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[0:00] Please take your Bibles and let's go to Matthew's Gospel.

[0:15] Matthew chapter 26. If you're visiting with us or you need a Bible in the chair in front of you down below, there's a black Bible there. You can pull that out.

[0:27] Go to the back. They renumber the New Testament, what's called the New Testament. Find page 23 to find Matthew chapter 26.

[0:39] Matthew chapter 26. We're gonna start in verse 47. 47 to 56 this morning. Matthew 26, 47 to 56.

[0:49] Matthew chapter 26 starting in verse 47.

[1:00] Let's read this together. And while he was still speaking, look, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude or crowd having swords and clubs from the chief priests and elders of the people.

[1:16] And the one who was betraying him gave to them a sign saying, Whomever I shall kiss, he is the one.

[1:26] Seize him. And immediately coming to Jesus, he said, Hail, Rabbi. And kissed him. And Jesus said to him, Friend, do what you've come to do.

[1:39] And then coming to him, they laid hands on Jesus and seized him. Then, behold, one of those who was with Jesus, extending his hand, drew his sword, and striking the slave of the high priest, he cut off his ear.

[1:57] And then Jesus said to him, Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword. Or don't you think that I cannot appeal to my father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?

[2:14] Fifty-four. Therefore, how will the scriptures be fulfilled in order that it must become like this? At that time, Jesus said to the crowd, As against the robber have you come with swords and clubs to arrest me?

[2:32] Every day, I sat in the temple, teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has come in order that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.

[2:45] Then all the disciples leaving him, they fled. Robert Hanson. Anybody heard of Robert Hanson?

[2:57] He's a former FBI agent. Nobody? Former FBI agent who spied for Soviet and Russian intelligence services against the U.S.

[3:10] for 22 years, from 1979 to 2001. During his espionage career, Hanson comprised, sorry, compromised scores of investigations and operations, including the surveillance of suspected mole, Felix Block, and completed an eavesdropping tunnel directly under the Soviet embassy decoding room.

[3:37] At one time, he even became responsible for apprehending himself. And he passed some of that off to Aldrich Ames. Worse, however, were his leaks to the USSR of every KJB agent contacting the FBI conveniently identifying detected double agents and prospective defectors alike.

[3:59] The FBI was so perplexed at finding Hanson, they had to buy the information to put him away, most of which they already had. Cash and Hanson's carelessness eventually led to his capture and in 2001, he pled guilty to 13 counts of espionage in the United States.

[4:20] He was then sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole and can be found in America's supermax prison today. Where he remains in a cell alone 23 hours a day.

[4:34] Many have described his activities as, quote, possibly the worst intelligence disaster in U.S. history. Everyone hates a traitor because you feel betrayed.

[4:54] Disloyalty. Stabbed in the back. Stabbed in the back. If you were to ask people, and nobody knew who Robert Hanson was, but if you were to ask anybody off the street, hey, what are the top two traitors in all of history?

[5:15] They'll probably tell you Benedict Arnold and Judas Iscariot. Even songs by people who do not know Christ are written about Judas Iscariot.

[5:30] You too. Their famous song, Pride, in the name of love. One man betrayed with a kiss. It's sad what you see here.

[5:43] And yet we come to this part in Matthew's gospel which still his theme of bow down and worship Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God, the King of Israel, the Judge of the world.

[5:56] Bow down and worship Jesus since he faced betrayal for us. You're going to see a series of themes, sub-themes, so to speak, how Jesus did this on our behalf.

[6:12] And today, we'll see how he faced betrayal for us. Jesus faced betrayal and arrest for us calmly and purposefully.

[6:31] He faced this betrayal and you'll see his action or you can say his reaction which was no reaction. He was just smooth, purposeful, calm.

[6:52] Another statement is Jesus' disciples panicked and fled and his arresters forcefully seized him.

[7:02] Jesus faced his betrayal calmly and purposefully. I mean, we've talked about this before and you've seen this in Matthew's gospel.

[7:14] So many different times we are coming close to the end of going through Matthew's gospel. 65 messages in Matthew's gospel it will be and we've seen all this time Jesus has been totally in charge and Matthew's trying to make you understand that.

[7:33] One of his sub-themes in his gospel. Jesus is in control. He knows what he's doing. And Jesus he faced betrayal for us so that the father may be loyal to us as his children.

[7:56] Jesus faced arrest so that we may not be arrested but may have a free relationship with the father through the Lord Jesus Christ. We are free indeed not because we live in America but because we are in Christ.

[8:11] No matter where you are in this world you are free when you love and trust Christ. And because Jesus was betrayed the father will be loyal to you.

