The Hour of Betrayal

[0:00] The Bible is coming to Mark chapter 14 as we're going to continue with our series here through the book of Mark. If we've come closer and closer to the hour that Jesus would go to the cross to pay the price for our sin.

[0:14] But here we find in Mark chapter 14, Jesus, where he had prayed not only for himself and to be strengthened by the Father, but for the eleven who slept behind him.

[0:28] You know, it's when we see Jesus was concerned with them also and along with those that would one day follow him. You know, it's something to be amazed at that Jesus in the garden, when you read through the gospel of John, he prayed for you and I.

[0:45] He said prayed for those that would believe on his name in the future. I mean, that's the reality that when Jesus, before he went to the cross, he prayed for you and I.

[0:55] That's an amazing thought to consider that he went knowing why he was going, for what reason he was going. But he went because he loved us.

[1:07] And the love that he had given for us here is going to be displayed as he goes to the cross. And he knew that even while he prayed there that day, that for strength, for the hour that had arrived, it was the hour of betrayal.

[1:24] You know, oftentimes we don't really stop and consider what Jesus was facing. As here's the beginning of the hour, the hour of betrayal, when Judas would come with the band of people, armed people to arrest him in the garden.

[1:43] And we're going to look at that today because Jesus, having sought the Father three times regarding the hour that was upon him, as Jesus, as he talks about as the hour that was there, and we see that his hour had now arrived, talking about that period of time, not specifically of an hour like we would think about when we mentioned an hour.

[2:03] We're talking about a section of time that is measured here. And we see that his cup and Jesus stirs his disciples to action here because Judas was now at the garden, and it was the day that stands really alone in history.

[2:23] I mean, this is one of those unique days in history. And before the end of the day, Jesus would be crucified and buried in a borrowed tomb. I mean, this day was one that was different from others.

[2:36] But let's take a look at it here this morning. Mark chapter 14, if you found that in your Bible, let's stand together for the honor of reading of God's Word here this morning. And we'll pick up verse 43 here this morning.

[2:50] And it says, And immediately while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude, with swords and staves from the chief priests and scribes and the elders.

[3:00] And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, the same as he, take him and lead him away safely. And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him and saith, Master, Master.

[3:15] And kissed him, and they laid their hands on him and took him. And one of them that stood by drew a sword and smote a servant to the high priest and cut off his ear. And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are you come out as against a thief with swords and with staves to take me?

[3:31] I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and he took me not, but the scriptures must be fulfilled. And they all forsook him and fled. And there followed him a certain young man having a linen cloth cast about his naked body, and the young man laid hold on him.

[3:50] And he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked. Let's pray. Heavenly Fathers, we come before you today, Lord. We just thank you for your love for us. Lord, we're thankful for your willingness to display your love and to supply all that is needed for our salvation.

[4:10] And Lord, we just pray you have your hand upon each heart, each life here today, Lord, that we might remember this hour of betrayal, the hours that we talk about in the coming weeks, Lord, that we might always be mindful of the things that you faced on our behalf, the things you took upon yourself on our behalf, Lord, the love you showed on our behalf.

[4:33] Lord, we pray this would work in a mighty way even here this morning. Lord, you know the needs of each one, Lord, that they would just, we might be filled with your presence and your spirit might work mightily amongst your people.

[4:46] And we just give you all the praise in Jesus' name. Amen. May we be seated. You know, as we see here, this day is a day that definitely stands out in history.

[4:56] You know, when we think about days of history, you know, we really have quite a few days that we can think about when you think about a day that stands out. You know, for Americans, we have days that stand out.

[5:08] You know, like April 19th, 1775, in those history buffs, we think, you know, what was that? Well, that was the day we refer to as the shot heard around the world at the Battle of Lexington.

[5:19] That was a day that stood out in history for us as Americans. Or July 4th, 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was signed. You know, also, you know, there's other days that ought to stand out to us too.

[5:33] Positive days that stand out to us ought to be the day, hopefully you have a day when you know that stands out to you when you accepted Christ as your Savior. You know, everybody has a day and an hour that they ought to be looking at.

