The Cross of Jesus
Week 1 | Jesus & Judas
Dean Pollard
February 11, 2024

Matthew 26:26-30 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

“When you come to Christianity, you have a man who dies at perhaps age 33 who has a ministry at the very, very most of three years, and when he dies, he’s alienated from his own people. He’s killed by the colonial power of Rome. He’s abandoned by most of his friends, and if you believe the text, he’s even abandoned by God. His death is premature. It’s tragic. It’s a disgrace. It’s shameful because it’s a crucifixion, and crucifixion was the most shameful, the most degraded of all forms of execution, only for the very worst criminals, because you were stripped naked and you died by inches with everybody just looking at you, watching you die by inches for days.” —Tim Keller

Matthew 26:14-35(ESV) Then one of the twelve, (they did not suspect him)
whose name was Judas Iscariot, went (not a victim) to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.

“Who knows? We certainly don’t, and frankly I’m happy not to peer down that murky well for too long. I might see reflections I find disturbing.” —NT Wright

THE ESSENCE OF SIN IS TRADING LIFE WITH GOD
FOR WHAT WE CAN GET IN HIS PLACE

Matthew 26:17-19 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’ ” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.

Matthew 26:20-25 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”

Matthew 26:26-30 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

What is Jesus’ response to the sin of his betrayal?

THE ESSENCE OF SALVATION IS GOD GIVING HIMSELF
SO THAT SINNERS CAN BE WITH HIM

  • The essence of sin is a trade
  • The essence of salvation is a trade

The 4 cups of wine represent the 4 promises God made in Exodus 6-7

  1. I will rescue you from Egypt
  2. I will release you from slavery
  3. I will redeem you
  4. I will renew my relationship with you

Matthew 26:31-35 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 33 Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

THE ESSENCE OF OUR SECURITY IS THAT JESUS IS FAITHFUL EVEN TO
THOSE WHO CAN’T BE FAITHFUL TO HIM

Matthew 26:31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

Matthew 26:32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”