Theme: Our Lenten Path Begins at a Crossing
1) On one
side: Those who manipulated and misled
2) On the
other side: He who fought and died
A popular
sports phrase says, “It’s not whether you win or lose that matters, it’s how
you play the game.” That’s certainly true when it comes to something as trivial
as a sports game. Whether the end result is a win or a loss, life moves on and
we aren’t really any better off with one result or the other. But, how you play
the game sticks with you. It tells other things about your attitude and
motivation. It can have enduring effects of both a positive and negative
nature.
We are
about to begin a journey here in Lent. Every sermon series is a sort of
journey. Each week builds upon the next. We have a goal or destination in mind.
We see that come out clearly in the theme of our series – “From Gabbatha to
Golgotha.” Those are both names of places along the actual route that Jesus
traversed in His passion. We will meditate upon the events from beginning to
end. How would we compare that sports phrase to our Lenten journey? Does
winning or losing matter? Is the way we play the game truly the only thing that
matters.
Well,
this is no game. What Christ did in between Gabbatha and Golgotha was the most
important undertaking in the history of the world. Without certain victory over
Satan at the foot of the cross, there would be no life left to move on to. When
it comes to faith, winning matters; as does the journey involved. What we hope
to gain this Lenten season is an understanding and trust that we win because
Jesus defeated the opponent in our place. When we boast in the cross of our
Savior today it is because we are both victorious and complete in mind and
heart. And it’s all due to Jesus.
Most of
us known what the word “Golgotha” means. It is an Aramaic word meaning “the
skull” and was used to identify the place of crucifixions outside the walls of
Jerusalem. We also use the Latin term, Calvary, meaning the same thing.
Golgotha symbolized death; the end of a person’s life; the ultimate punctuation
point.
Gabbatha
is a less common term. It only comes up once in the Bible. It, too, is an
Aramaic word meaning the “height” or “elevation.” It was used to identify the
place where criminals stood trial before the Roman governor, also called the
“Pavement” because it rested on a raised surface of large stones. Gabbatha
represented justice; the rock solid foundation of the Western legal system
popularized by Greco-Roman society. It was a place that was wide and bare,
where a person’s actions were open for all to see. This is where Jesus formally
started His path to the cross; the very same path we travel this Lenten season.
But, in
our first service this evening, we actually begin before Gabbatha. We get an
important piece of the context that led to Jesus’ trial. It involves one of
Jesus’ closest followers and the greatest betrayal in the history of mankind.
Judas’ story is a sad one indeed, but in it we also see a contrasting picture
of Christ’s beauty. We focus this evening on the events that led to Judas’
betrayal; but not by looking at him so much as the forces behind the act. We
read from Matthew 27:1-10:
When
morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against
Jesus to put Him to death. 2 And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and
delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor. 3 Then Judas, His betrayer,
seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty
pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, "I have sinned
by betraying innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? You
see to it!" 5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and
departed, and went and hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests took the silver
pieces and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because
they are the price of blood." 7 And they consulted together and bought
with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. 8 Therefore that field has
been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then was fulfilled what was
spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces
of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel
priced, 10 "and gave them for the potter's field, as the LORD directed
me."
Part 1: On one side: Those who manipulated and misled
We take
nothing away from what Judas chose to do. He was in control of his actions and
he made decisions that led to his ultimate demise. There is no one else to
blame in that regard. But, it would be equally wrong to dismiss the other
factors involved – the forces behind the scenes. That blame is rightfully given
to Sanhedrin that manipulated and misled Judas into betraying his Lord and
Savior.
In
Matthew 23, Jesus sounds off on the Pharisees in a series of true and direct
statements about their hypocrisy. We quote a few of those verses this evening,
which seem to be almost prophetic to their sins against Judas: "Woe to
you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup
and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. "Woe
to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs
which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's
bones and all uncleanness. "Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to
men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness (Matthew 23:25,
27-28).
The way
these men treated Judas is one of the clearest examples of the description
Jesus previously gave. There is certainly wickedness involved in doing anything
that is sin. But, it is a different level of evil to play upon knowledge of a
weaker person’s shortcomings in order to get your way and come our spotless on
the other end. It takes great planning of devising within the heart to pull off
that feat.
