when I hear that. We're going
to have a get-together for the high
school graduates Sunday night, tonight, after church, and if
some men could put out a couple of more tables for that, it would
be helpful. I've entitled this message, The
Betrayal. One of the most painful things
experienced in this life is to be betrayed. And I have no doubt
that all of us have experienced it on some level to have a confidence
betrayed. That's very difficult, isn't
it? To have one misrepresent what
you said to somebody else to make you look bad, to slander
you. A traitor. You put others in danger by your
betrayal. A traitor to our country. What
do we think of that? Someone who would betray our
country. and put people in danger. When Shakespeare wrote the play
about Julius Caesar, he was talking about how the Senate in Rome
at that time all conspired to kill Julius Caesar. They all
came together to stab him. And in that play, he said to
his dear friend, And you too, Brutus? You betray me? Betrayal. What a difficult thing
it is. Betrayal we're going to consider
this morning is infinitely worse than any other betrayal because
of who was betrayed. the Son of God. Judas is a name that will always
be remembered in infamy as the one who betrayed the Son of God. Look in verse 18 of our text,
John chapter 13. Now the Lord had been speaking
of those who were clean that he had washed. And he says in
verse 18, I speak not of you all. Looking at the 12, I speak
not of you all. I know whom I have chosen. There
was one in their midst that was not one of God's elect, not one
that Jesus Christ had chosen, one that was not clean. He says, I speak not of you all,
I know whom I've chosen, but that the scripture may be fulfilled. He that eateth bread with me
hath lifted up his heel against me. Now this is a quotation from
Psalm 41, verse nine. And David did not know, I don't
think, when he was writing this, that it was a prophecy with regard
to Judas. He was talking about his close
friend Ahithophel. He ended up being a turncoat.
He turned on David and joined up with Absalom to try to have
David, his throne taken away. And I think it's so interesting
that Ahithophil was the grandfather of Bathsheba. And I'll guarantee
you he had an ax to grind with David over what David had done
with Bathsheba and with Uriah. And there's always a human element
involved in everything behind the scenes. And David was heartbroken
of this familiar friend of his turned against him and joined
up with Absalom trying to seek his life. And the Lord quotes
that as being a prophecy with regard to Judas. Now we would
not have known that had not the Lord made it known, but he makes
it known. He that eateth bread with me
hath lifted up his heel against me. Verse 19. Now, I tell you
before it come, that when it is come to pass, you may believe
that I am. You'll notice the he is in italics.
This is the name of God. that you may believe that I am. The name he made known to Moses
when Moses saw the bush that burned with fire and could not
be consumed. I love that picture of the Lord
Jesus Christ. That bush did not need the energy
of that wood to keep burning. This is speaking of Jesus Christ
as God independent with no needs. I love to think of our Lord in
that light. He has no needs. He's the self-existent one. You
and I are so needy. He has no needs as the God of
glory. And that fire could not consume
that bush. That's the perfect humanity of
the Lord Jesus Christ. When the wrath of God came upon
him, he consumed the wrath. He consumed the fire and put
it away. And he's saying, I'm not a victim. When I'm being betrayed, I'm
not a victim. I am. I am in absolute sovereign
control of this event. And I'm telling you before it
comes to pass, this is my will being done. I'm in control of
this. I'm telling you exactly what's
going to take place before it comes to pass that you might
know that I am. Now I want us to remember that
Jesus Christ is absolutely sovereign over the free and uncoerced actions
of men and demons. He's in absolute control of them. Turn with me to Acts chapter
four, verse 27. For of a truth, Acts 427, for
of a truth, against thy holy child Jesus whom thou hast anointed,
both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people
of Israel were gathered together for to do whatsoever thy hand
and thy counsel determined before to be done. Everything that happened, happened
because God willed it to happen. When the soldiers were driving
the nails in his hands and in his feet, it was the will of
God that was behind what was taking place. His determinant
counsel. And the Lord is telling these
people, I'm gonna tell you what will come to pass and understand
this, I'm not just predicting the future or telling the future,
this is my will being done. Known unto God are all of his
works from the beginning. Not known unto God is what will
happen from the beginning, but known unto God are all his works
from the beginning. This is his work being done. The man who was to be betrayed
and nailed to a cross was nobody less than God. God manifest in the flesh. Well might the sun in darkness
hide to shut his glories in. when Christ, the mighty maker,
died. For man, the creatures, sinned. Verse 20, Verily, verily, I say unto you,
He that receiveth whomsoever I sinned receiveth me. And he that receiveth me receiveth
him that sent me. When Jesus had thus said, he
