From Mark Copeland... Jesus Before The Council (Mk. 14:53-65)

                          "THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

                  Jesus Before The Council (14:53-65)

INTRODUCTION

1. Jesus faced two trials prior to His execution...
   a. The ecclesiastical trial, in three stages
      1) The preliminary hearing before Annas - cf. Jn 18:12-14,19-24
      2) The midnight trial before Caiaphas and the council - Mk 14:53-65
      3) The morning consultation of the council - Mk 15:1
   b. The civil trial, also in three stages
      1) Before Pilate, the Roman governor - Mk 15:2-5
      2) Before Herod, the tetrarch over Galilee - cf. Lk 23:6-12
      3) Before Pilate again - Mk 15:6-15

2. In this lesson we turn our attention to the events of the midnight
   trial...
   a. The main stage of the ecclesiastical trial
   b. Where Jesus appeared before the council (Sanhedrin)

[Turning to Mk 14:53-65, let’s direct our attention to the details of
the trial, starting with...]

I. THE PARTICIPANTS

   A. CAIAPHAS THE HIGH PRIEST... - Mk 14:53
      1. Served for 18 years (18-36 A.D.)
      2. Presided over the council (Sanhedrin)
      3. This meeting occurred at his house - Lk 22:54; Mk 14:54
      4. He had predicted Jesus’ death - Jn 11:49-52
      5. He was involved with the plot from the beginning - Jn 11:53

   B. CHIEF PRIESTS, ELDERS, SCRIBES... - Mk 14:53
      1. Who had plotted to kill Jesus - Mk 14:1
      2. Those who had sent to arrest Jesus - Mk 14:43

   C. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL... - Mk 14:55
      1. Also known as the Sanhedrin
      2. The supreme ecclesiastical court of the Jews
      3. Possibly including Joseph of Arimathea, even Nicodemus - cf. 

         Mk 15:43; Jn 3:1

   D. FALSE WITNESSESS... - Mk 14:55-56
      1. From whom the chief priests and council sought testimony
      2. But their testimony did not agree

   E. OTHERS PRESENT...
      1. Peter in the courtyard - Mk 14:54
      2. Another disciple, known by the high priest (John?) - cf. Jn 18:15-16
      3. Other servants and officers - cf. Jn 18:18; Mk 14:65

[With the majority present predisposed against Jesus, accusations were
brought against Him...]

II. THE CHARGES

   A. BY FALSE WITNESSES... - Mk 14:57-60
      1. Many bore false witness, but could not agree
      2. Jesus would destroy the temple and build another in three days
         without hands
      3. A false charge, misrepresenting what He taught - cf. Jn 2:19-22
      4. Against which Jesus refused to defend Himself - cf. Isa 53:7

   B. BY THE HIGH PRIEST (CAIAPHAS)... - Mk 14:61-64
      1. In response to the question, "Are you the Christ, the Son of
         the Blessed?"
      2. To which Jesus replied, "I am.  And you will see the Son of Man
         sitting..."
      3. Greatly angering the high priest, who tore his clothes
      4. Leading to the charge of blasphemy, deserving of death

[With the charge of blasphemy against Him, the physical abuse against
Jesus began to intensify...]

III. THE ABUSE

   A. BY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL... - Mk 14:65
      1. Some began to spit on Jesus
      2. He was blindfolded and beaten
      3. He was mocked to prophesy

   B. BY THE OFFICERS... - Mk 14:65
      1. Struck with the palms of their hands
      2. As foretold by Isaiah - cf. Isa 50:6

CONCLUSION

1. The injustice at this trial is evident...
   a. The false witnesses and physical abuse
   b. Many say the midnight setting made it illegal

2. How difficult it must have been for some who were present...
   a. For fair-minded members of the council (e.g., Joseph and Nicodemus,
      if they were there)
   b. For Peter and John as they witnessed or heard the proceedings take
      place

3. Most importantly, how difficult it must have been for Jesus...
   a. Who knew what was coming - cf. Mk 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34
   b. Who kept silent when He could have called a legion of angels - cf.
      Mt 26:53

Isaiah prophesied:  "He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of
sorrows and acquainted with grief.  And we hid, as it were, our faces
from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him." (Isa 53:3)

If we had been there, we would have likely been influenced by the
religious leaders.  But knowing what Jesus went on to do and why, may we
resolve never to be ashamed of our Lord...

