{"id":996,"date":"2013-07-28T14:45:20","date_gmt":"2013-07-28T14:45:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/?p=996"},"modified":"2013-07-28T18:46:53","modified_gmt":"2013-07-28T18:46:53","slug":"hope-beyond-betrayal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/?p=996","title":{"rendered":"Hope Beyond Betrayal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Message by Chad Kelly<\/h3>\n

rec0728-112816<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\n

Introduction<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Several years ago, the FBI dug up a Soviet \u201cmole\u201d\u201d\u201da Soviet double agent\u201d\u201dwho was selling intelligence information toRussiafor big money, and had been for 14 years.\u00a0 This information included the names of some of our intelligence agents inRussia\u201d\u201d31 of whom were quickly murdered\u201d\u201dall as a result of one traitor!<\/p>\n

Have you ever been \u201csold out\u201d?<\/p>\n

Have you ever been betrayed?<\/p>\n

Has a supposed friend suddenly shown you their true colors and done you terribly wrong?<\/p>\n

Against all of your expectations of a friend and in the face of your hope for good from them, betrayal comes hard, fast and ugly!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It is an awful experience to be on the receiving end of betrayal!<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I heard just this week about a spouse who was grieving the loss of their spouse. And in the process as things unfolded, they learned that the deceased spouse had spent almost all of their retirement on a wayward child.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\u201cOne should rather die than be betrayed. There is no deceit in death. It delivers precisely what it has promised. Betrayal, though … betrayal is the willful slaughter of hope.<\/span><\/a>\u201d<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0Steven Deitz quotes<\/span><\/a> (American<\/span><\/a> Playwright<\/span><\/a> and Dramatist<\/span><\/a>, b.1958)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

And that last statement\u201d\u201dbetrayal is the willful slaughter of hope\u201d\u201dis exactly true concerning the intention and effect of betrayal.<\/p>\n

Jesus knows a lot about betrayal.<\/p>\n

And because of Jesus\u201d\u2122 death and resurrection, we have\u201d\u00a6<\/p>\n

Hope Beyond Betrayal<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n

Mark 14<\/strong><\/p>\n

Because Jesus has redeemed us, there is hope beyond betrayal!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0Piper<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The most spectacular sin that has ever been committed in the history of the world is the brutal murder of Jesus Christ<\/em>, the morally perfect, infinitely worthy, divine Son of God. And probably the most despicable act in the process of this murder was the betrayal of Jesus<\/span> by one of his closest friends, Judas Iscariot<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Mark 14:10-11, 17-21 (NLT)<\/strong><\/p>\n

10\u00a0<\/sup>Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests to arrange to betray Jesus to them. 11\u00a0<\/sup>They were delighted when they heard why he had come, and they promised to give him money. So he began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.<\/p>\n

17\u00a0<\/sup>In the evening Jesus arrived with the twelve disciples. 18\u00a0<\/sup>As they were at the table eating, Jesus said, \u201cI tell you the truth, one of you eating with me here will betray me.\u201d<\/p>\n

19\u00a0<\/sup>Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, \u201cAm I the one?\u201d<\/p>\n

20\u00a0<\/sup>He replied, \u201cIt is one of you twelve who is eating from this bowl with me. 21\u00a0<\/sup>For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!\u201d<\/p>\n

Matthew 26:25 (NLT)<\/strong><\/p>\n

25<\/sup><\/strong> Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, \u201cRabbi, am I the one?\u201d<\/p>\n

And Jesus told him, \u201cYou have said it.\u201d<\/p>\n

You\u201d\u2122ll remember that after they had finished the first Lord\u201d\u2122s Supper, Jesus led His disciples out to theGardenofGethsemanewhere He earnestly prayed about His upcoming crucifixion.\u00a0 Even His closest followers fell asleep on Him as He agonized in prayer.<\/p>\n

Mark 10:41-52 (NLT)<\/strong><\/p>\n

41\u00a0<\/sup>When he returned to them the third time, he said, \u201cGo ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But no\u201d\u201dthe time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42\u00a0<\/sup>Up, let\u201d\u2122s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!\u201d<\/p>\n

43\u00a0<\/sup>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. 44\u00a0<\/sup>The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: \u201cYou will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss. Then you can take him away under guard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jesus had hand-picked Judas and loved him and taught him\u201d\u201dand even washed his feet<\/em> in that Upper Room!<\/p>\n

Michael Card<\/strong>, Why?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>\u201cWhy did it have to be a friend who chose to betray the Lord?\u00a0 Only a friend can betray a friend, a stranger has nothing to gain, only a friend comes close enough to ever cause so much pain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Piper<\/strong><\/p>\n

Judas had been with Jesus during his entire public ministry. He had been entrusted with the moneybag for the whole group (John 13:29). He was close enough to Jesus at the Last Supper to be dipping bread with him in the same cup (Mark 14:20<\/span>).<\/p>\n

BUT\u201d\u00a6<\/strong><\/p>\n

Judas was a lover of money, and he covered it with a phony, external relationship with Jesus. And then he sold him for thirty pieces of silver.<\/p>\n

45\u00a0<\/sup>As soon as they arrived, Judas walked up to Jesus. \u201cRabbi!\u201d he exclaimed, and gave him the kiss.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Judas used a friend\u201d\u2122s greeting to betray Jesus<\/span>!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Michael Card<\/strong>, Why?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy did he use a kiss to show them?\u00a0 That\u201d\u2122s not what a kiss is for!\u201d<\/p>\n