The
Pharisees knew that Judas had a weakness for greed. Instead of helping him
combat and overcome that sinful condition, as they should have, they exploited
it to their own personal gain. Even at the point of our text, when they could
clearly see that remorse had led Judas to despair of his own life, they turned
a cold shoulder and allowed him to take his own life. One’s conscience shutters
at the thoughts of these wicked actions.
John
tells us that immediately before Judas came to the Sanhedrin, they had taken
Jesus away to Gabbatha, to see Pilate. He adds that the Sanhedrin refused to
enter Pilates’ headquarters because it would have been seen as unclean, and the
Sabbath was approaching the following day. Here we see what Jesus was saying.
The Sanhedrin wanted to appear beautiful and clean on the outside, but they
were dead in their hearts. They were more than content to turn away a man who
was in despair, about to kill himself; yet they clamored to stay ritually pure
according to their own traditions. Hypocrisy, deceit, extortion, uncleanness,
and lawlessness. You have it all here with the way they treated Judas.
Deep
inside we want to believe there is good in everyone; and that, if just given
enough of a chance, people would choose to do the right thing. This is such an
enduring human emotion that it has even become a doctrine of humanism in our
day and age. They say, all this talk of sin and condemnation in the Bible is
overrated. Human nature is good at its core, if just given the proper time and
situation to express itself. Really?! How could we say that about the
Pharisees? It’s enough to murder the Son of God; but preying upon Judas this
way certainly relieves this situation of any excuses.
Here’s
where it gets difficult for us. It’s easy to apply different punishments for
different sins, and even different standards between good and evil. No one who
conscience functions properly has trouble condemning the Sanhedrin. But, we
forget that only one sin, even of the smallest nature, makes us equally guilty.
Could we not also apply the same labels to thoughts and actions in our lives?
Extortion, lawlessness, deceit, and hypocrisy. We’re guilty of those sins too.
Even the greed that overcame Judas. We need Jesus to cleanse those sins just as
much as his betrayers did. But, we’re much more likely to recognize their
problems, or those around us today, than we are to be honest about our
hearts.
Part 2: On the other side: He who fought and died
As we
approach Gabbatha on our Lenten path, we are met immediately with a great
contrast; a fork in the road if you will. In no uncertain terms we must confess
that we are counted and numbered on the wrong side – with those who operate by
the sins of manipulation and misleading others. And yet, that’s not the whole
story, or else our focus would end just as soon as it began. One the other side
is the One who fought and died for us, Jesus. And on that side remains our hope
by faith.
As we
think of someone who fought and died, we might see Judas. He fought to undo his
betrayal. He returned the money. And he ultimately died over his remorse. Yet,
there is no hope in Judas’ fall. We should think of the same result when we
consider fighting and dying for ourselves. So many people today are of the
opinion that faith in Jesus is unnecessary. They can’t imagine that God would
reject their sincere efforts to be good people or to atone for their mistakes. The
greatest lie of Satan has always been, be a good person and everything will
work out in the end.
But, once
we see ourselves as rebels and betrayers like Judas, we also see that our
efforts and death will be no better than his. We can offer our own lives, even
out of sorrow for our sins, but we are still sinners in the end – personal
sacrifice or not. Our need is highlighted in Judas’ confession to the
Sanhedrin. “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” Judas was absolutely
right but he could have said even more. Yes, he betrayed innocent blood but he
was also saved by innocent blood. There is our hope. We need not shed our own
blood for our sins, even if they be darker and dirtier than the Pharisees. We
have One who shed His innocent blood for us.
And so,
Jesus is the One who fought and died that we might have a place on His side of
the path. When we face that division between good and evil, as we have this
evening, we walk by faith to the side of righteousness in Jesus, the Lamb of
God who shed His blood for sinners. If only Judas would have trusted this hope.
If only the Sanhedrin would have cared enough about his soul to tell him.
Sometimes
to see something the clearest, you need to look at its sharpest contrast. We
see that this evening in the contrast between the Sanhedrin’s cruelty and
indifference to Judas and Christ’s limitless love for the lost. Let us remember
to see ourselves in this contrast as well, for we walk the same path. Let us be
humbled with sorrow for the same sins we have committed; for all too often
manipulating others for our own gain or being loveless and cold to those who
suffer from sin. Let us also be joyful that Jesus saves us. We hope in that
truth is because He has shed His blood for our sins. There is no true comfort outside
of this.
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