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

 

From Gary... Enduring beauty

My grand-daughter Elizabeth took these pictures of Linda's roses and they are beautiful. There is just something about roses (besides being my family name) that is wonderful.  They are soft and have a pleasant odor and just having them around is a feast for the eyes.  However, they DO NOT last forever; their attractiveness fades as they wither and die.  If you look closely at the larger ones in the picture, you will see that the process of decline and decomposition has already begun.  These roses made me reflect on how transient are the things of this world.  How wonderful EVERYTHING seemed when I was young, but now???  I wish there was no decline and death, but sorrowfully, that is not the case.  But what if wishes came true; what then???  Read on and you will see...

1 Peter, Chapter 1

 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen ones who are living as foreigners in the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,  2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.  3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy became our father again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  4 to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that doesn’t fade away, reserved in Heaven for you, 5 who by the power of God are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  6 Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been put to grief in various trials,  7 that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ—  8 whom not having known you love; in whom, though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory—  9 receiving the result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.  10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,  11 searching for who or what kind of time the Spirit of Christ, which was in them, pointed to, when he predicted the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that would follow them.  12 To them it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to you, they ministered these things, which now have been announced to you through those who preached the Good News to you by the Holy Spirit sent out from heaven; which things angels desire to look into. 

  13  Therefore prepare your minds for action, be sober and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ—  14 as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves according to your former lusts as in your ignorance,  15 but just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior;  16 because it is written, “You shall be holy; for I am holy.”  17 If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man’s work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear:  18 knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers,  19 but with precious blood, as of a faultless and pure lamb, the blood of Christ;  20 who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of times for your sake,  21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God. 

  22  Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth through the Spirit in sincere brotherly affection, love one another from the heart fervently:  23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and remains forever.  24 For, 

“All flesh is like grass,

and all of man’s glory like the flower in the grass.

The grass withers, and its flower falls;

  25 but the Lord’s word endures forever.”

This is the word of Good News which was preached to you. 

God's word does not fade; it is eternal.  The lives of countless individuals have attested to this fact and are witnesses of the truth.  Most prominent among those is Jesus.  He is the living example of God's word: resurrected, exalted, and providing us with an opportunity to be like him in heaven.  Tell me, have you heard any news today that even is in the same galaxy as that???  Look at the flowers, enjoy and reflect a bit and you will see what I mean.  And then, do yourself a favor.... read the first chapter of 1st Peter again.  Compare the two- one fades, the other does not.  Which one will you choose?

From Jim McGuiggan... Power Perfected In Weakness

Power Perfected In Weakness

The present tense of the verb suggests that the phrase "my power is made perfect in weakness" means God's power continues to be made perfect in weakness. The Greek text has no word answering to "my" but it appears that translators are correct in adding the word.

The text has immediate reference to Paul's own set of circumstances. If Paul wants to faithfully serve God (and he most certainly does) then he is to remember this truth: God's strength has always been and goes on being made perfect in weakness. Paul sees that truth demonstrated in his own labours across the world.

But the central and decisive demonstration of that truth is found in Jesus Christ who was "crucified in weakness" (2 Corinthians 13:4) and in that weakness he defeated all the powers of evil, cruelty and cynicism that led the creation to tear itself away from God and wake up in chaos (compare 

Colossians 2:15).

There is no silly claim here that God lacks "coercive" power. By "coercive" power I mean power that needs no co-operation to gain its object. Coercive power wills it to be so and it is! For example God can speak and non-existent galaxies obey and appear before him. He speaks through Christ and plain water immediately blushes and becomes wine. The power that is made perfect in weakness is another kind of power--but it is power nevertheless. It is non-coercive power. It's the power of love meeting hatred, it's the power of holiness meeting sin and it's the power of reconciling forgiveness meeting the fragmentation of rebellion. It is power that works within the parameters of relationships, respecting their structure and allowing them the possibility of the veto. (This needs further nuancing but I think you get my meaning.)

In the Corinthian context the power that is made perfect in weakness is God's will to redeem those who are too blind to know they need redeemed or are too hard to want to be redeemed. He who wants to rescue such people within the parameters of a relationship must come to them without coercion and the astounding thing is that God wants to do just that. He who would redeem us from our ugliness must love us even in our ugliness.

God seems to have a soft spot for the under-dog and weakness calls out not only his non-coercive power it calls out his coercive power to serve that power that is more costly to exercise.

