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PASSION OF CHRIST
YEAR A ISAIAH 50:4-9a PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11 MATTHEW 26:14-27:66 MARCH 16, 2008 Matthew 26:14-16
Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the
chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I betray him to you?”
They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to
look for an opportunity to betray him. We
have heard the story of the Passion of our Lord. Even though we know that
the passion is not dictated by any one person we also know that the
disciple Judas was instrumental in the events we have just read about.
Judas was one of the 12 disciples. We hear about Judas for the first time
in Matthew 10 where he is described as a follower of our Lord We know
early in the story that Judas would be the betrayer. Why did Judas become
a betrayer? Did he wake up one day and decide that he would turn Jesus
over to the authorities? Maybe but it would take a price. How much would
it take for Judas to betray the Lord? It would take thirty pieces of
silver, the price of a slave that had been gored by a bull. According to
the Torah the owner of a slave that had been gored by a bull needed to pay
the owner thirty pieces of silver. Is that was Jesus was? Was he only
worth the price of a slave that had been gored by a
bull? There are
many that think the actions of Judas were to try and force Jesus to lead a
revolution against the Romans. There were many that thought of Jesus in
those terms. They saw Jesus as the Messiah who would restore The
truth is that none of us can force the hand of God nor should we try to.
Our relationship with the Lord our God means we allow the Lord to guide
the thoughts and the actions of our lives. Husbands love their wives
because that is how the Lord wants it. Wives love their husbands because
the Lord put the two together. Jesus Christ is Lord and he is your master.
He did not need help destroying the power of darkness but he wants you and
me to be part of the victory he won. I don’t know if this was the motive
of Judas. Whether or not this was part of Judas' thinking, it is often
part of our thinking. Don't we often want God to do what we want God to
do? We might pray, "If you really are God, you'll do this or that for me?"
I do know that God has a plan for salvation and Judas could not destroy
that plan just as the religious community could not destroy God’s plan.
Judas could not force the Lord into action and the Jewish authorities
could not dictate when God would act. It is God’s plan for salvation and
we must follow that plan. Matthew 27:3, 4 When Judas, his betrayer, saw that
Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of
silver to the chief priests and the elders. He said, “I have sinned by
betraying innocent blood.” When
we look at this story we sometimes forget that Judas repented of his sin.
Judas repented and he came to realize that he had betrayed an innocent
man. Judas declares Jesus to innocent. Lack of repentance is not what
caused Judas to fail. The word used for Peter’s denial and repentance is
the same word used for Judas’ repentance. What is the difference? Why did
Peter feel forgiven and Judas did not? Peter went back into the Christian
community. He went to the place where he would find grace, mercy and
peace. Peter’s life is restored as he seeks forgiveness from the Lord and
from the Christian community. Forgiveness and salvation come through the
Church of Jesus Christ. Our Lord gave this authority to the church. You
find your salvation in the church and through the blood of Jesus
Christ. Judas went to the religious authorities. He went to
the ones representing the Law. Judas went to people that could not offer
him the grace and mercy of God. Judas had been listed among the 12. He was
one of those that would judge the nations. Judas went to the wrong place
to find peace and forgiveness. Judas’ life was destroyed because he sought
forgiveness from those that could not and would not give it. There was no
peace for Judas and there was no life. Judas repented but he goes to the wrong people for
forgiveness. We read in this lesson that Jesus gave them the cup. The cup
Jesus gives is the cup given at the Last Supper. It is poured out for the forgiveness of sins.
This comes after Jesus indicates that he knows that Judas will betray him!
Judas was there to hear this word of promise about forgiveness. He was
there to hear about the community of believers and the forgiveness of sins
that comes through the body and blood of our
Savior. Judas goes to the religious leaders with his sin of
betraying innocent blood. They aren't interested in forgiving him. What
about you? The Christian community has been given the power to forgive
your sins. Judas did not receive his forgiveness because he did not go to
Jesus or the Christian community. He went to the wrong ones for
forgiveness? Besides his unwillingness to seek forgiveness from
God and the Christian community, Judas was also unable to forgive himself.
If the Lord forgives your sin you must also forgive yourselves. We must
not continue to dwell on what the Lord has forgiven. So often forgiving
ourselves is the hardest thing for us to do. Self-forgiveness often begins
with being forgiven and accepted by others. If the Lord sets you free you
are free indeed. Allow the Lord to set you free. Know that the Lord has
done everything necessary for your forgiveness and for your salvation.
AMEN
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