was troubled in spirit and testified and said, verily, verily, I say
unto you that one of you shall betray me. Now how did they feel
at that time? He looked at the 12. He didn't
say somebody out there's gonna betray me. He said one of you
shall betray me. How do you think the disciples
felt at this time? I want you to turn with me to
Matthew chapter 26. This is Matthew's account of
this same event. One of you shall betray me. Verse 21 of Matthew chapter 26. And as they did eat, he said,
verily I say unto you that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful,
and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? Am I the one? You know, at this
time, they weren't thinking, Lord, is it Peter? I can see
him doing it. Lord, is it Andrew? I get that. No, Lord, is it I? Now, if I have any understanding
of my own heart, this is what I'll say about myself. Lord,
is it I? I who have this heart that you
describe as deceitful above all things and desperately wicked,
am I the man that's going to do it? Lord, is it I? Now, if I'm thinking about myself
the way I ought to be thinking, we don't do that very often,
do we? But if I'm thinking about myself the way I ought to be
thinking, here's my response, Lord, Is it I? Look in verse 23 of
Matthew chapter 26. And he answered and said, he
that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray
me. The son of man goeth as it's
written of him, but woe unto that man by whom the son of man
is betrayed. It had been good for that man
if he had not been born. Now Judas was listening in on
all this. Judas had already made plans to betray him. Satan had
already influenced him. And look what Judas says. Then
Judas, which betrayeth him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He's going to say what everybody
else is saying. He's not going to try to stand out. Master, is it I? Thou hast said, what is the difference between
the 11 and Judas? Did you notice anything? Verse 22, Lord, is it I? Verse
25, master. Is it I? Here's the difference between
a believer and an unbeliever. Lord, is it I? Master means teacher. Teacher,
is it I? I'm sure Judas had a high opinion
of his teachership. Teacher, is it I? But what did the believer say? Lord, is it I? Now something that every
believer believes that no unbeliever believes is that Jesus Christ
is Lord. And what all does that mean?
If I believe He's Lord, I believe His will is always done. And do you hear that? If you
believe He's Lord, if you really believe this, you believe His
will is always done. And if you don't believe that,
you don't believe He's Lord. You're like Judas. No different. His will was done in creation. All things were made by him. And without him was not anything
made that was made. You believe that Jesus Christ
spake the universe into existence. Do you believe that? Do you believe
creation is his will being done? But not only do you believe His
will is being done in creation, you believe His will is being
done in everything else in time, in providence. Whatever's going
on, whatever takes place, doesn't matter what it is, it's His will
being done. The lot is cast into the lap,
the wise man said in Proverbs 16, 33, but the whole disposing
thereof is of the Lord. Whatever it is, it's His will
being done. And I know people will say, you
saying He's responsible for this bad thing and that bad thing.
I'm saying whatever happens, His will is being done. And He
always brings good out of evil because of who He is. Only He
can do that. and His glorious purposes being done. We've already
read Acts chapter four, verse 27. They were doing whatsoever
His hand and counsel determined before to be done. Everything
is under His absolute sovereign control. And most especially,
He's Lord in salvation. You know what that means? That
means if you're saved, It's His will being done. There's one reason why you're
saved and it's not your will. It's His will being done. Lord, if you will. You can make
me clean. Now, every believer believes
in the absolute Lordship of Jesus Christ. And they're relying on
the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I'm relying on Him to will my
salvation. Are you? Give commandment to
save me, David said. You know the thief on the cross? understood completely that Jesus
Christ is Lord. He saw that one hanging on a
tree that Drew just sang about. And he said, Lord. He's the Lord. No man can say
that Jesus is Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. And that means more
than articulating it verbally in a way that you can hear. It
means you really believe he's Lord. You really believe He's
Lord of creation, of providence, of salvation. And you're relying
on Him being Lord to save you. The only way you can be saved
is if He wills it. You believe that. He is Lord. Lord, is it I? What Judas say? Master, is it I? No unbeliever, he might say,
you know, I believe Jesus is Lord, but in his heart, no unbeliever
believes that Jesus Christ is Lord. If thou shalt confess with
thy mouth the Lord Jesus, Jesus to be Lord and believe in thine
heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved. So we see a big difference between
these people. I think this is amazing. Look
down in verse seven. Let me find it. Oh, back, I'm looking at John
now. Look back, I'm still Matthew 26. Look in verse 30, and when they
had sung and hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives.