[8:27] Because Jesus faced betrayal the father's love and compassion will never go away. he will always be loyal to his people because all of that was pushed on Jesus.

[8:43] Remember the vicarious substitutionary atonement of Jesus. It was put on him so you can face not God's wrath but his mercy and forgiveness and love.

[8:59] That's why it's so important if you don't know Jesus Christ today you should repent and trust Christ because then you can experience what we just sang a few moments ago depth of mercy.

[9:11] Can there be mercy given to me? Yes. The father can give you mercy in Christ Jesus and it's only in Jesus that you'll find mercy. Not in anything you will do not in your good deeds they get you nowhere.

[9:26] It's only in Jesus Christ and his death on the cross. And we come to this part the beginning of how Jesus is facing this on our behalf.

[9:37] Jesus faced betrayal for us. But you see the father's in charge. You see the son is in charge of all the events taking place even the specific actions of Jesus betrayers and arresters.

[9:50] I mean it is so true. God is always in charge of human events Proverbs 16 1. He's in charge and he's doing this so he can have a people say for himself Jesus and a small band of disciples everyone was zealots.

[10:10] But he was treated as such. Why? Because he resolved to drink the cup of the father's wrath. But the whole time he's calm.

[10:22] He's in charge. You observe Judas' treachery. We're going to see the disciples. They're cowardice and impetuousness.

[10:34] The aggressiveness of the arresters. And yet you see Jesus his bravery his strength he's meek. Strength under control.

[10:50] And then all the evil that was taking place Christ reminded not just his disciples but even his arresters but even his arresters that he's in charge and God's word is going to be fulfilled.

[11:09] You even see kind of a little bit of a rebuke to Judas from Jesus. He rebukes his disciples and even he rebukes the crowd. He didn't display the behavior of some insurrectionist which you would normally see or some terrified fugitive of the law.

[11:31] He was peaceful. Remember he resolved to do the father's will. Look God's purposes always stand even using the sin of sinful men to accomplish those purposes.

[11:48] Interesting we were talking about that this morning the first hour. I was like oh that's so true. We were just talking about that in the first hour going through the doctrines of grace in the Old Testament. One of the things we were just talking about just an hour ago.

[12:00] God's purposes always stand and he will use the sin of sinful men to accomplish his purposes. What we mean for evil God means for good.

[12:13] Genesis 50 20. God decrees but people are culpable and responsible for their actions. And you also see how Jesus faced betrayal on our behalf so that the Father can be loyal and faithful to us.

[12:31] Know this dear Christian follower of Jesus. God's love for us will always remain steadfast. His loving kindness is from everlasting to everlasting. Why?

[12:45] Because all the things that should be poured out on you Christian was poured out on the Son. And here's the first aspect. He faced betrayal. Judas' betrayal.

[12:57] Verse 47. While he was still speaking, notice verse 46. Arise, let's go, behold, the one who betrays me is near and he's still.

[13:09] That's coming out of his mouth. Judas, one of the twelve, came and with them a great crowd having swords and clubs from the chief priests and elders of the people.

[13:22] Here's the treachery and the deception within the close group. One of those chosen by Jesus to be a disciple or rather chosen to be as betrayer.

[13:34] And notice they're from the chief priests and elders of the people. These were the temple guards. They were the official reps of the Sanhedrin who wielded their clubs and swords as if to portray Jesus as some revolutionary insurrectionist who was out to kill them.

[13:57] Notice what happens here in verse 48. And the one who was betraying him gave to them a sign saying whomever I shall kiss. It is he. seize him.

[14:09] To identify Jesus to the arresters Judas would kiss Jesus since it was dark. Identification would be difficult. But calling him rabbi with a kiss showed Judas' disdain of Jesus.

[14:27] He was no true disciple of Christ. And you remember we've talked about this before in Matthew's gospel and not second about Mark's gospel or Luke's or John's but in Matthew's gospel he emphasized that the people in Matthew's gospel who called Jesus rabbi were not really his disciples.

[14:50] They didn't really believe him even though they called him rabbi. So here you see his true colors were coming out and then he does this ironic action of kiss which portrayed brotherhood affirmation honor.

[15:07] It was a symbol of care and love. Like when Daniel kisses me. Thank you Daniel. Brother. Every time he kisses me it's always an act of love. I appreciate that brother. Don't ever kiss me.

[15:21] He's not planning on it. But I would take it that way. Ward okay you can. Actually I think you have. Aww. Because he's a daddy.

[15:31] But here was a traitorous action that is despicable to us because Jesus was stabbed in the back.

[15:43] Judas stabbed Jesus in the back. So here is Judas' betrayal of Jesus. And then notice if you would from this point down to verse 56 the different actions or reactions you will see.

