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Today we cover the famous story of Jesus’ betrayal, and it’ll cause us to reflect on a personal question: are you giving God lip service?

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Q. Are you giving God lip service? Do your actions today reflect your relationship with Jesus?

• Even when we are close to Jesus, sometimes our actions do not reflect it. Actions not consistent with our position in Christ
• If you are married you have experienced this. Yes? Our actions don’t always line up with our vows to honor and cherish. Momentary lapses for sure.  

Mark 7:5-6 (NLT) So the Pharisees and teachers of religious law asked him, “Why don’t your disciples follow our age-old tradition? They eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony.” Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.’”

• We studied this last year. Jesus was calling out Pharisees and teachers of religious law - basically the same group we see in today’s text in the Garden of Gethsemane.
• Expand on hypocrites: The word "hypocrite" originates from the Greek term "hypokritēs," which referred to an actor or stage player. It is derived from the verb "hypokrinomai," meaning "to play a part, pretend." In ancient Greek theater, actors would wear masks and play various roles, portraying different characters. Over time, the term "hypocrite" evolved to describe someone who pretends to be something they're not, particularly in terms of morality or beliefs. This evolution reflects the idea of someone playing a role or putting on a false appearance, much like an actor on stage.
• The Pharisees gave religious lip service – following rules and traditions but missing the point. Genuine faith changes people from the inside out.
• Jesus is not being sold out to a ragtag group of ruffians, but to the religious elite. They had already proven that their religion was a farce. They had already been called out for giving nothing more than lip service to God.
• Today we’ll see other types of lip service  This one will sting more.

Mark 14:43-45 (NLT) And immediately, even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders. The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss. Then you can take him away under guard.” As soon as they arrived, Judas walked up to Jesus. “Rabbi!” he exclaimed, and gave him the kiss.

Talk about lip service! 

• Should we name this second kind of lip service? Judas’ lip service was outright betrayal, using a kiss – a gesture that typically signified love and loyalty. The manner of betrayal becomes the first example of...