He was one of the twelve. He walked with Jesus, witnessed the miracles, and sat at the Last Supper. Yet, on the very week that crowds shouted "Hosanna!", Judas Iscariot was setting in motion the most infamous betrayal in human history.
This Palm Sunday, as we enter Holy Week, we look beyond the palms and into the shadows to confront the chilling story of "Judas the Betrayer." This sermon, part of our "More Than Pardoned" series, is a sobering examination of a man who was close to Jesus but never truly knew Him.
A Journey Through the Betrayal, as told by the Gospels:
• The Anointing at Bethany (John 12:1-8): We see the first cracks in Judas's character—a heart motivated by greed, masquerading as concern for the poor.
• The Deal for Thirty Pieces of Silver (Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11): The conspiracy is sealed as Judas agrees to a price for the life of the Son of God.
• The Last Supper (Luke 22, John 13, Matthew 26): In the most intimate of settings, Jesus washes Judas's feet, shares a meal with him, and gives him one last chance, saying, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me."
• The Kiss in the Garden (Luke 22:47-48; Matthew 26:47-50): The final, devastating act. A sign of friendship becomes the signal for arrest.
This message is a powerful warning about the danger of a divided heart and the deceitfulness of sin. It forces us to ask the same question the disciples asked: "Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?" It reveals the difference between proximity to Jesus and true transformation by Jesus.
Before we can celebrate the pardon of the cross, we must understand the depth of the betrayal that led Him there.
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