Then saith Jesus unto them, these people who had just said, is
it I? All ye shall be offended because
of me this night, for it's written, I will smite the shepherd and
the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after
I'm risen again, I'll go before you into Galilee. Peter answered
and said unto him, though all men should be offended because
of thee, yet will I never be offended. Now he just said, is
it I? And he meant it. And now he turns
around and says, this bunch may, not me. Verse 34, Jesus saith unto him,
verily I say unto thee that this night before the cock crow, thou
shalt deny me three times. Peter said unto him, though I
should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also
said all of his disciples. Now, how can both of these come
out of the same man? Is it I, and I'll never deny
you? Well, it's the two natures coming
out of the same consciousness. Is it I? What humility, what
truth? I'll never do it. What haughty
arrogance coming out of the same men. Now go back to John chapter
13. Verse 21, I say unto you that
one of you shall betray me. Then the disciples looked one
on another, doubting of whom he spake. And the idea is, I
know it won't be Peter. Who's he speaking of? I certainly
don't think it'll be Judas. He's the most trusted disciple.
He's the one who holds the bag. Surely it wouldn't be him. Who
is this going to be? Verse 23. Now there was leaning on Jesus'
bosom one of his disciples whom Jesus loved. Now I love this. It doesn't say the disciple that
loved Jesus. How you feel about your love?
Are you gonna try to, how much I love him? I do love him. I
do love him. but I'm a whole lot more interested
in His love to me than my love to Him. The disciple that Jesus
loved. When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see, it will be my joy through the
ages to sing of His love for me. the disciple that Jesus loved. Now, you can preach the gospel
from this. If the Lord Jesus Christ loved
all men without exception, including those who were sent to hell,
this would make this statement meaningless. If he can love you
and you wind up in hell anyway, what good does his love do? No,
the disciple that Jesus loved is the disciple that Jesus saved. The disciple that Jesus loved
is the disciple that Jesus redeemed. The disciple that Jesus loved
is the disciple that Jesus justified. The disciple that Jesus loved.
It all begins with His eternal love. Behold, I have loved you
with an everlasting love. Therefore, with loving kindness
have I drawn thee. All of God's salvation is found
in this statement. The disciple that Jesus loved
is the disciple that Jesus justified. The disciple that Jesus loved
is the disciple that Jesus called. The disciple that Jesus loved
is the disciple Jesus died for. The disciple that Jesus loved
is the disciple that Jesus preserved. All of salvation is found in
that. Is that your only claim to fame?
Your only hope is that you're like John was, the disciple that
Jesus loved. Nothing said about what he did.
Nothing said about his works. The disciple that Jesus loved. I want to be that man, don't
you? The disciple that Jesus loved. Verse 23. Now there was leaning on Jesus
bosom, one of his disciples whom Jesus loved. Simon therefore
beckoned to him. He gave some kind of hand gesture.
He knew him and that he should ask who it should
be of whom he spake. I can picture this in my mind.
I mean, Peter, you know, John, find out who he's talking about.
He gave some kind of hand gesture. I guess he knew what he's talking
about. So we read verse 25, he then lying on Jesus' breast,
saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, he it is to whom
I shall give a sock, when I dipped it. Now this is what was done
for the honored guest. I didn't realize this, so I started
reading some things about this. The honored guest would have
the sock dipped and given to him. Jesus answered, he it is to whom
I shall give a sop when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped
the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop, Satan entered
into him. Now we read in the first part
of this chapter, and supper being ended, the devil having now put
into the heart of Judas Iscariot Simon's son to betray him. Now
Satan was involved in this. He was inspiring Simon and I
think he thought somehow I can defeat the Lord Jesus Christ
by this act. He didn't realize that he was
God's pawn. I love to think of It scares
me to say it, but I love to think about this. The devil's God's
pawn on God's chain, doing God's will at all times. The Lord was
in complete control of this event, causing the greatest thing infinitely
that ever took place to take place, the death of the Lord
Jesus Christ on the cross and His glorious accomplishments.
