A TALE OF TWO TRAITORS (Matthew 26:20-25, 69-75) 2017 Rev. Dr. Brian E. Germano

Transcription

1 !1 [LaGrange First U.M.C.; ] A TALE OF TWO TRAITORS (Matthew 26:20-25, 69-75) 2017 Rev. Dr. Brian E. Germano --I 1. Read Texts: Matthew 26:20-25, and Pray. 2. By the end of what we now call "Holy Week," the excitement and hope of the first Palm Sunday had turned painfully tragic as the events of today's scripture came to life in the actions and behaviors of two of Jesus' own Disciples: Peter and Judas. A--Now, most of us can understand and relate to Peter -- an impulsive man with good intentions but poor execution; a man who, in his spirit, wanted to do the right thing, but was quite often let down by the weakness of his own flesh (as in today's story). 1--And yet, over the years, Peter has come to be revered as one of the most important and influential figures of the Christian church. 2--Parents name their children after him, the Roman Catholic Pope claims to be his spiritual successor, and he's looked to by Christians all over the world as an example and ideal of ultimate faith and redemption. B--On the other hand, there's Judas, who's still viewed in most circles as a tragic figure -- a greedy, jealous, ambitious man who allowed himself to become an instrument of the devil, betraying God's son, and then taking his own life. 1--To this day, his name is the blackest of all names -- a name synonymous with all that is selfish, evil, and bad in our world; And other than being the name of a British rock band from the 70s & 80s, it's a name that very few dare to give to their children (Does any of you know a person actually named "Judas"?) 3. And yet, despite the very different stereotypes we have about these two men, the truth is that, in many ways, they're more alike than we often think. Consider, for example, that... A--Both men had respectable positions among the Disciples. 1--Judas was the group's treasurer, and his reputation was good enough that (at the Last Supper), not only was he given the place of honor next to Jesus, but when Jesus said he would be betrayed and then dismissed Judas, no one suspected any connection between the two. 1

2 !2 2--As for Peter... he was probably one of Jesus' closest friends (along with James and John), spending time alone with him and often witnessing things not seen by the others. 2 B--Both Judas and Peter had to be corrected by Jesus on many occasions. 1--Judas, for example, was chastised for his complaint about the "wastefulness" of the woman who poured expensive perfume over Jesus' feet And Peter was rebuked many times for his impulsive words and actions that he later regretted. 4 C--And though neither of them was perfect, at the same time no one expected them to fail the way they eventually did -- Judas "selling" Jesus for money, and Peter denying that he ever even knew Jesus (three times, with oaths and curses)! D--Jesus warned both of them about what they would do before they did it 5 (possibly to give them a chance not to?), and yet they both did what Jesus predicted anyway! 6 E--And finally, even after their respective failures, both men regretted their actions and were filled with sorrow -- Judas, "filled with remorse," tried to return the money and clear Jesus' name, 7 and Peter ran out of the courtyard and wept bitterly Again, what I'm saying here is that both Peter and Judas were more alike than different: both were important Disciples; both had great potential; both were "traitors" in their own way (the only real difference between Peter's denial and Judas' betrayal being one of degrees 9); and both were sorry for what they'd done. --II-- 5. So how was it, then, that Peter eventually found forgiveness, healing, and redemption, while Judas did not? A--Well, the answer lies in the different ways these men dealt with their sorrow & regret. 1--Scripture tells us that Judas was so overcome by his feelings that he went out and hanged himself Peter, on the other hand, returned to the other Disciples, was later visited by the resurrected Jesus, forgiven three times (for his 3 denials), and "reinstated" as a leader of the Disciples. 11 B--In other words, in response to their remorse/regret, Judas essentially condemned himself by giving up / "quitting," whereas Peter allowed himself the chance to be forgiven through his determination to keep going.