[5:47] And to understand, because there should be a day personally that stands out to you, the day that you recognized your sin that had separated you from God and you called upon the Lord Jesus to save you, recognizing He is the only one who could do it.

[6:03] The only one who could overcome. But, you know, there's also days in our life as we look through history and our personal life, you might say days of infamy. You know, days that don't stand out positive, they stand out very negative.

[6:17] You know? And there's days that you struggle with. You know, you think about, even within more modern history, you know, you can think about days that people talk about, you know, October 29th, 1929, when the stock market crashed and kicked off the Great Depression.

[6:31] It's a day that is marked. People still talk about it. It's a day that people think about it. You know, January 22nd, 1973, when a court decision said people could legally kill a child in the womb without ramification.

[6:46] It's a day that lives in infamy. You know, in our modern history, you know, September 11th is a day that lives in infamy. A day that said, that was a tragic, terrible day of what took place there.

[6:59] But I want you to think here because this day that Jesus is entering to will end glorious, but really it was a day of great tragedy when we look at what Jesus faced. It was something He went through as an hour that Judas betrayed Jesus.

[7:15] You know? When we think about it, Judas, we talked about a little earlier, if you think about Judas, he was not just anybody. You know? When you consider, one of the hardest things to face is when you have somebody that's close to you betray you.

[7:32] You know, somebody that's kind of away from you that betrays, it's kind of like, yes, that hurt, but it's not the same. When you consider Judas was one who betrayed Jesus, he was in his inner circle.

[7:46] He was there with him in his teaching and saw the miracles and saw all those things. And we don't have recorded for us all the countless conversations that would have taken place.

[7:58] Judas wasn't a stranger. And we're even going to look here today as we see that Jesus has recorded for us that He refers to Judas yet as a friend.

[8:10] You know, what a day, an hour that is going to live in infamy as we look here this morning because this is an hour of confrontation. You know, just as Jesus called His disciples to rise up, you know, we see Jesus sleeping and Jesus comes and He says, Hey guys, get up.

[8:29] Judas is here. They're right outside the gate. You know, they're right outside. They're ready to come and to arrest Jesus. And we see here, look at verse 43 of our text.

[8:42] It says, And immediately, while He yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.

[8:55] You know, we see here as Jesus calls His disciples to rise up, Judas and His cohorts arrive at the garden. The plan was to take Jesus into custody while the city slept.

[9:10] They wanted to, initially, if you remember, they didn't want to take Jesus during the feast days. They wanted to wait until after the feast because they didn't want to stir up a ruckus. They didn't want to have to deal with the people.

[9:22] And we're going to see here this morning this confrontation that takes place. And we see that Judas, though he had presented the opportunity to arrest Jesus away from the temple and where the multitude gathered, he was leading them.

[9:37] He sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. To those that wanted to take him. And they took the opportunity and they arrived just as the 11 disciples are wiping the sleepies back from their eyes.

[9:49] I mean, I was thinking a little bit on the disciples here how shocking this must have been. It had been a long day. Been through a lot during this day of all the teaching and all the things Jesus did.

[10:01] It was late in the day. For us, it was the beginning of their day. I mean, you always got to remember that a Jewish day starts at 6 p.m., you know. But it was late. It was time for them to be sleeping.

[10:13] They were tired and they'd taken a nap. And you know, have you ever been startled out of your nap? You know? I mean, I think a 15, 30-minute nap and somebody startles you because you're really out, you're just kind of droggy.

[10:27] You know? And I'm thinking that's kind of where the disciples were at this point trying to figure out, whoa, hold on. What's going on? Judas is here. What's going on? Because when Jesus said Judas was there, that's not what they were expecting.

[10:39] They weren't expecting armed people coming to arrest Jesus. Because remember, Judas, they considered what? As a friend, one of them. They were caught off guard by what was happening.

[10:49] But I want you to understand that as we look at this, the disciples may have been caught off guard, but Jesus wasn't. Our Savior knew exactly what was going to take place. And we're going to see that play out during this confrontation of these things that happened.

[11:04] This confrontation was one-sided, really, as they come thinking they're in control. And Jesus steps up and greets them as they enter. You know, as they're getting ready to come into the garden, Jesus seeks, addresses them directly.

