The Power of Betrayal
-
Greg Waybright
- John 13:18-30
- Knocked Down But Not Out
- 49 mins 9 secs
- Views: 1527
Pastor's Note
When someone betrays you, is there something you can learn from Jesus on how to handle the situation? Let’s face it, broken relationships hurt. This weekend we will look at Jesus' example in responding to betrayal. We'll find that people offer grace and forgiveness to one another and we do not give up on each other.
Study Notes
The Power of Betrayal - Week 2 - Study Notes
the power of betrayal
John 13:18-30
This is Martin Luther King weekend and Sanctity of Human Life weekend here in our nation. Both of those call us to open our eyes to the fact that in our nation and world human life is often devalued, disregarded and mistreated. Sometimes that happens because of a person’s skin color, sometimes it is because of past failures – in Europe and the Middle East we see it because radical Muslims devalue those who disagree with them -- and sometimes it is human life in the womb that people treat as if it is not human life at all with 1.2M abortions in our nation this past year. In a church in which Jesus is Lord, we of all people should declare to our world that every human life is made in God image, is a person for whom Jesus gave his life, and is one who can become a new creation in Christ. So, with such weighty issues about the value of life in front of our society today, I looked and saw that the text that is before us as a congregation is the story of Judas and his betrayal of Jesus! I almost decided to change passages. I’ve asked in prayer, “What does this passage say to us about the value of human life?”
With that prayer in my mind, I began to read John 13-17 again as it tells us what Jesus did and taught on the day before he went to the cross to die for us. Jesus wanted us to know how we are to live in this time during which he is not physically present and before he returns to complete his work.
Jesus’ Vision of His Church
As I read the first 35 verses of John 13 again, this began to be clear to me: Jesus began his last day with his disciples by sharing his vision of what the church is supposed to be. Here’s what we find: In a world in which people are divided in countless ways and in which some human lives are disrespected, Jesus in vv.1-17 calls those who follow him to be a loving community in which people serve people -- seek the best for other people. It is a beautiful and powerful vision. “Just a I will serve you by washing your feet and soon by dying in your place, you serve one another.” That’s what Jesus said. That’s what we focused on last week.
When we get down to vv. 31-35, Jesus puts his dream into a command, “Love one another, “ he commanded. “Just as I have loved you, you must love one another. That is how a watching world will know that you are my disciples.” Can you see what he was seeing? In this broken and divided world in which there is a lot of disrespect, injustice toward people, and abuse everywhere, the church of Jesus Christ is to be a people in which the world sees the love of the church across the usual divides of race, age, gender, and social status. The world should see this love and know this: Those people must be Christians!
Now, notice this: Right in the middle of Jesus setting forth that vision of a loving community in which every person is valued and served, we find the Bible reports a tragic story of the deception and betrayal of Jesus by one who was in his innermost circle. Think about it: If the love and trust of God’s people for one another is the way people will know that Jesus is the Savior, then the deception of Jesus himself by one of his closest associates will surely undermine everything. That seems to be the “power of betrayal” that this passage asks us to grapple with.
Let me say this upfront: This matter of trust being broken among those who claim to be Jesus-followers is still a huge issue for us in the 21st century. When people have experienced a break of trust or lovelessness in the church, then they usually find it hard to trust again. I think that one of the reasons for this is that we expect God to make his people all perfect faster than he does. But, we human beings don’t fix fast! So, if you have personally experienced deception and betrayal among church people, then I want you to see first that Jesus did among his disciples too – even after he had been walking with and training them for 3 years.
In addition, in spite of this betrayal by a close disciple, Jesus continued to declare that communities of his followers existing in neighborhoods, i.e., local churches just like ours, are to be the places where people in locations like the our own are to see evidence of the power of the gospel to change us into people who love as Jesus loved.
So, how did Jesus handle it when, within the group he had mentored for three years, there was deception and betrayal. What do we learn from him? Let’s let John walk us through this as we go step by step through his report found in John 13:18-30. What does Jesus tell us in the face of broken trust?