3 !3 6. Probably most of us know that a key characteristic of God's grace is FORGIVENESS. A--Well, today's story highlights how forgiveness must be received to be of any benefit. 1--I don't know what you think, but I firmly believe that if Judas had asked or allowed himself the chance, he would have been forgiven even for his betrayal. 2--But he never allowed himself the chance to receive it (or for Jesus even to offer it!) B--So what we learn here is that the receiving of forgiveness involves more than just "being sorry" for what we've done -- both Peter and Judas were "sorry." 1--But while Peter's sorrow led him to persevere by changing his ways (what the Bible calls "Repentance"), Judas' sorrow only led him to give up in despair After his denial, we have no record of Peter ever again being unfaithful to God -- like the Prodigal Son, he changed his ways, came back home, was forgiven, and was reinstated as a member of his Father's house Yet, though Judas was also sorry, he never allowed himself the opportunity to change -- spiritually, he stayed in "the far country," never came back into his Father's house, and so never experienced the forgiveness that was his to claim. --III So, what does all this have to do with us today on Palm/Passion Sunday? Well, just this: A--I think each and every one of us are, in many ways, just like Judas and Peter -- we, too, are often "traitors" to God and Jesus. 1--Like Peter, we're often impulsive, judgmental, and obstinate; like Judas, we're selfish, resentful, jealous, and ambitious. 2--And like them, we, too, often betray, deny and ignore Jesus and his call in our lives, causing us sorrow and regret for our actions. B--But also like them both, we, too, have a choice in how we respond to our regrets. 1--Like Judas, our regret can lead us into disillusionment, hopelessness, & despair. 2--Or, like Peter, we can pick ourselves up, brush ourselves off, and get back on the journey of faith, finding and accepting the forgiveness and undeserved grace of God along the way. 14

4 !4 8. What I'm saying is that this story of Peter and Judas -- this "Tale of Two Traitors" -- offers us a lesson in the grace and forgiveness of God for our own lives. A--It tells us that wherever we've been and whatever we've done, God offers us forgiveness and mercy through the gift of his son. 15 B--Like the betrayal of Judas and the denials of Peter, it says that in our own life there is no place too far gone, no sin too egregious, no relationship so broken or messed up, that it is beyond God's desire and ability to forgive, heal, and restore. C--So, during this Holy Week, as we recall the failures of people like Peter, Judas, and ourselves, my prayer is we'll also take courage & hope in the good news of forgiveness that's offered to every one of us, no matter our failures or shortcomings. D--And in a few moments we're going to invite you to do something tangible as a reminder of that hope. But before we do, let's pray together [PRAYER] 10. [CLOSING: Special meditative music instead of congregational song/hymn; During music, congregants invited to bring palm branches forward to lay at the foot of the cross both as a sign of their repentance AND a reminder of Christ's forgiveness...] 1 ENDNOTES: Judas as treasurer is mentioned in John 12:6 and 13:29. Judas' experience at the Last Supper is mentioned in John 13:21-30 and Luke 22: For example, Peter's experience at Jesus' "Transfiguration" in Matthew 17:1-9. John 12: On one such occasion he received the sternest rebuke recorded in Scripture given to an apostle by Jesus (Matthew 16:23). 5 Jesus told Judas that he knew his intentions in John 13:26-27 (and indirectly in John 6:70-71), told Peter about his denial in Mark 14:30-31, and even warned the other Disciples that they would all abandon him in Mark 14:27, Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 silver coins (Matthew 26:14-16; 47-50), Peter denied even knowing Jesus three times (Matthew 26:69-74), and the rest of the Disciples did, indeed, abandon Jesus (Mark 14:50). 7 Matthew 27:3-5a. 8 Matthew 26:75.

5 9 One could make the case that Judas' betrayal was worse than Peter's "denials," but in the end, they were both sins which Jesus died to forgive. In other words, the degree of evil which is ascribed to Judas' action of betrayal is really immaterial -- his betrayal of Jesus, in and of itself, did not put him at a point of no return. Instead, his final condemnation was brought about by his refusal to allow forgiveness or redemption to be offered, and so, having never received these, he actually condemned himself!! Read Matthew 27:5. Also Acts 1: Luke 24:34 & John 21: You see, by itself, "being sorry" isn't the same as "repenting" -- regret/remorse isn't the same as changing our heart, our lifestyle, or our ways. 13 "Repentance" involves a change in the way we think and act -- a change in lifestyle. 14 In fact, after his denial and "reinstatement" by the resurrected Jesus, Peter's "theme/life-verse" could well be Hebrews 4: In fact, this may very well be the entire point behind the gospels' telling of Peter's story of denial. Think about it: there is only one source from which Peter's denial stories could have come -- that source is Peter himself. In other words, the only way we could know of Peter's denial is if Peter told the story himself. "This is what I did," he must have said, "and this amazing Jesus never stopped loving me, even after I did that to him!" He must have used his own shame and failure as a magnet to draw people to the love and forgiveness of Christ, essentially saying, "I hurt Jesus and I let him down like this... and still he loved and forgave me -- and that means he can do the same for you!"