There was a time when a man's aged body and a woman's barren womb said "no" and God in the power of love said "yes". A nation was enslaved and a mighty pharaoh said "no" to their freedom but God's powerful love said "yes". A restless sea and a brooding wilderness opposed their going home and said "no" and God's holy love said "yes". One day a representative of Rome and leaders of his own people consigned the Messiah to death's keeping and when God came asking for him the grave said "no". But God pounded his great fist on death's door and said an eternal "yes". All of that coercive power in the service of the power of love. Holy love's power that cannot bully its way into our lives is freely offered and is brought to perfection in our weakness.

All this reminds us that God's "coercive" power doesn't exist in isolation but is given its complexion by his "character". The exercises of his coercive power expressed his holy love and faithfulness. It not only makes sense to say that God's holy love determines how his coercive power will be exercised, it is following the biblical witness. A good and holy man will not say, "I am physically very powerful and my power will be the determining factor in all I do." Nor would a holy God even though he is omnipotent.

The passage doesn't say, "Your power is made perfect in weakness." The passage doesn't say, "You are made powerful in weakness." The power lies always with God and because in our weakness we are the place where God's saving power is made fully present we are said to be strong. But we are never said to be able. We hear, "Therefore he is able to save to the uttermost those that come to God by him" Always he and never we.

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... Peter’s Denial Of Jesus (Mk 14:66-72)

                          "THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

                   Peter’s Denial Of Jesus (14:66-72)

INTRODUCTION

1. Among the things Jesus suffered was the indignity of Peter’s
   denial...
   a. Three times, with increasing intensity, Peter denied knowing Jesus
      - Mk 14:66-72
   b. Peter denied knowing Jesus, despite being with Jesus:
      1) From the beginning of His earthly ministry - Mk 1:16-18
      2) At the healing of his own mother-in-law - Mk 1:29-31
      3) On the Sea of Galilee, walking on the water - Mt 14:22-33
      4) On the mount, seeing Jesus with Moses and Elijah - Mk 9:2-6

2. How did Peter come to deny his Lord and Savior...?
   a. What forces were at work, that led to his cowardly deed?
   b. Might they be forces we face today, encouraging us to do the same?

[From "Peter’s Denial Of Jesus", there are important lessons to be
gleaned.  Indeed, Peter himself can help us to avoid making the mistakes
he made when he writes as one who knows the dangers before us.  For
example, we note first of all that...]

I. PETER WAS BETRAYED BY PRIDE

   A. HE BOASTED HE WOULD NEVER DENY JESUS...
      1. Proudly proclaiming that even if all left Jesus, not him! - Mk 14:27-29
      2. In so doing, Peter took the first step in falling away - Pr 16:18
      3. We can also be overconfident in our service to God - cf. 1Co 10:12

   B. PETER LATER COMMANDED HUMILITY...
      1. To be clothed with humility - 1Pe 5:5
      2. To humble ourselves before God - 1Pe 5:6

[Peter learned the hard way about the danger of pride.  Will we learn
from the mistake of Peter, and value the importance of humility?  Next,
notice that...]

II. PETER WAS BESIEGED BY LAZINESS

   A. HE KEPT FALLING ASLEEP...
      1. At a time when he needed to be watchful - Mk 14:37-42
      2. His laziness therefore led to lack of preparation
      3. The same thing can happen to us!
         a. Without diligent preparation, we too can be unprepared - cf.
            Lk 21:34-36
         b. More often than not, we gradually "drift away" because we
            are too lazy to "give the more earnest heed" - cf. He 2:1-3

   B. PETER LATER ENJOINED DILIGENCE...
      1. Commanding vigilant resistance against the devil - 1Pe 5:8-9
      2. Calling for diligence that we might:
         a. Grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus - 2Pe 1:5,10
         b. Be found in peace, without spot and blameless - 2Pe 3:14

[Do we allow simple laziness to keep us from careful preparation?  Do we
fail to attend services, study God’s Word, or even pray, because of
laziness?  If so, how can we hope to stand up for Jesus when put to the
test?  As we continue, we observe that...]

III. PETER WAS BESET BY COWARDICE

   A. HE FOLLOWED JESUS AT A DISTANCE...
      1. Peter still followed Jesus - Mk 14:54
      2. But now that Jesus was unpopular...
         a. He stays far enough away so not to be identified with Him
         b. He was unprepared to face the challenge of ridicule and
            persecution
      3. Might we be guilty trying to follow Jesus, but with cowardice?
         a. Ashamed to be seen carrying a Bible?
         b. Ashamed to be seen giving thanks?
         c. Ashamed to be seen with other Christians?

