March 12, 2023

The betrayal, the denial & the victory

Preacher:
Series:
Passage: Luke 22:47-62
Service Type:

Introduction

Last week looked at ‘A Battle of Wills’:

A battle among men
A spiritual battle
A losing battle
The ultimate battle

Jesus said "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak"

Did they reflect on the words after the Garden of Gethsemane
You cannot overcome unless looking and praying to Jesus

Twice they are advised to pray lest they enter into temptation

Have we fallen – standing in our own strength

We come to the arrest of Jesus
Overview:

The betrayal – Judas
The denial – Peter
The victory – Jesus

The betrayal – Judas

To betray someone is a cowardly act

It is to say that friendship does not matter
It is to say you are against them and want to harm them

His betrayal was against the Son of God

Jesus had always cared for him

Judas was one of the twelve – v47

He was one of the discples
He had all the same privilege as the other disciples
He was chosen to be part of the inner circle
He was hear Jesus’ public and private teaching
He would see many miracles
He had charge of the finances
He could closely observe Jesus’ perfect life

Judas was a fraud

His heart was set upon the world
He did not want to endure a life of hardship following Jesus
He would not see a physical kingdom that would overthrow Rome
He did not see a position of authority for himself

No-one suspected Judas

He was a master of deception
The other disciples did not know Judas would betray Jesus (v21)
Jesus knew it

He was possessed by Satan

He was obsessed with material gain
He loved money
He led the temple police, soldiers, scribes, pharisees, saducees

They came with clubs and swords

He had the shameless audacity to kiss Jesus

He broke all the Ten Commandments in this moment
Jesus accepts this with great sorrow

What do we learn?

Satan sows tears amongst the wheat – false people amongst the church

Let there be none like within Tabor
Consider the end of Judas and come to Christ

The denial – Peter (v54ff)

He is in the power and hour of darkness – he is not ready for it
The other gospel accounts provide more information

John – Jesus steps forward and says "I am He"

He uses the covenant name of Yahweh "I am"

A sign of great power

He willing offers Himself

Simon peter takes up the sword and cuts of the servant’s ear

Jesus had said there would need to be a time to use a sword (v36-37)
The cause of Christ is not advanced with the use of weapons
Jesus’ heals the servant

Peter is standing in his own strength

Not praying – full of himself

He is rebuked by Jesus

He goes into the courtyard

He denies Jesus three times
The rooster crowed and Peter remembered Jesus’ words that he would deny Him (v61)

A betrayal and denial are not the same

A betrayal is calculated and planned
A denial is spontaneous and occurs in a time of weakness

Have there been occasions when you have acted like Peter?

We need to suffer with Christ
How foolish we often are?

Jesus looked at Peter with compassion and pity (v61)

It broke Peter’s heart and led him to repentance
Jesus does not turn His face away from us
He loves us
Confess you sin to Him

The victory – Jesus

Where is the victory – is He not a victim?
He is triumphant

He is fulfilling Scripture – being treated as a transgressor (like Barrabas)
Jesus was willing to take this role
He had come to become our substitute and take our sin upon Himself

This was God’s plan

He would die upon the cross and rise triumphant
John 12:27
Psalm 2

Jesus was not a victim but a victor fulfilling the plan of God

The lamb of God died as a substitute for our sins
His death was not in vain
All who trust in Jesus find full forgiveness
The cross is a demonstration of the love of God for you

Peter knew this – he was restored and was loved
Judas – never repented and went to hell

Do you identify with Peter?

Do not be a Judas
Be a servant of the living God
Love the victorious Jesus