Final Hours: Betrayal Matthew 26:20-25; 31-35; 47-50;69-75; 27:1-5 • How can someone do life with Jesus for three years and be greedy enough to betray Jesus? • What do you do when Jesus is not the Savior you want? • Matthew 26: 25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” • Jesus answered, “You have said so.” • Is Jesus Lord or teacher for you? • The first believers did not follow Jesus because he was a teacher; they followed him because they believed he conquered death! • Matthew 26:24b – “Woe to the man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born. • Is Jesus warning you about something? • Matthew 26: 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.” • Even when you betray Jesus, he still wants the best for you • Matthew 27: 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” • Matthew 27: 5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. • Regret is not the same as repentance • Is your repentance real, or is it just regret? • Matthew 26:31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: • “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’[b] • 32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” • Matthew 26:33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” • 34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” • 35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same. • Are you ever over-confident in your loyalty to Jesus? • “God, I can never defeat sin on my own; you can. I think I will let you.” • Matthew 26: 56b: …Then all the disciples deserted him and fled • 69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. 70 But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. 71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”
73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” 74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. • What is your choice? Loyalty or safety • It was not our commitment to Jesus that carries the day; it is Jesus’ commitment to us. • Peter is not the hero; Jesus is. • Until you bring your real self to Jesus, you will not have a real relationship with Jesus. • What’s the difference between Judas and Peter? A remorse that ruins versus a repentance that restores.
Starter Question: Have you ever been betrayed? How did it feel?
1. The message today focused around two characters: Judas and Peter, both of whom betray Jesus. For you, is it easier to understand Judas or Peter? Why?
2. Both Peter Judas ignore Jesus’ warnings. In your opinion, what makes it hard to listen to Jesus’ warnings?
3. Judas intentionally betrays Jesus; Peter believes he will never betray Jesus. Both sin. How would you describe the difference between Judas’ sin and Peter’s sin?
4. Judas’ shame leads him to suicide; Peter goes back to the disciples. Have you every known someone who let shame keep them from church? What was their story.
5. After thinking about Judas and Peter, what life lesson are you taking away from today’s message?
