Gospel of John - Betrayal

                                      

Betrayal

John 13:18-30

One of the darkest weapons of Satan's arsenal is betrayal. The betrayal of Jesus was Satan’s attempt to stop the fulfillment of God’s purpose and plan; if he couldn’t tempt Jesus, he would use those near him. Jesus knew the one who was near him, and who had listened to and given his heart to the enemy’s plan.

Jesus sitting at the table now, with Judas on his right and possibly John on his left reveals to the disciples’ a dark secret in the heart of one of their intimate group. Let’s look at the first portion of the text, “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’ “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.” After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” 

Jesus had chosen the twelve, he knew their hearts and all their idiosyncrasies, the good, bad, and the annoying ones. Jesus knew all scripture and prophecies must be fulfilled pertaining to the Messiah, the Christ. This one prophecy was troubling him deep down in his spirit, “Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.” (Ps. 41:9) 

Jesus and the disciples had spent nearly three years together and the disciples had learned to place their trust in Jesus and in one another, to the point that they thought that they really knew one another. They knew the solemness of the week was wearing on them, especially Jesus. He doesn’t want the disciples startled or surprised by the darkness that is approaching them. He is reassuring them that He is truly the Christ, the Son of God. 

Jesus knew the importance of acceptance in close friendship, and Jesus is telling them “whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”  Each of them have shown their vulnerabilities and pelcular characteristics: Peter’s impetuousness, John and James rash judgementality, Thomas’ doubting, Philip’s uncertainties, and Andrew’s loyalty.

Application -  In every church, there are constituents, communities, and clics. People will congregate in age groups, gender groups, and groups of various intellectual and social stratum. But in Christ, He has called those who heed his voice, who desire his will and purpose regardless of gender, social, or cultural classification. Jesus said to the masses if you want to be my disciple… “And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.” Mk.8:34-35

The disciples and all others that followed throughout this church age have received the same call. We are to follow the Lord’s commands and told to do two things as holy ordinances in the church: to be baptized and to take holy communion in remembrance of Christ’s death (Acts 2:41–2:47; 1Cor 11:23–11:32). 

In the true church today, we have fellowship with Christ and with one another, we know each one’s idiosyncrasies, the good, bad, and the annoying ones. We, like the disciples, “do” life together. And just as Jesus had them around the table, we meet throughout the week, breaking bread and ministering in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit as He decides for the edification and building up of the church (Eph. 4:12, 16; 1 Cor. 12:11, 14:12). 

Even with all of this, we still see betrayal within the church because Satan is still trying to steal, kill, and destroy the purpose and plan of God, his body, the church. And like Jesus, we need to discern through the Spirit and the Word that which doesn’t edify the believers decieves, steals, kills, and destroys. There many false gospels being preached in these last days, let us build one another up in the truth of God’s word through the fire of the Holy Spirit’s power. 

It was at the table while eating during one of the fifteen steps of the Passover dinner, Jesus testifies in his troubled spirit, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” Let’s look at the next portion of the text, “His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”  Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

Again, these men were dumbfounded to say the least, they knew themselves. They even went as far as to scrutinize themselves, “Is it me?” And Jesus didn’t answer their ponderings right away, he sat waiting. Finally, Peter in his “I need to know” manner, nudges John in a bruised ego fashion to ask Jesus which one of us is it. John complies with the inquiry because he too isn't sure. 

Jesus’ response wasn’t to blurt out the name, but asked John to watch. Jesus had been eating and dipping his bread into the bowls of wine, gargum (fish oil), and olive oil at the center of the table. He extended his bread into the bowl while talking with Judas and gave it to him. This wasn’t that strange at the table because he had been sharing with others. But at this moment, something unusual did transpire, Satan entered into Judas at that moment. There was no giant demonic manifestation, Jesus told him, ““What you are about to do, do quickly.” 

Judas, possessed by Satan left to the already planned betrayal (Matt. 26:14-16) with the Chief priests and the Pharisees. 

Now, Peter and John didn’t get the significance of Judas’ leaving so abruptly. They knew he was the treasurer, keeper of the finances, only later would it be revealed that Judas had absconded and embezzled the funds he had been entrusted with (Jn. 12:4-6).

The other disciples also thought Jesus had sent Judas on a special task: to buy supplies or food for the festival, or Ma'ot Chitim (giving to the poor). In the stealth only Satan had mastered, Judas disappeared into the darkness of the night.

Application - When the works of Satan are revealed, even in the church. People are surprised, mistified, and astonished. And like the disciples, who wonder if there were others involved. Jesus knows our every thought, especially those in whom satanic oppression and possession is operating in the midst of the body of the church. The Apostles Peter and Paul dealt with satanic possession within the church: Aninas and Sapphira’s lying to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:1-11), the man and his step mother in sexual immorality ( 1 Cor. 5:1-2) to name a few. 

Jesus told satanic Judas to leave quickly, and he wants the church today to act quickly in removing anything that would give satan a foothold in the church (Eph. 4:27).

It is a dark lesson, and it should trouble our spirits that darkness has and is creeping into the church today. That is why Jesus’ first warnings to the church about satanic influences in the end times. “Watch out that no one deceives you…At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” Matt. 24:4,10-12

Today, the Holy Spirit is drawing all who will listen to Jesus. If you don’t know Jesus, today is the day of salvation for you.

I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). Please, Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I am developing a new webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. I’m adding answers each week to questions that pertain to our time today.  Thank you

http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com