estimates there may have been as many as 1-2 million people in Jerusalem. And Jesus has grown in popularity. So they are looking for some way to kill Him without creating a riot (Mark 14:2).
Matthew and Mark, in their Gospels, underscore the conniving nature of these religious leaders, both of them writing something like, “They looked for some sly way to take Him,” as by trickery or deception (Matthew 26:4; Mark 14:1). Who could have guessed that the answer to their dilemma would come from the very inner circle of Jesus’ followers? Verse 3:
3 Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.
Numbered among the 12, Judas! One of the 12. And speaking of his being numbered among the 12 it is not by accident that he is always listed last in order when you read the lists of the 12 disciples in the Gospels. In fact, in their references to Judas the Gospel writers often append the statement, “Judas–who was to betray Christ.”
Judas had never really believed that Jesus was the Christ and Jesus knew this ahead of time. Recall John 6:64, “There are some of you who do not believe.” John adds, “For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.”
Or John 6:70-71, Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.
Of course, the other disciples did not know this about Judas. Later when Jesus announces one of them will betray Him, they’re all like, “Who?! Is it I?!” (Luke 22:23).
Verse 3 begins with the words, “Then Satan entered Judas.” Remember Satan had left Jesus back in Luke 4, the time of the temptations in the wilderness. Remember Luke had written, “When the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time (Luke 4:13).” Now is that opportune time. He is back.
Satan entered Judas, finding a comfortable place there as Judas’ sinful heart made him welcome. Satan influences Judas to go to the religious leaders and agree to betray Jesus. John tells us that Satan will “enter Judas” again at the time of the Last Supper (John 13:27). Verse 4:
4 So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them.
Judas “went his way.” It is not as though Judas is an unwilling pawn in a chess game played by God, a robot with no decision in the matter. Judas welcomed Satan’s entering into his heart. We never once read anywhere in the Scriptures that Judas had no control over his actions. He made a willful choice.
Yes, there is a mystery here. God has a plan and is working it out. He is sovereign. Jesus Christ had to die, but Judas did not have to be the one to make it happen. He didn’t have to be the traitor. But because he willingly chose to be the traitor, he opened the door and Satan came in. His sinful heart made a welcome invitation for Satan to enter in. Judas had already been under the influence of Satan. Now he would be under an even greater influence of Satan.
5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money.
Judas and the religious leaders negotiated a sum of money for Judas’ betraying Christ into their hands. Matthew puts it this way in Matthew 26:14-15: “Then Judas…went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?’ And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver.” And, incidentally, this amount fulfills the Old Testament prophecy in Zechariah 11:12 as noted by Matthew. Verse 6:
6 So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.
We will read, of course, that the “opportunity” will come in the cover of darkness (Luke 22:53). It’s nearly always easier to sin in the dark.
So Judas seeks an opportunity to betray Christ and we can imagine Jesus quoting from
Psalm 41:9, Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
Well, what are to make of these six verses? Are they preserved by God in Scripture only to serve as introductory remarks about the imminent death of Christ, or is there more here for our profit? One of the benefits of going verse-by-verse through books of the Bible is that by doing so God provides for us not only easy sayings, but hard sayings, good and bad, fun and not-so fun. Sometimes God’s Word comforts us, other times it convicts us. Sometimes it challenges us and other times it cautions us. We have here this morning some cautionary principles that surface from this passage. Let me give them to you this way for your family discussion this afternoon or evening:
**Three Cautions for Christ-Followers: (how many of you would say, “I’m a Christ-follower?” Three cautions for us. Number one:
1) Beware of the Danger of Religion
Look at all the characters in these six verses. You have the chief priests and the scribes on the one hand and Judas on the other. All of them are religious. None of them is a true believer. Don’t you find that remarkable? Is that not a caution to us today? You can be really close to Christ and be lost.
In your family discussion about this passage of Scripture, talk to one another about whether this could happen in your own household, in your own family. The chief priests and scribes new a lot of Scripture, they knew religious language, but were lost. Judas was one of the 12 disciples, but lost.