#1: As destructive as betrayal is, even it cannot thwart the beautiful plan of God to make all things right in his creation (13:18-20). “Scripture will be fulfilled…”
Just after Jesus calls all followers to engage in loving service to one another and, as v.17 says, to be blessed, he stops in v.18 to say, “Not all of you will be loving. Not all of you will be blessed. Not all of you are chosen.” Listen carefully again: Jesus’ language of being chosen or not chosen has led to many miss Jesus’ main point, i.e., God is sovereign and even an evil like the betrayal of an intimate friend cannot thwart him. That’s what Jesus is going to tell his disciples. Jesus is wanting us to know that God’s eternal plan to have a family made up of people who trust in him and love as he loves – and ultimately will end in everything in creation being made right – will not be defeated by the lovelessness and evil of a traitor.
Jesus knew the seriousness of this. He knew that the disciples would ask, after Jesus had been crucified, “Was this real? Were we deceived? Was Jesus really the Savior?” After all, if he could not transform even a group this small, how could he develop a God-glorifying people from all over the world?
So, notice what Jesus did. First, he took the disciples to Scripture. In vv.18-20, Jesus pulled aside from calling them to find real blessing in life by being a community that serves one another and said, “Something is going to happen that will be the fulfillment of Scripture.” The text he cited was Psalm 41:9 in which King David was betrayed by one who was very, very close to him, “Don’t be surprised when not all of you will truly follow me. One will even betray me. That could devastate you but don’t let it. It’s all a part of God’s plan. God will complete his work not only in spite of this betrayal – but also through it.
In addition to citing Scripture, Jesus reminded them of who he was. Jehovah God had made himself known to Moses at a burning bush in a wilderness as “I am.” “When people find it hard to believe you, tell them ‘I am’ has sent you.” Jesus says the same thing: “When people say, ‘How can you truly believe that this is true when you have such duplicity and betrayal in your midst,” remember that ‘I am’.” V.19: “I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am.”
I tell you, as destructive as deceit, lovelessness, self-centeredness and betrayal may be, God is still God. His beautiful plans will not be thwarted by those who claim to be Christians but really are just playing the game. That was true for Jesus’ innermost circle of followers. It’s still true today. Jesus told them, “Don’t give up on me. Don’t give up on one another. Stand together. Serve one another. Love one another.” And I tell you the same today.
#2: Even though deception and betrayal do not thwart God’s plan, it still brings anguish to his heart (13:21). Jesus was troubled in his spirit…
I have come to love the Gospel of John – for many reasons. But, one of the main reasons is that the disciple known to be particularly close to and loved by Jesus, i.e., John, let’s us see the heart of Jesus more profoundly than anyone else. In John 11, when Mary was grieving so deeply because of the premature death of her brother, John tells us Jesus saw her weeping and was “deeply moved in his spirit”. This meant that the one through whom the world was made knew that when he was done with his work, there will be no more death. There will be no more grieving. No more weeping. When he saw the death and grief in those he loved, he was troubled. This is not the way things are meant to be – and it will not always be that way.
The very same phrase is used for Jesus when he considers a person who should reflect his own image – including faithfulness, integrity, service – being involved in deceit and duplicity and preparing not to serve but to betray. Do you remember last week’s message when I pointed out from Jn 13:1 that Jesus loves you? Well, he loved Judas too. And Jesus loved him so much that he was troubled deeply when he saw a person he loved destroying his life and seeking to do the same to the lives of those around him by his sin.
How do you think about Jesus? Jesus is holy. Yes, he is. Jesus hates sin. But Jesus loves the people of the world so much – he loves you so much that -- that, when you walk away from him, his heart is filled with anguish. What Judas would do was wrong. What Judas would do would fulfill Scripture. What Judas would do would not thwart God’s beautiful plan. But still, Judas’ sin brought anguish to Jesus’ heart. And so does mine. And so does yours. Never forget that. So, when you and I see flaws in others, what do we learn from Jesus’ words and actions in the face of his disciples?