[16:04] And you'll go back and forth here, here, here, here, here. Because notice first Jesus he's calm. Verse 50 after he went to Jesus hail rabbi kissed him.

[16:21] Verse 50 Jesus said to him friend do what you've come to do friend. Which actually means only an acquaintance and yet friendly nonetheless. A friendly greeting but such irony.

[16:38] He should have been a real friend to Jesus yet he was far from it. And that phrase it's like an it's an idiom meaning do what you've come to do.

[16:53] Notice how Jesus had planned this moment. They came laid hands on Jesus and seized him.

[17:04] He was in their custody now but notice how Jesus was totally calm at what was happening to him. He was at peace. Here's Jesus' response. Here's Jesus' action.

[17:17] Calm. Notice kind of the opposite to that. The disciples' impetuousness. verse 51 and behold one of those was with Jesus extending his hand he drew his sword and striking the slave of the high priest he cut off his ear a clumsy response by a disciple.

[17:42] Maybe the slave was trying to duck and maybe the disciple just missed his head. An impetuous move by this disciple which from other gospels we know it's Peter and we kind of go oh yeah Peter thinking it was time to act time to move here we go it's time for us to take it now and then you see Jesus' response his response he rebukes his action verse 52 Jesus said to him put your sword back into its place for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword in Matthew's gospel Jesus responded in two different ways that you only see in Matthew's gospel you see the other ways in the other gospels there's two different things that Matthew points out to us that Jesus said that's only in Matthew's gospel and this first one is here when Jesus says for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword it reminds us of

[18:47] Jesus teaching back in chapter 5 verse 38 to 42 in the sermon on the mount this doesn't necessarily support total pacifism but yet it's true that violence reproduces itself in our fallen world begets violence that's very true one writer put it like this the warlike will perish at the hands of the warlike well that's been seen very clearly in our world when you go to Chaz or the chop in Seattle the anarchy was there violence beget violence did it not again not necessarily the case for total pacifism even if some might take it that way but consider these words from Jesus Jesus did not advocate violence of any kind on the contrary he willingly embraced the father's plan which was the cross so he rebukes this disciple and then notice another response or action from Jesus he's like

[20:10] I have control of this verse 53 don't you know I cannot that I just can't appeal to my father and once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels he could ask the father a legion was around six thousand soldiers so around seventy two thousand angels do you really think I'm totally defenseless guys my father could send thousands to take out these puny men efforts with their little dinky swords and clubs and over seventy thousand angels around here like that Jesus is controlled and he's powerful which leads us to another response reaction from Jesus he's purposeful verse fifty four therefore how will the scriptures be fulfilled you know what's most important to

[21:27] Jesus is the purposes of God and the word of God being fulfilled what's most important is that God's word is fulfilled he will do the will of the father according to the old testament scripture God has planned and people by their thoughts words and actions fulfill it and I'm gonna do it notice Jesus just his calm controlled peaceful purposeful mindset thank you Jesus for doing this for us he knew what he had to do God's divine purpose was being fulfilled and notice what he says here at the end of verse 54 in order that it must happen this way new American standard in order that it must happen is the Greek word day we've talked about this before which means it must be or it must happen it has to be this way

[22:35] God's purposes stand people are culpable for their actions God will use even the sin of sinful men to bring about his purposes and his plan it was meant for Jesus to die for us in our place for all our sins he was betrayed for you there's one aspect you can focus on and remember when you're partaking of the Lord's supper Jesus you were betrayed for me so that I can have the loyalty and the faithfulness of the father this reminds me of this these elements remind me that I will always have the faithfulness and loyalty of the father because you were betrayed for me Jesus purposeful and notice as well what happens here you can even count this as Jesus rebuking the crowd here

[23:36] I kind of put it as first the crowd with their injustice Jesus here verse 55 at that time Jesus turned to the multitude the crowd and in the Greek the first phrase is this phrase as against a robber as against a robber have you come with swords and clubs to arrest me and the word robber interesting actually could mean political revolutionary so Jesus is almost being sarcastic sarcasm it's so effective at times have you come to swords and clubs to arrest me like a political revolutionary really he confronted their just action as if he's leading some kind of rebellion right as if he was involved in some political subversion right

[24:39] I mean and notice what he says here the next part here verse 55 every day his habitual action I sat not in a chance with all these people no he was sitting in the temple public area not in some private secluded spot okay this is what we're going to do and conspire the secret that's what we're going to do no in the temple teaching that was a good lawful activity how was that bad if I'm so dangerous why did you not arrest me sooner and you did not seize me he pointed out that their action was anything but justice they did not want justice they weren't interested in justice they wanted violence they wanted him dead they didn't care about justice matter of fact we could even and later on we will we'll talk about how