We often say that Christianity is not a “religion,” but a “relationship.” Christianity is about receiving Jesus Christ into our lives, believing He died on the cross for our sins, bearing the punishment we deserved, rising the third day so we may be declared righteous, justified by faith and therefore at peace with God. Christian faith is not so much a religion, but a relationship–a living, vibrant, day-by-day relationship with God through faith in Christ. So beware of the danger of religion. Second caution for Christ-followers:
2) Beware of the Danger of Satan
Never underestimate the influence of the one who “entered Judas.” I’m afraid we’re often guilty of too quickly dismissing what happened to Judas as “demon possession,” something that can come only to an unbeliever and that’s the end of our discussion. But whether Judas was “demon possessed” in the technical sense of that term misses a greater point and blinds us to the very real possibility that when your heart is bent toward evil, evil will find you.
Proverbs 11:27, “Evil comes to him who searches for it.” This is the way we ought to think of Judas. It’s not, “Poor, old Judas,” as though Judas had no choice in the matter and Satan came along and entered in and took him over against his will. No, Judas’ heart was bent toward evil.
It’s not unlike what we read in Genesis 4 with Cain killing Abel. How many of you think Cain made a choice when he killed his brother Abel? Me, too. In fact, the warning from God in Genesis 4:7 is, “Sin is crouching at your door (lying at your door).” “Sin desires to rule over you, Cain, but you must rule over it.” Sin was crouching at the door and Cain opened the door. He sinned. He sinned willingly.
Peter does not underestimate the danger of Satan. He writes in 1 Peter 5:8, “The devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Sin crouches at your door.
Remember the proverb loved ones: Evil comes to him who searches for it (Proverbs 11:27). If your heart is inclined to sin, Satan will do his level best to come to you and pave for you a lovely road for you to walk down. Beware.
Sin crouches at your door all the time. Sin crouches at your door, men, in the form of lust and internet pornography. And you make a decision whether to open the door when you decide whether to click that link. Ladies, sin crouches at your door when you look at that man who is not your husband and you are looking for the wrong reason. Sin crouches at your door, young people, when you are tempted to cheat on that exam.
Sin crouches at your door when you envy another person’s stuff, another person’s position, another person’s popularity–this can happen in ministry and often does–seeking the approval of others, forever expecting others to applaud your efforts. And just in case you feel you would never stoop as low as Judas, Paul warns in 1 Corinthians 10:12, “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
Beware of the danger of religion, beware of the danger of Satan, thirdly:
3) Beware of the Danger of Money
How frequently we have read in Luke’s Gospel the warnings about money and the lure of riches. Most recently we read the Parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:13-21), the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), and the Parable of the Rich Young Ruler (Luke 18:18-25).
Judas seems obsessed with money. In John’s Gospel we have that story where Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with costly oil. Judas complains, “Why wasn’t this oil sold and the money given to the poor?” That sounds real spiritual, but remember John adds, “He said this not because he was concerned for the poor, but because he was a thief and kept the money box and stole from it as he had need.”(John 12:4-6).
The 30 pieces of silver he agreed to receive in order to betray Christ was worth only about 4 months wages. That’s not really much when you consider who Christ is. But it’s an awful lot to a person who is greedy and counts every penny. Judas loved money. So the love for money ensnared him, proving true Paul’s later warning in 1 Timothy 6:9-10:
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Judas is one such example, an example of a person who “strayed from the faith in his greediness and pierced himself through with many sorrows.”
Yes, it is possible to have money without loving it, but it is equally possible to love money without having it. Both rich and poor alike may be ensnared by money.
The problem is love placed on the wrong thing. Being a true Christ-follower means we love Him more than anyone or anything. He must be number one, the love of our lives! The desires of your heart are to be like pieces of metal drawn like a magnet to the Lord Jesus. Anything less is idolatry. Beware, Henderson’s First Baptist Christ-followers, beware of the danger of money.
Conclusion:
Well, those are the warnings. And how fitting that they should come in this passage in the context of the Passover, the annual event where a lamb was sacrificed as a reminder of God’s salvation. Each lamb sacrificed at the Passover pointed forward to another Lamb, the one John the Baptist called, “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29),” the Lamb of God slain for the nations, the One Paul refers to in 1 Corinthians 5:7, “Christ our Passover (who) was sacrificed for us.”
Christ’s death was the ultimate fulfillment of the Passover. Like the blood of the lamb which saved God’s people from death in Egypt, Jesus Christ shed His blood to save us from spiritual death.
Have you received Him by faith into your life? Is He your “Number One Love?”
- Stand for prayer.
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