[11:21] You know, over in John 18, and we'll talk about this more in just a little bit, but John 18, we find here that Jesus actually asked them, who is it that you seek?

[11:32] Who are you seeking? Who are you after? Who are you here for? And the irony is it was kind of a rhetorical question because Jesus already knew who they were there for. It wasn't a question for his benefit, it was a question for theirs.

[11:49] You know, as Judas walked over to, had walked with Jesus for three years, and was a, you know, they trusted, Judas so much that they gave him the bag to hold the money.

[12:02] You know, I'll know about you, but when you think about that Judas was their treasure, it tells you the level of trust that they had in him. Because I don't know about you, I just don't trust anybody to hold the money bag.

[12:15] You know, it'd be like walking, you don't go out here on the street and say, hey, can I give you access to my bank account so you can take care of that for me? You know, if you give access to your money, what do you do?

[12:25] That's somebody you trust. That's somebody that you have, you say is on your side that we're looking out for your interest. That's how they saw Judas.

[12:38] And now Judas is here and had walked with Jesus. You know, I can't imagine the number of times that he must have heard the gospel, yet we find that he rejected it.

[12:49] He walked alongside but rejected the very thing that Jesus said. But one thing we've learned about Judas, he was a man motivated by two things, power and money.

[13:01] He was greedy. He was covetous. You say, well, how did he get in the group? You know what happens? Sometimes people get on board when things are happening, when they see they might get in and get advantage.

[13:13] To take care of and to gain something for themselves because he thought Jesus would overthrow the Roman oppressors and establish a new kingdom of Israel and he said, I want in because if I get in at the bottom, I'm going to have a lot of power and authority.

[13:29] We see that play out in Judas' life and it was a great opportunity in his mind. But you know, I want you to understand serving God is a great opportunity but not in the way the world thinks of opportunity.

[13:42] It's not an opportunity for power, for greatness. It's an opportunity to serve the king of kings. To serve the one who loved you beyond anything else. But we find here that there was this idea that he had a false service, a false desire to serve God.

[14:00] He feigned serving God. You know, the sad thing today is we have many people that will sometimes do the same thing. They'll feign serving God because it serves benefit. Let me point to a little illustration for even within our own culture.

[14:12] When I was a young man growing up, people went to church. You know, when people talk about when Americans went to church, you know what a lot of Americans went to church? Because that's what was expected of them if they were going to do anything.

[14:27] You know what the problem was? There wasn't people being saved. There was people feigning things because it benefited them. You know, they talk about people not attending church.

[14:40] You know, if you're here today, I hope you're here because you want to be here. Not because you're going to gain something personally, you might say, of money or resources or influence from it, but because you have a sincere desire either to seek what God would have for you or because you love Him already.

[14:59] You know, when you realize the importance, it ought to be something that doesn't matter what somebody else or what happens or our expectations. We come to worship God because of who He is.

[15:09] But Judas was there for money. He was there for power. He was a man who was after His own means of what He could advance. We see Him coming here with an arm band because the Jews expected conflict, a direct confrontation with Jesus and His followers.

[15:28] But instead, Jesus comes out to greet them revealing clearly who He was. You know, take a look over into John chapter 18 for a moment because we see here this is a, John records this a little differently because I think John was standing right there beside Jesus, you know.

[15:48] I think he had a personal upfront seat to this taking place and he records for us what takes place with this and it says in verse 4, notice this, Jesus therefore knowing all things that would come upon Him went forth and saith unto them whom seek ye?

[16:06] And they answered Him Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus said unto them I am He. I want you to see that dynamic. Jesus said He already knew what was going to happen and they come and say who's Jesus?

[16:18] And Jesus says I'm He. He didn't say oh, I'll know. He told them guys I know you're here for me. It's now the hour. We see that He's there and we see down in verse 6 it says I am He and it says they went backwards and fell to the ground.

[16:36] We'll talk about that a little later. But I want you to understand Jesus wasn't hiding because as we're going to look here He understood what was ahead of Him. You know, think about Isaiah 53.