   B. PETER LATER EXHORTED GLORIFYING GOD...
      1. Charging us not to be ashamed, but to glorify God - 1Pe 4:16
      2. Thinking not of what things mean to us, but what they mean to
         God! - cf. Mt 5:16

[With cowardice keeping him at a distance from his Lord, Peter was a
prime candidate for succumbing to what came next...]

IV. PETER WAS BELEAGUERED BY WORLDLINESS

   A. HE WAS INFLUENCED BY THE WORLD...
      1. By sitting with the servants of the High Priest, and warming
         himself by their fire - Mk 14:54
      2. Ashamed to be seen with Christ, it was easy to mingle with
         those of the world and enjoy their comforts
      3. But one cannot be "comforted by the fire" of the world, and not
         be "burned"!
         a. E.g., close contact with things that can harm has an effect
            - cf. Pr 6:27-29
         b. So we cannot flirt with the world and walk away untouched
            - 1Co 15:33

   B. PETER LATER CALLED FOR US TO BE OTHERWORLDLY...
      1. To live as sojourners and pilgrims, abstaining from fleshly
         lusts and with honorable conduct among the nations - 1Pe 2:11-12
      2. To look for that new heavens and new earth, being diligent to
         be found by Christ in peace, without spot and blameless - 2Pe 3:13-14

CONCLUSION

1. When Peter concluded his second epistle, he did so with a warning...
   a. To beware lest you fall from your own steadfastness - 2Pe 3:17
   b. To grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ - 2Pe 3:18

2. These admonitions come from one who was well qualified to speak...
   a. For he knew how easy it was to fall through such things as:
      1) Pride
      2) Laziness
      3) Cowardice
      4) Worldliness
   b. But he also knew how one could grow in grace through such things
      as:
      1) Humility
      2) Diligence
      3) Glorifying God
      4) Living as strangers and sojourners

Yes, we know that Peter, though he denied Jesus three times and wept
bitterly, received grace when forgiven by Jesus and permitted to fulfill
his role as an apostle.  If we have been guilty of letting our Lord
down, look to Him for the grace to repent and growth that only He can
bestow...!

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

 

From Gary.... From Majestic beauty to Eternal Greatness

Astronomy Picture Of The Day Is 18 Years Active

(Click on the above link for info from its creators)

For the past 15 years or so, I have been accessing this website in order to view the wonders of the universe.  Prior to that, I was exposed to the heavens by just going outside and viewing the heavens.  It was there that I realized the wonder of the universe and began to understand that there must be a creator behind all of this splendor.  At this point, Psalm 8 comes to mind...

Psalm 8

  1  Yahweh, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth,
who has set your glory above the heavens!  2 From the lips of babes and infants you have established strength,
because of your adversaries, that you might silence the enemy and the avenger.
  3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have ordained;
  4 what is man, that you think of him?
What is the son of man, that you care for him?
  5 For you have made him a little lower than God,
and crowned him with glory and honor.
  6 You make him ruler over the works of your hands.
You have put all things under his feet:
  7 All sheep and cattle,
yes, and the animals of the field,
  8 The birds of the sky, the fish of the sea,
and whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
  9 Yahweh, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Since the early 60's I have been thinking of the heavens and searching for an understanding of its creator.  This website has often focused my thinking and reminded me of how insignificant I am- and how great GOD IS!!!  I can only imagine how many of the 1 billion visitors to APOD have thought the same thing!!!  Visit the site when you have opportunity and reflect on the greatness of the Almighty!!!

PS.Here is the link:  

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html

From Jim McGuiggan... My Grace Is All You Need

My Grace Is All You Need

In response to Paul's fervent pleas that he needed to be freed from the tormenting thorn in the flesh the Lord said, "My grace is all you need." The verb is another present tense verb that suggests an ongoing truth. "My grace is always (or continues to be) all you need."

How does the word "grace" function here? The line of the thought is made a bit more difficult because of how it's linked with the next phrase. "My grace is all you need for my power is made perfect in weakness." The preposition rendered "for" usually indicates a causal connection. "Because my power is made perfect in weakness my grace is all you need" seems to be the thought.

I tend to think that Paul is implicitly confessing that the "triumphalist" view to some degree was his own or at least, it could easily have become his own. We're told the thorn was to keep him from strutting and that suggests he was tempted to view revelations and success and manifest power not only as glory badges but as the kind of things that should accompany his status as an apostle. (Maybe that's stretching a little.)