#3: When we see deception and betrayal in others, our response should not be proud criticism but deep introspection (13:22-25). “Lord, who is it?”
Jesus says in the hearing of all 12 men, “Truly, truly I tell you (in other words, “This IS going to happen!”), one of you will betray me.” We have a fuller report in the other gospel accounts on how the disciples responded to Jesus’s declaration. They all asked, “Is it I?” They knew that the possibility of this level of wrongdoing was also in their own hearts. This is one of the few times that the disciples seemed to have responded to Jesus’ words in an appropriate way.
So, I see this passage as including a call to all who say we follow Jesus to engage in self examination. The Apostle Paul took this up in Galatians 6:1 as he was talking about how a loving and God-honoring church would deal with the fact that all of us continue to fall short of God’s glory. He wrote this: Brothers and sisters, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. And keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
All 12 disciples needed Jesus to become a slave and wash their feet. Do you remember that? All 12 disciples would need the sinless Jesus to become a slave and die in their places for the forgiveness of their sins. And the same is true of each of us here today. Truly, truly, I say to you: No genuine follower of Jesus who grasps this can ever be proud. We are all recipients of God’s mercy. When a brother or sister comes to church and has failed, one thing we all must do is examine our own lives.
Specifically, I believe we must watch out for those things in our own lives that would break trust with others. How will you know what those things might be? Let me give you the major clue: The danger in your life that could break trust with those close to you is almost always is something that you try to keep hidden from them. Is God’s Spirit convicting you of anything like that right now? Confess it to the Lord right now. Turn from it. He will forgive and cleanse you.
How do I know this?
#4: Jesus is “longsuffering” and continues to offer grace to the worst betrayer – to the end (13:26-30).
Jesus dipped the morsel of bread and gave it to Judas…
When God made himself known to Moses in Exodus 34, he said that, when we think of him, we should always know he is merciful and slow to anger. I love the older versions translation in which we are told that God is “longsuffering”. Our actions and attitudes often make God suffer. But, he loves us so much that he is patient and slow to anger. He is LONG-suffering. Nowhere is that clearer than in this passage.
As I read all the accounts of this scene, I envision it playing out like this: Jesus tells the disciples solemnly that one of them will betray him. They express their fear, “Lord, is it I?” But, Jesus does not respond immediately. These 12 men who have been together for three years soon go back to their talking and bantering. But Peter tells John, who was immediately to Jesus’ right side, “Ask him who it is?” Jesus tells John, “It is the one to whom I will give a morsel of bread after I have personally dipped it in the cup.” Some more time goes by so that, apparently as no one was watching, Jesus dips the bread in the cup and gives it to Judas.
I want you to notice two important things here. First, no one seemed to have been able to imagine that Judas would be the traitor. Why? For one reason, Jesus had come from the more up-scale and respectable neighborhood. He was the one who was even trusted with the money – probably both because of his skills and his perceived integrity. The rest of the group of 12 was made up of fishermen, a tax collector, a Zealot, men called “Sons of Thunder”, etc. They would have been profiled as likely betrayers. But not Judas. Even when he leaves, they cannot imagine he is the betrayer. “He must be going out to get what we need or to help the poor.” This is to say that any one of us can and will be tempted to do wrong. Moreover, we should not be shaken or surprised when those we trust the most, experiences a fall.
Second, do not miss the poignant last attempt Jesus made to reach out to Judas. When a man dipped bread into the cup and personally offered it to another, this was a powerful gesture that was saying, “I want to have a deeper or a renewed relationship with you.” Let me ask you: Would you have done this if you knew that person had already made plans to betray you? This is the way of Jesus. It’s the way he treats you and me. And he calls us to be a community of grace.
When I read this on Martin Luther King week, I immediately thought of his famous quote that was based on the life of Jesus: “Let no man pull you so low as to hate him.”
