Judas – Avoiding The Greatest Tragedy

The Son of Man is going to die as the Scriptures say he will. But how horrible it will be for that person who betrays the Son of Man. It would have been better for that person if he had never been born. Matthew 26:24 (GW)

Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself.  Matthew 27:5 (NLT)

…but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:33 (ESV)

…He doesn’t want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act. 2 Peter 3:9b (GW)

But Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came and grabbed Jesus and arrested him. Matthew 26:50 (CEB)

IF I AVOID THE GREATEST TRAGEDY…

1. I will encounter pardon.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people! They don’t know what they’re doing. Luke 23:34 (CEV)

God wants all people to be saved. And he wants everyone to know the truth. 1 Timothy 2:4 (ICB)

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives…? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. ¹⁹ You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:18-19 (NIV)

2. I will encounter purpose.

…You will be my witnesses—in Jerusalem, in all of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world.” Acts 1:8b (NCV)

…I am sending you to them ¹⁸ to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ Acts 26:17b-18 (NIV)

3. I will encounter power.

But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power.  Acts 1:8a (CEV)

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 (NIV)

I want you to know about the great and mighty power that God has for us followers. It is the same wonderful power he used ²⁰ when he raised Christ from death… Ephesians 1:19-20a (CEV)

4. I will encounter peace.

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn’t fragile like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid. ²⁸ Remember what I told you—I am going away, but I will come back to you again… John 14:27-28 (TLB)

Jesus himself stood right in the middle of them and said, “Peace be with you.” ³⁷ They were fearful and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. ³⁸ But Jesus said, “Why are you troubled? Why do you doubt what you see? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have a living body as you see I have.  Luke 24:36b-39 (NCV)

To AVOID the GREATEST TRAGEDY & Embrace life I need…

1. To guard my heart.

Jesus and his disciples were at supper. The Devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, the thought of betraying Jesus… John 13:2 (GNT)

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

So be careful. If you are thinking, “Oh, I would never behave like that”—let this be a warning to you. For you too may fall into sin. 1 Corinthians 10:12 (TLB)

Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack. 1 Peter 5:8 (CEV)

2. To take advantage of “ways of escape.”

You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted. But God can be trusted not to let you be tempted too much, and he will show you how to escape from your temptations. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (CEV)

And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. 2 Peter 1:4 (NLT)

So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? Hebrews 2:3 (NLT)

3. To make a genuine commitment to Christ.

Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” ¹¹ For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.  John 13:10-11 (NIV)

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, ⁵ “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” ⁶ He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. John 12:4-6 (NIV)

These “against-Christ” people used to be members of our churches, but they never really belonged with us…  1 John 2:19 (TLB)