[16:49] Isaiah 53 in verse 7 the Bible clearly declares He says He was oppressed and He was afflicted yet He opened not His mouth and He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter and as sheep before her shears is dumb so He openeth not His mouth.

[17:04] Here Jesus is going to go willingly to them. What it's talking about here Jesus didn't try to counteract what was happening. He didn't try to hold off what was happening. When they came He said I know what's going to happen and guys I'm the one you're looking for.

[17:19] And we see this play out because not only was it an hour of confrontation I believe it was an hour of great courage. When you see Jesus display for us what courage looks like standing responsibly in the moment even though you know that the outcome is not going to be very beneficial for yourself.

[17:39] To take a stand for what you need what needs to happen in the way Jesus does not wait but approaches the multitude as they arrive. I mean think about that Jesus the multitude starts gathering you could hear the weapons you could hear the swords and the staves and them coming they were not quiet and Jesus steps out in front of his disciples and says hey who are you looking for?

[18:04] He stepped out there with courage knowing all things that should come upon him as we read earlier and whom seek ye? You know when we understand that Jesus courageously confronts the group coming out against him in the garden but instead of teaching instead of them arresting him as he was teaching in the temple the three days previous they come out where it's quiet in a way but you know Jesus knew what was happening because it had been foretold you had to remember Jesus wasn't caught off guard Jesus knew exactly what was going to take place you know look back at our text for a moment look there in verse 49 in our text it says and daily with you in the temple teaching and ye took me not but the scripture must be fulfilled now you think about just earlier in the garden as we spoke last week Jesus was there and he said Lord let this if it be possible for this cup to pass from me not my will but thy will be done

[19:10] Jesus here is displaying the fact he says it's been determined what was going to happen and he says not my will but thy will be done let the scripture be fulfilled Jesus points us to the scripture all the time the scripture is what reveals to us who God is what God has done how to get right with God it reveals everything we need to know and Jesus says hey the scripture is the key to stand with the scripture he knew that all the things that were going to happen the events unfolding didn't take him by surprise he already knew Judas was going to betray him he knew that his fellow kinsmen the children of Israel were going to reject him he knew all those things he knew the violence he knew that he would suffer he knew the beating and the mockings he knew he was going to soon walk up a hill to be crucified between two thieves when he stepped out he already knew what was going to take place he understood why did

[20:19] Jesus do this because he came to do and fulfill the father's will John 4 verse 34 says Jesus said in them my meat is to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his work we'll find later that's one of the statements you'll see of Jesus on the cross he says it is finished he said I completed everything that was needed why did he do it well very simply this it was the father's will but he did it because he loved you God set forth this plan this course of action not for his benefit but for ours because you know what love is love is saying I want the benefit of somebody else greater than myself that's the display of love when God put forth you know think about Romans chapter 5 and verse 8 and it says but God commendeth his love toward us in that why we were yet sinners notice Christ died for us he went and he says I'm going to endure this because it's what's required for the benefit of others that's love he didn't come to say

[21:26] I'm going to suffer all this so they can stay where they are he wanted to rescue us he wanted to redeem us he did it because it was the only hope we had to be redeemed there's nothing we could do of ourselves there's no nothing you could obey there's no ritual you could perform there's nothing you can look to other than Jesus Christ and understanding what took place you know Hebrews 9 says and almost all things are by law purged with blood and without the shedding of blood is no remission you know what the wages of sin is death when we realize the necessity of the shed blood of Jesus in regard to our salvation 1 Peter 1 tells us this for as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold and from our vain conversations received from the tradition of our fathers but you're redeemed with what but with the precious blood of Christ as a lamb without blemish and without spot it's only through

[22:26] Christ Jesus knew why he came he courageously stepped out that day for our benefit not for his in light of this Jesus stood courageously before those that came to put him to death but I want you to see it was also an hour of compromise the hour that Jesus was arrested his disciples all fled all those that had come with him into the garden one of the twelve led the betrayers the other eleven jumped ship you know it was just an hour earlier that each had made a commitment to the Lord that they would never forsake him I mean think about that when Jesus called up told Peter Peter you're going to deny me and Peter not me Lord the others might fail but I'm all in there are nothing I'm unmovable you know we talked about that the fact Peter was problem was he's relying on himself and not on the Lord you know we can get in trouble when we rely on ourselves we can say we can do a lot of things and yeah we can overcome a lot of things in the flesh but you know what you reach a limitation you're going to find limitations in life things when you need the