In spite of this mercy-filled offer from Jesus, Judas heads out to betray him. Carol Kenyon helped me understand this a bit: She said, “Probably, there was still the noise of 12 men talking with one another around the table. When we are tempted, it often feels like there is all this noise resonating in our heads. So, even when we know what Jesus is offering and we know what we want to do is wrong, the noise keeps us from thinking straight and we give in.”
The Bible says, “Satan entered into Judas.” The voice of Jesus offers grace but it is Satan whom Judas allows to direct his life. Jesus had said just before going to the Upper Room in 12:46: “I am light who has come into the world so that whoever believes in me may not be in darkness.” But, Judas goes out… “and it was night (13:30).”
What I want you to do in the light of the powerful Word of God?
- Ask God even now to open your eyes to those things in your heart and life that would lead to distrust that, if they were to come out into the light, would result in God’s name being demeaned – or in a break in relationship between you and those close to you.
* Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny (Emerson).
- If you have felt betrayed, I want you to commit that situation and person to God. Ask him to give you wisdom to know what to say to the person you feel betrayed you and the courage and love to say it in the right way. Never forget that as serious as deception and betrayal are, they do not have to ruin your life. God’s plan to make you complete in Christ will not be thwarted by another person’s wrongdoing --- just as Jesus’ plans to provide eternal life for sinners through his cross and resurrection could not be thwarted even by the betrayal of a close associate.
- Make a re-commitment to love and serve those in your church. A church is a community of imperfect people saved by grace, people who are learning to humbly serve one another and love one another. Do not give up on us, your brothers and sisters, in spite of our flaws. Love us. Serve us. God is here and he isn’t done with any of us yet. That’s what Jesus was getting at in this powerful and beautiful passage.
You see, Jesus had a dream – a dream for the world he had made that all things will be made right. When we listen to Jesus in John 13, we are listening to a man who is setting forth his dream. His is a dream in which people would not be judged by their skin color, their age, or their past. His dream included synagogue leaders, Gentile men and women, redeemed prostitutes, those who have experienced prison, educated men like Paul – all who will receive him by faith when he dips the bread into the blood and offer it to us and asks us to receive him.