But the devil didn't know that, did he? He thought he was going
to kill Christ. He thought he was going to put
him out of business. And when it says he put it in his heart
already, and when the Lord gave him this sop, it says Satan entered
into his heart. The devil thinks he's going to
defeat the Lord Jesus Christ through this. And after the salt, verse 27,
Satan entered unto him, then said Jesus unto him, That thou
doest, do quickly. Did Judas know that the Lord
was telling him, betray me quickly? I don't know if he did or not.
Maybe he did. But nobody else knew what he's
talking about because we read in verse 28, now no man at the
table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. For some
of them thought because Judas had the bag that Jesus had sent
him, buy those things which we have need of against the feast,
or that he should give something to the poor. That was something
they did quite often. And when the other disciples
heard this, They didn't know what Judas was going to do. And we know that when he went
out to betray him, he did exactly what Zechariah 11 said he would
do. He sold for 30 pieces of silver,
just as the Lord said he would. Verse 30, he then having received the sop,
went immediately out. And it was night. There's a whole lot in that statement. Now is your hour and the power
of darkness. It was night that the Lord would
be betrayed by one who claimed to be his friend in such a wicked,
heartless way. It was night. And I hope one
of the things that you and I are thinking is this would be me
if he didn't prevent it from happening. This would be me. They asked
that question. Is it I? Is it I? Verse 31. Therefore, when he was gone out,
Everything is now in place for the most glorious, God-like thing God ever did to
be done. He's gone out to set in motion
the cross. What happened as a result of
this betrayal? The cross of Jesus Christ. This would not have happened.
The cross would not have happened had not Judas wickedly done what
he did. It was evil, it was wrong, but
what glory. The Lord uses everything for
his glory and he brings good out of evil. Now, let me tell
you what happened as a result of what Judas did, the son of
man is glorified. And God is glorified in him. When the Lord Jesus Christ spoke
of his death in Luke chapter nine, verse 31, he spake of the
decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem, and I am always
mystified by that statement, because death, you don't usually
think of death as an accomplishment. I mean, when you see me lying
dead in a coffin, lifeless, you're gonna, he was a sinner. That's
why that happened. And that's why it's gonna happen
to you, because you're a sinner. The end of death is utter defeat,
utter weakness, utter sinfulness. That's why men die. Not him. The accomplishments of his death,
he fully and completely glorified his father. Every attribute of
God magnified. in the death of Jesus Christ.
His holiness, His justice, His purpose, His sovereignty, His
grace, His love, His mercy, His power, His wisdom, all that God
is, is made known in the cross of Jesus Christ. Now you're never
going to know who God is apart from the cross of Jesus Christ. Who He is is revealed In the
cross, do you see the glory of God in the cross? Do you see
how God is glorified in the cross? Now, you know what else happened
in the death of Christ? Everybody he died for was saved. When he said, it is finished,
my salvation was accomplished. Now, Judas, you and I really
are no better than he is. You believe that? Who made the difference between
the disciples who said, Lord, is it I? And Judah is saying,
Master, is it I? That's all the difference in
the world. Who made that difference? Who maketh thee to differ from
another? And what hast thou that thou
hast not received? Now, if you received it, Why
do you glory, as if you hadn't received it? Now, who made you
to differ? God the Father in eternal election,
when he chose you to be saved. God the Son on Calvary's tree,
when he put away your sins. God the Holy Spirit in giving
you life from the dead. We look at Judas and we know,
that is me, except God make. the difference. And we're thankful
what the Lord did through Judas. He glorified himself and he saved
all of his people from their sins. Now somebody says, am I
one of his people? Do you believe Jesus Christ is
Lord? If you do, you are one of His
people. Let's pray. Lord, how we thank you for who
you are. And Lord, we stand amazed at
your glorious person. We stand amazed at your salvation. And Lord, give us the grace to be like the disciples when
they say, Lord, is it I? For Lord, we know that apart
from your grace, it will be us. And we ask in Christ's name that
we might be found in your son, that you'd give us the grace
to look to him only and to truly believe, just like the thief
did, that he is Lord. Bless this message for your glory
and for our good. In Christ's name we pray, amen.