46\u00a0<\/sup>Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. 47\u00a0<\/sup>But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest\u201d\u2122s slave, slashing off his ear.<\/p>\n

{Luke tells us that Jesus picked up the man\u201d\u2122s ear and put it back on his head\u201d\u201da miracle of healing\u201d\u201dright in the midst of the drama of His own arrest!<\/em>}<\/p>\n

The disciples were dealing with this betrayal according to the world\u201d\u2122s wisdom\u201d\u201dNOT in sync with God\u201d\u2122s will!\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

Even though Judas\u201d\u2122 crime against, and betrayal of, Jesus was heinous, Jesus Himself goes on to remind the disciples of something we often forget\u201d\u00a6that our God and Father is sovereign over it all!<\/em><\/p>\n

48\u00a0<\/sup>Jesus asked them, \u201cAm I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? 49\u00a0<\/sup>Why didn\u201d\u2122t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there among you teaching every day. But these things are happening to fulfill what the Scriptures say about me<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Matthew 26:52-54 (NLT)<\/strong><\/p>\n

52<\/sup><\/strong> \u201cPut away your sword,\u201d Jesus told him. \u201cThose who use the sword will die by the sword. 53<\/sup><\/strong> Don\u201d\u2122t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? 54<\/sup><\/strong> But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Scriptures prophesy that Jesus would be betrayed by a close friend for thirty pieces of silver.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In John 13:18, Jesus cites Psalm 41:9\u00a0and says, \u201cI am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, \u201d\u02dcHe who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.\u201d\u2122\u201d<\/p>\n

And in Matthew 26:24, Jesus says, \u201cThe Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!\u201d<\/p>\n

And in Matthew 27:9-10, it says, \u201cThen was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, \u201d\u02dcAnd they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, and they gave them for the potter\u201d\u2122s field, as the Lord directed me\u201d\u2122\u201d (Jeremiah 19:1-3; Zechariah 11:12-13).<\/p>\n

50\u00a0<\/sup>Then all his disciples deserted him and ran away. 51\u00a0<\/sup>One young man following behind was clothed only in a long linen shirt. When the mob tried to grab him, 52\u00a0<\/sup>he slipped out of his shirt and ran away naked.<\/p>\n

The disciples didn\u201d\u2122t get it!\u00a0 They didn\u201d\u2122t have hope at this point\u201d\u00a6they ran in fear, in despair, in hopelessness.\u00a0 They missed what Jesus had just said\u201d\u00a6and who can blame them?\u00a0 We would likely have done just the same.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

Because, betrayal slaughters our hope! <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Unless Jesus is involved!<\/em><\/p>\n

Because Jesus has redeemed us, there is hope beyond betrayal!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

HOW can that be?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Judas\u201d\u2122 betrayal of Jesus was part of God\u201d\u2122s plan to save His sheep.\u00a0 Oh, it was sin for Judas!\u00a0 And yet, God had said it would happen through the prophets.<\/p>\n

Piper<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Acts 4:27-28, we have the clearest, most explicit statement about God\u201d\u2122s hand and plan behind the horrific crucifixion of his Son. \u201cTruly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand<\/em> and your plan<\/em> had predestined to take place.\u201d<\/p>\n

Because Jesus has redeemed us, there is hope beyond \u00a0betrayal!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

What amazing love that God would ordain the betrayal of His own Son that Jesus might die a criminal\u201d\u2122s death and pay the price in full for my sin and yours so that we can have peace with God and never know His justice and wrath on our sin!<\/p>\n

Because Jesus has redeemed us, there is hope beyond \u00a0betrayal!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus had hope even though He had just been crushed by betrayal!\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

HOW?\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

He trusted His Father\u201d\u2122s powerful control of all things\u201d\u00a6He trusted His Father\u201d\u2122s ability to carry out His plan for good\u201d\u201deven though it included the agony of the awful Cross first!<\/em><\/p>\n

AND<\/em> God carried out His plan – He redeemed us as proved by the Ressurection (see Mark 16:6-7).<\/em><\/p>\n

YOU and I can likewise have hope, even in the face of betrayal, because God<\/em> is able<\/span><\/em> to bring hope beyond betrayal.<\/em><\/p>\n

1 Peter4:19(NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n

19\u00a0<\/sup>So then, those who suffer according to God\u201d\u2122s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.<\/p>\n

WHY? Because He <\/strong>is able!<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0(See Eph. 1: 17-21,3: 20-21)<\/p>\n

Because our Father is in control\u201d\u00a6and if He used a betrayal as part of His plan to redeem us, then we can trust Him no matter what we face in this life\u201d\u201deven betrayal.<\/p>\n

Because Jesus has redeemed us, there is hope beyond \u00a0betrayal!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Message by Chad Kelly rec0728-112816 Introduction \u00a0 Several years ago, the FBI dug up a Soviet \u201cmole\u201d\u201d\u201da Soviet double agent\u201d\u201dwho was selling intelligence information toRussiafor big money, and had been for 14 years.\u00a0 This information included the names of some … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-996","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-messages"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/996"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=996"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/996\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1002,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/996\/revisions\/1002"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=996"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=996"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=996"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}