His expressed exultation when he discovered that his weakness was the way to God's glory makes it sound like a genuine discovery. It's as if up to that point he might well have thought the revelations were an essential part of his apostolic profile and therefore needed so that he could fulfil his ministry effectively. The Lord protected him from the dangers arising from the revelations and assured him that his pain and loss weren't hindrances but rather that they were the media in which God's saving power was made "fully present" (Furnish). When he learned this he almost burst into joyful applause. If this catches the tone of it then it would suggest that Paul's eyes were opened through his pain and loss and that he was rescued from what his opponents were still blinded by. It's as if he said, "I used to think I had to have all the 'glory marks' of apostleship but when I was weakened and instructed by God my eyes were opened. I came to understand not only the truth of the gospel more clearly but also the essential means by which it is made known." At such a moment he not only approved of Christ's agenda he recognised and approved the method and means.

Paul's plea for deliverance may well have been motivated by a raw desire for ease and that would be perfectly understandable. But once his eyes were opened the loss was transformed and became an occasion for and a means of "gospeling". So there's more in Paul than the desire for ease; there's an underlying and stronger hunger to glorify God. Still, his experience is agony and at one point he felt the need to have it removed.

"I need you to remove this debilitating weakness."

"All you need is my grace."

"I need you to take away the agony that is weakening me."

"Because my power is made perfect in weakness all you need is my grace to sustain you in your weakness."

Of course it would be true that while he's in agony Paul would be preoccupied with that agony and he might not feel like evangelizing but that can't be what he has in mind here. When he speaks of "weakness" he isn't speaking of physical/emotional pain and loss simply as physical or emotional experiences. He views them in the context of God's way of redeeming and in contrast to the triumphalist point of view. That being the case and the fact that he does seem to have learned this from God in the wake of revelations and through the thorn experience we know Paul worked out his theology as he lived out his life and ministry with God (Holloday).

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... The Betrayal Of Jesus (Mk.14:43-52)

                          "THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

                    The Betrayal Of Jesus (14:43-52)

INTRODUCTION

1. Certainly one of the saddest moments in the life of Jesus was His
   betrayal by Judas...
   a. One of Jesus’ closest disciples, even one of His twelve apostles
      - Mk 14:43-46
   b. Followed by being abandoned by the rest of the apostles - Mk 14:47-50
   c. And possibly Mark; many think he was the young man that fled naked
      - Mk 14:51-52

2. But our focus is on Judas:  What led him to betray his Lord and
   Savior?  How could one who had been with Jesus...
   a. Seen His miracles, heard His teachings
   b. Betray Him with a kiss?

3. And what about us, who claim to be Jesus’ disciples today...?
   a. Could we be guilty of betraying Jesus in some way?
   b. Are there things that misled Judas that could have a similar
      effect on us?

[What might we learn from "The Betrayal Of Jesus"?  Lest we follow the
same path of Judas, let’s reflect for a few moments on what we can glean
from the Scriptures...]

I. JESUS WAS BETRAYED BY A CLOSE FRIEND

   A. JUDAS WAS NO STRANGER TO JESUS...
      1. As already mentioned, he was one of the apostles - Mk 3:14-19
      2. He was among those whom Jesus loved - cf. Jn 13:1
      3. Yet as prophesied, Jesus was betrayed by "a familiar friend"
         - Ps 41:9

   B. BEING CLOSE TO JESUS IS NO GUARANTEE...
      1. Just being His disciples is no assurance we could not betray
         Him
      2. Like several of the churches in Asia Minor, we could...
         a. Leave our first love - Re 2:4-5
         b. Begin to tolerate false doctrine - Re 2:14-16
         c. Permit false teachers to spread their doctrines - Re 2:20
         d. Fail to perfect our works, and not be watchful - Re 3:1-3
         e. Become lukewarm - Re 3:15-16
      3. Yes, we can betray Jesus by denying Him who bought us - cf. 2Pe 2:1

[Therefore we need to heed Jesus’ admonition to be "faithful unto death"
(Re 2:10), and not assume that close proximity to Jesus in the past
guarantees faithfulness in the future.]

II. JESUS WAS BETRAYED BY A LOVER OF MONEY

   A. MONEY WAS A PROBLEM FOR JUDAS...
      1. He often pilfered from the money box of the disciples - Jn 12:4-6
      2. The opportunity to make some money led him to betray Jesus-Mt 26:14-16

   B. MONEY CAN BE A PROBLEM FOR US...
      1. The deceitfulness of riches can render us unfruitful - Mk 4:19
      2. The desire for riches and the love of money can lead us to
         stray from the faith and drown in destruction and perdition
         - 1Ti 6:9-10
      3. The Laodiceans’ preoccupation with wealth made them lukewarm
         - Re 3:16-17

[Could we be guilty of betraying Jesus by our desire for riches, letting
such things take precedent over our service to God and His church?]