I share this dream. I dream this dream for us here at LAC. Why? Because it’s clear to me – and I hope to you, that Jesus’ dream that this family of people who respect the sanctity of each life would begin to be seen in the lives of his followers – in churches planted in neighborhoods, churches like our own in which he is Lord. When Jesus is Lord, people respect one another. People serve one another. People offer grace and forgiveness to one another. People do not give up on one another. And it’s all to his glory – Amen.
To His glory,
Dr. Greg Waybright
Senior Pastor
Greg Waybright • Copyright 2015, Lake Avenue Church
Chinese Translation
The Power of Betrayal - Week 2 - Study Notes - Chinese Translation
打倒而不被打敗 - 背叛的勢力 1/18/2015
約翰福音13：18-30
約翰福音13-17再次告诉我们耶稣在上十架受死前所说所作的事。耶稣要我们知道他不在我们身边并他再来之前这段时间我们应该如何生活。
耶穌對教會的異象
我再读约翰福音13章的前35节时，更清楚地看见：耶稣和门徒一起的最后一天，他跟门徒们分享教会的异象。我们发现：在世界生活，人们被无数的方式分裂开来，人类的生命失去敬重。耶稣在1－17节中呼召跟随他的人成为一个爱的团体，在那里人们彼此服事－求別人的益處。這是個美麗宏偉的異象。“就如我洗你們的腳，我不久就要替你們捨命，你們也當如此彼此服事。”這是耶穌的話。
接下來的31-35，耶稣将异象作为命令颁给门徒，"我赐给你们一个新命令，乃是叫你们彼此相爱，我怎样爱你们，你们也要怎样相爱"
注意：耶稣设计的异象，在爱的团体中每个人的价值都得到重视并且彼此服事，然而在这当中，圣经告诉我们一个悲剧的故事，就是在最亲近的圈中有人欺骗和背叛耶稣。想想：如果爱和信靠神的子民彼此相爱，人们借此认识耶稣为救主，那么耶稣被最亲密的伙伴欺骗将大大地破坏了这一计划。
直到21世纪的今日，在声称跟随耶稣的人中间，信任遭遇破坏仍然是个重大问题。当人们经历了在教会中爱和信任受到打击和破坏，他们通常发现要再信任就很困难。我想其中一个原因是我们都期望神马上把人都变得完美。因此，如果你个人经历了在教会中被欺骗和背叛的时候，我要你首先看看耶稣，同样的，他在与门徒同行，训练他们三年之后被欺骗和背叛。
耶稣是如何面对这种情形？他花了三年的时间辅导他们，到头来还是被欺骗和背叛。从约翰13：18－30节的报道中，我们让约翰一步一步来帮助我们。耶稣告诉我们信任被破坏之后我们要如何面对。
＃1：背叛即或是極具破壞性，就是如此，依然不能推翻神叫萬物更新的計劃（13：18-30“）“要应验经上的话。。。”
如同耶稣呼召跟随他的人参与在彼此相爱的服事中，17节说，有福了，停在18节，"我不是指你们众人都相爱，不是众人都有福，不是众人都蒙拣选。耶稣的语言，被拣选和不被拣选的让很多的人不解耶稣说的重点，比如，神的主权，甚至被亲密的朋友背叛这样的恶也不能挫败神的计划。耶稣要我们知道，信靠他，如同耶稣爱我们一样的相爱不会被一个叛徒的恶所击败。
耶稣知道在他被钉死的时候，门徒们会问，"我们被骗了吗？耶稣真是救主吗？"说到底，耶稣如果不能改变这么一小组的人，他如何在全地建立荣耀神的子民？
他首先带门徒们来看经上的话。18－20节，耶稣暂时先把呼召他们在一个团体中彼此服事来找到真正生命祝福的话放在一边，对他们说，"要發生的事，是要應驗經上的話“他所引用的是詩篇41：9節上大衛王被最親近的人背叛”。不要感到震惊，不是你们众人都跟随我，你们当中的一人要背叛我。这是神的计划。他不但被人背叛，他也透过这一背叛来完成神的工作。
除了引用的经文，耶稣提醒门徒祂的身份。在旷野荆棘火中显明给摩西看的耶和华神说："我是”。當人難相信你的時候，告訴他們“‘我是’差遣你的那位。”耶穌說同樣的話：“當人說，你被騙了，怎麼還能相信”的時候，記住“我是”19節：“如今事情还没有成就，我要先告诉你们，叫你们到事情成就的时候，可以信我是基督。"
我告诉你们，欺骗、没有爱心、自我中心纵然极具破坏性，神仍然是神。祂美好的计划不会被这些自称为基督徒的受到挫败，反而是神局的一个棋子。
＃2：即使欺騙和背叛不能挫敗神的計劃，仍然帶給人心痛苦（13:21）耶穌心裡憂愁......
