Matthew 27 - Part 1

 

Read Matthew 27

The kangaroo court had reached its verdict and Jesus was to be taken to Pilate for execution.  Judas became remorseful when he saw what had come of his betrayal.  He took the 30 silver pieces back to the chief priest and his cohorts.

“I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

They replied, That’s on you.”  They had what they wanted and the facts would just get in the way.

Judas threw the money at them and left.  He hanged himself. The 30 pieces of silver was the price of a slave according to the Lex Talionis and other biblical references lead us to God removing the bad shepherds.  Enough on the money.

You might think that the confession of Judas to betraying innocent blood would be cause for pause in this sham of a trial and plan to execute Jesus.

You might think that Judas hanging himself might give the Chief Priest and the other religious hypocrites cause for reflection upon their present course.

It did not.  The only question before the hypocrites was what to do with the money.  It was blood money and couldn’t go into the treasury, so they bought a field for burying foreigners and perhaps the poor.

It was called the Field of Blood.

That’s the end of the story of Judas.  Was he consigned to hell immediately upon death?  Was redemption possible for him?

The gospel writers do no speak kindly of him.  Whenever Judas is mentioned in the gospels, he is noted as the one who betrayed Jesus, even though the betrayal does not come until near the end of each gospel.

Even Jesus said that it would be better that he was not born.  Was he talking about his eternal soul or about the gravity of the remorse he felt in this chapter?

What Judas did was necessary to get Jesus to the cross. Last week we looked at how impossible and illogical it would be to convict Jesus in an actual trial; yet, he was convicted and sentenced to death.

Here we see the Chief Priest and other religious leaders turning away a man who wanted to confess his sins and exonerate one they had condemned to death.  This behavior was required to get Jesus to the cross.

We don’t know what eternity holds for Judas, but we do know that he did his part to get the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world as step closer to the altar on which he would be sacrificed.

I’m glad I wasn’t Judas but I’m also glad he did his part so that the blood of Jesus parted me from my sin.

Amen.

 

John 13 - Part 2

Read John 13

Man, that was some weird stuff.  Watching him walk on water or raise Lazarus from the dead was amazing.  I now believe the unbelievable because Jesus is from God, but having him wash my feet.  That was some weird stuff right there.

I’m glad that we are just enjoying our meal again.  Now we can just relax and eat dinner.

Those are my reconstituted thoughts on the thoughts of one or more of the disciples.

Jesus taught a little.  It was familiar stuff.  If you accept me, you accept the one who sent me.  Been there, done that.  We know that part.  Good no parables.

But once again, we will get a glimpse of the Son of God’s humanity.  He is troubled.  His spirit is troubled.  Jesus knew what was ahead of him; yet he was troubled.  He knew all along that he would die, but this is different.

One of you is going to betray me.

Peter gets John to ask Jesus just who would betray him.  Jesus told John that it was who the disciple to whom he would give the dipped piece of bread.  Jesus gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.  He told Judas to go do what he had to do and do it now.

The disciples thought that Judas was sent to buy food or give money to the poor.  John said nothing. 

We are told that Satan entered Judas and he left the room as soon as he received the bread.

Remember that his hour had come.  With the departure of Judas, the minute hand advanced 10 or 15 minutes.  The Sanhedrin had decided to kill Jesus.  The betrayer was on the way to them.  It was Passover Week.

The disciples just sat there.  Think deer in the headlights. 

What did he just say?  What does that mean?  Pass the bread.

This was not your uncle telling off color jokes at Thanksgiving dinner and everyone rolling their eyes.  This was gut wrenching stuff.  Jesus just washed their feet and next he said that he is going to be betrayed.  Was it Judas or was Judas just running an errand.  Was the one who would betray the Master just revealed and allowed to walk out of the room?

We know the story.  Imagine what it was to sit at that table and wonder what would come next.

 

If I ever get around to writing a skit for this meal, one of the disciples is going to say, “The whole thing had gone 2020.”

For now, know that his hour had come and the minute hand was advancing quickly.

Amen.