III. JESUS WAS BETRAYED BY A SHOW OF AFFECTION

   A. JUDAS BETRAYED JESUS WITH A KISS...
      1. He could have pointed...perhaps he sought to soften the blow of
         betrayal - Mk 14:44-45
      2. Jesus noted the obvious contradiction - Lk 22:48

   B. DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION DON’T ENSURE FAITHFULNESS...
      1. Many people are very emotional in their religion
         a. As displayed in their worship
         b. Believing it to be evidence of being "Spirit-filled"
      2. Yet emotions alone are not a reliable guide
         a. They can easily mislead us - cf. Pr 16:25; Jer 10:23; 17:9
         b. They are often present in the unstable believer - cf. Mk 4:16-17
      3. This is not to discount the place and value of emotions
         a. We are to love God with all our heart and with all our mind
            - Mt 22:37-38
         b. The Spirit does produce fruit in our lives that affects our
            emotions - Ga 5:22-23
         c. But we must keep them in the proper order:
            1) Our emotions must come from faith, not faith coming from
               emotions
            2) Otherwise we are led by emotionalism, not faith
      4. True faith comes from the Word of God - Ro 10:17; Jn 20:30-31

[If we believe that displays of affection in our religion can make up
for our failure to heed God’s Word, we deceive ourselves and betray
Jesus in the process!]

IV. JESUS WAS BETRAYED BY A MISTAKEN DISCIPLE

   A. JUDAS MISTOOK THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS ACTION...
      1. He evidently didn’t think Jesus would be condemned - Mt 27:3-4
      2. This has prompted some to think that Judas was motivated by
         more than money
         a. That perhaps his betrayal would force Jesus to act, show His
            true power
         b. That in such a way it would demonstrate who Jesus truly was

   B. WE CAN BE GUILTY OF MISTAKEN SERVICE...
      1. Thinking our service is acceptable, when it is not - Mt 7:21-23
      2. Thinking we can improve on God’s way, when His ways may not be
         ours - Isa 55:8-9
      3. We need to head the Preacher’s advice - cf. Ecc 5:1-2
         a. Come to hear and do what He says
         b. Not presume to know what pleases God and offer what we think
            is best

[In our zeal, we may be guilty of acting based on mistaken knowledge
(cf. Ro 10:1-3).  Dare we possibly betray Jesus by presuming we know
what is according to His will and plan?]

V. JESUS WAS BETRAYED BY AN OVERWROUGHT FOLLOWER

   A. JUDAS REACTED TO HIS SIN THE WRONG WAY...
      1. He was overcome with grief - cf. Mt 27:3
      2. He took the wrong course of action by hanging himself - cf. Mt 27:5

   B. WE CAN REACT TO OUR SINS THE SAME WAY...
      1. There are two kinds of sorrow - 2Co 7:10
         a. Sorrow of the world that produces death
         b. Godly sorrow that produces repentance
         c. The first sorrow is preoccupied with self; the second is
            sorrow for sinning against God
      2. It is natural to be sorrowful for our sins
         a. But we should not wallow in our grief
         b. But repent, as did Peter who denied Christ
      3. Paul is another example of one who did not let sins of the past
         hinder service in the present
         a. He focused on God’s grace which gave him another chance
            - 1Co 15:9-10
         b. He directed his attention on striving for the upward call of
            God - Php 3:12-14

CONCLUSION

1. While Jesus was betrayed by all these things, let’s not forget the
   influence of Satan...
   a. Satan used Judas to betray Jesus - Lk 22:3-4
   b. Satan put it in Judas’ heart to betray Jesus - Jn 13:2
   c. For this reason Jesus referred to Judas as "a devil" - Jn 6:70-71

2. Yet how did Satan influence Judas?  By some of the very things we’ve
   noticed...
   a. Through his love of money
   b. Through his emotionalism
   c. Through his mistaken ideas
   d. Through his preoccupation with self
   -- Even Peter was influenced by Satan through some of these things
      (cf. Mt 16:23)

And so while we may decry the treachery of Judas, we should humbly learn
from his mistakes, taking to heart the words of Peter:

   "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks
   about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  Resist
   him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings
   are experienced by your brotherhood in the world." - 1Pe 5:9-10
 

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011