你怎樣想耶穌？耶稣是圣洁的，是的，祂是圣洁。耶稣恨恶罪。但是耶稣爱世人，他爱世人到如此－当你从他身边离开，他的心充满忧愁。犹大犯罪，带给耶稣心中忧伤。我们也是如此忧伤。你们也是如此忧伤。不要忘记。所以你我看見人家的缺陷，我們從耶穌面對門徒的話語和行為上學到什麼？
＃3：當我們看到別人的欺騙和背叛時，我們的回應不應當是驕傲地批評，而是深深的反省。（13：22-25）“？主呀，是誰呢”
耶稣对着十二个门徒明说，"我实实在在的告诉你们，你们中间有一个人要卖我了。"我们在福音书的其他记载中看到整全的记载，門徒們如何回應耶穌的宣稱?他們都問耶穌：“是我嗎？”他們知道自己的心中都有可能存在同樣程度的過犯。
所以，我看见这个信息中包括呼召我们每个跟随耶稣的人来参与自我的省查。使徒保羅帶我們到加拉太書6：1，他谈到一个爱和尊荣神的教会在对待我们所有人都亏欠神的荣耀这样的事实时，他写到：弟兄们，若有人偶然被过犯所胜，你们属灵的人，就当用温柔的心，把他挽回过来，又当自己小心，恐怕也被引诱。
十二个门徒都需要圣洁无暇的耶稣，他代替他们为奴，为赦免他们的罪替他们死。对今天的我们也是一样。每一个跟随耶稣的真诚信徒不可能把握这点还会骄傲的。我们都是接受了主恩的人。
我们都必须留心，那些生活中会给人的信任带来破裂的事。你生活中会给你亲近的人带来信任破裂的往往是那些你刻意对他们隐藏的事。这个时候有没有什么是神的灵叫你知罪的？現在就對著主認罪。轉離開去。他會赦免潔淨你。
我怎麼知道神的潔淨？
＃4：耶穌是“恒久忍耐”，就是對最沒藥可治的背叛者也是忍耐 - 到底（13：26-30）
耶穌就蘸了一點餅，遞給加略人西門的兒子猶大......
我读犹大的这段场景记载，想像故事这样展开：耶稣郑重地告诉门徒们他们中间有个人要背叛他。他们都害怕，"主呀，是我吗？"但是耶穌沒有馬上回應。十二個門徒已經三年的時間在一起，他们回头聊天说笑。但是彼得告诉约翰说，"你去问问他到底是谁？"耶稣告诉约翰，"我亲自蘸一点饼，把饼递给谁，就是谁。"过了一些时候，看来没有人注意的时候，耶稣蘸了一点饼递给了犹大。
我要你注意这里两件重要的事情。第一，看来没有一个人想像得到犹大会是叛徒。为什么？有个原因，犹大来自比较上层的阶级，在邻里也是望族。他甚至是那托以财务之任的人。其他十二个人中有渔民，一个税吏，一个雷子等人。他们更容易被归到背叛者之类中。"他一定是去买我们过节应用的东西，或是叫他拿什么赒济穷人。"這就是說對我們以為最為可靠的人經歷跌倒的時候不應該感到震驚。
第二，不要错过耶稣最后痛苦地力求伸手挽回犹大。一个人蘸了饼，亲自递给另一个人，这是一个很强有力的姿态，意思说。"我要和你有更深，更新的关系。"我问你：如果你知道一个人在谋算要背叛你的时候，你还会这么做吗？这就是耶稣的道路。
聖經說，“撒旦就入了他的心。"耶稣的声音是施与恩典，但是犹大允许撒旦来左右他的生命。耶稣在12：46樓上的大房間說：“我到世上来，就是光，叫凡信我的不住在黑暗里。"但是犹大出去。。。"那时候是夜间了。（13：30）
在神充滿能力的話語光中我們當如何行？
1.在神的光中，你有否看到你心灵里生活中有哪些东西会破坏信任的，这些东西是会贬低神的名的－或者会破坏你和亲近的人的关系的，求神现在就打开你的眼睛。
2. 如果你感到受到背叛，我要你对事对人全然的委身。求神给你智慧知道要对背叛你的人说什么话，用正确的方式带着勇气和爱来说话。不要忘记欺骗和背叛的严重性，但是不等于要让他们来毁灭你的生活。神的计划乃是叫你在基督里面得完全，他的计划不会被另一个人的过犯所挫败，甚至是你最亲密的伙伴。
3.重新委身在教会中来爱和服事。教会是由不完美的人组成的社区团体，都是在恩典中被救赎的人，学习谦卑彼此服事，彼此相爱。
荣耀归给神，
Greg Waybright博士
主任牧师
Greg Waybright • Copyright 2015, Lake Avenue Church