[26:03] Jesus faced injustice for us I mean we should face the justice of God and Jesus I mean he was perfect why should he face justice he is perfect but it's flopped so he gets what we should have faced and then we get mercy and grace an insurrectionist would hide from the public he would not be out in the open Jesus did the very opposite to that no on the contrary they were arresting him privately secretly and deceptively yet here was a just honest godly god man being treated unfairly and unjustly when we should be given justice Jesus endured it for us and then notice once again you see

[27:14] Jesus he's purposeful again his action or his reaction verse 56 but all this has come in order that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled again to fulfill it Jesus was purposeful their stealth little action totally fulfilled god's ordained plan for his son according to old testament scripture i mean they all thought they were being clever and smart by doing this how foolish one writer says this foolish foolish and wicked men can never overthrow the purposes of god end quote no they can't in contrast actually foolish and wicked people will fulfill the purposes and plans of god that's so true and all this

[28:18] Jesus endured for us he was betrayed for us so you have all this happening Jesus betrayal and then there's the response from Jesus he's calm he's at peace he's purposeful he's controlled the crowd they're like whatever and then you hear read this part in verse 56 then all the disciples leaving him they fled this is the disciples last response disciples they fled they're gone we're out of here though they should have known right because Jesus had just warned them like about 12 hours ago 10 hours ago they didn't realize the plot remember they were shocked at Judas betrayal they saw

[29:21] Peter's futile attempt to resist and then Jesus kind of rebukes him they're like what and then they watched their master reason with these arresters and not resist them at all at that point they were so distraught leaving him they fled and Jesus word was immediately fulfilled just as he predicted in 26 31 and he was left all alone with his unjust hateful accusers there's more to come as you will see in the weeks to follow Jesus facing all these different things today we will focus on this part of Jesus face betrayal and rest for us calmly and purposefully and as you we move into the time where we will celebrate the

[30:26] Lord's Supper you can think of it this way Jesus faced betrayal for you can say for me so that the father may be loyal to me as his child of God Jesus faced arrest so that we may not be arrested but may have a free relationship with the father through him so maybe that truth will be one of the truths you will focus on as we partake of the Lord's Supper and take the time to remember what Jesus has done on our behalf and there's other things you would remember I'm not saying that's the only thing but that's one that you can bring to your mind and let me give you some instructions for the Lord's Supper and then we'll pray ask God to help us to focus on the gospel during this time so this is for those of you who know Christ if you've come from a church of like faith and practice and for us as

[31:26] Baptists you've been baptized by immersion we invite you to partake of this with us you don't have to be a member here this is for believers though it's not for someone who doesn't know Jesus Christ and we would encourage you I would if you have something against someone else and you've not gone to reconcile with that person Christian or non Christian maybe it'd be better for you to wait and then the next time we partake of the Lord's Supper then you can partake of it with us and as we kind of did a couple weeks ago I have people come to the front and then you can take it and it's individually wrapped so makes it nice and easy for you but what we'll do is we'll sing one verse of the communion hymn and then I'll give you instructions and you can come at the time as you see fit and take that and then we'll sing two verses of the communion hymn and then we'll partake of the bread and the juice together okay so but I'll lead you and guide you along in the process so let's ask

[32:29] God to bless us with the spirit to remind us of the gospel truth and what we've seen from his words let's do that together and so father we want to pray and ask that you by your spirit remind us spirit of truth of the truth Jesus you are the way of the truth and the life no one comes to the father except through you and as we reflect upon what you Lord Jesus have done remind us that we have been saved by this grace and we stand in this grace and may we live in this grace remind us of this gospel truth remind us oh Lord Jesus what you have done remind us that because you've been betrayed loyalty comes to us from the father faithfulness the faithful steadfast love of the Lord never ceases because of you Jesus not because of anything that we have done that's for sure no it's you

[33:36] Lord Jesus remind us of this gospel truth forgiveness of all our sins you save a people for yourself and you change us remind us of this great truth of the gospel it saves us and you change us to be a people who reflect you and also remind us of the promise that one day you will return you will take us home and you'll make all these wrongs and these horrible injustices in this world and this world you'll make them right so we proclaim your death until you come before we sing I want to encourage you take a moment between you and the triune

[34:39]  God examining your heart speaking the gospel to yourself remind yourself of truth and the freedom that you have in Jesus the guilt and shame that's gone examine your heart bring repentance confess lift up the Lord Jesus and then we'll sing in a few moments but do that now