[23:44] Lord because God doesn't give us more than we can handle yeah he does you know the last few weeks have been an example of that it's way more sometimes than you can handle but we serve a Savior who's sufficient to fill what we lack we need to keep our eyes upon him you know they were convinced they would stand with Jesus even die with him or for him you know we find out you know it talks about one of the disciples lopping the ear off of the servant of the high priest you know that was Peter yeah I can just imagine Peter here still with sleepies in his eyes maybe that's the reason he missed I don't know you know you wake up you're still kind of blurry I imagine aim for the big object but Peter in his flesh just a few moments was ready to even die but when they came and arrested Jesus and Jesus didn't put up any resistance Peter fled Peter just like the rest took off Jesus didn't resist and his disciples ran away you know verse 50 says and they all forsook him and fled it means they abandoned him for a place of safety vanishing from sight you know these men basically they ran away into the night convinced in one moment that they would stand for Jesus but failed the test in that hour disappearing leaving

[25:09] Jesus alone with his enemies you know this morning you need to be careful we don't because sometimes have you ever read the Bible and you look well look at those bums that wouldn't be me you know what there's only one choice sometimes between you and being just like him matter of fact we're probably more like the disciples than we realize because the hour that we ought to be staying close to Jesus is the very hour we head the other direction we don't know how we would respond when we were faced with trials of life you know the trials of life really bring forth what are you really trusting in you know it's easy to say I trust God when everything's good praise God everything's you know what I was just thinking here this past weeks and I was reading there in 1 Samuel about David and you know what when David lost his child the one thing that stood out to me was this it's like the servants were so worried because David was weeping and crying beforehand and afterwards it says

[26:09] David stood up and he went into the house of God he cleaned himself up and he went to worship his God I was just thinking you know the reality you know what everybody said you know David really believes this he doesn't trust God because of just the good things God does he trusts God even in the difficult things that he stood up and he went to the house of God to praise God and all the servants when you read that passage it's amazing because my context is this this is the Smith version okay it's not the divinely inspired version but I can just imagine his servants talking to themselves saying wow what David's been talking about what he's been saying really matches up this guy's serious how did that determine in the moments of difficulty of whom do we trust so we don't need to be too harsh upon the disciples because we find later that they came back and you know each of them faced extreme challenges and remained faithful but I think they learned a lesson sometimes we have to learn a lesson the hard way but we serve a God that can redeem if you remember last week

[27:18] Jesus told him he says hey you guys are going to deny me but after I resurrect meet me in Galilee that's another great hope you can let Jesus down and Jesus says hey come on back he's a God that restores it was an hour that challenged their lives it was an hour of compromise but it was also an hour of compassion you know even in the midst of Judas's betrayal and the disciples desertion Jesus didn't get angry bitter or upset Jesus still acted compassionately towards the people around him you know it's amazing the compassion that Jesus displayed Jesus displayed compassion to Judas Iscariot you say well how did he do that think about it here's a traitor he knew he was a traitor he knew he was selling him out for the price of a slave just 30 pieces of silver he leads the mob to arrest him and betray him with a kiss the kiss of a friend it wasn't and when you understand the culture and what it's talking about it wasn't just anything it was a kiss that they would do upon the cheek of an individual that they had a relationship with that they were friends with they were tight with

[28:31] Jesus met Judas not reacting him with bitterness or anger I mean have you ever stop for a moment and put yourself in Jesus shoes somebody coming to betray you you know they're betraying you how would you respond the flesh says strike out with bitterness or anger but in Matthew's gospel Matthew says this in chapter 26 verse 50 Jesus said this friend wherefore art thou come you know that's compassion because Jesus says hey I still care you're not faithful you're not loyal but I still care about you that's real compassion that's real concern because it wasn't just about him it was about Judas he displayed that to him he knew what Judas intended he had rejected the Lord he had rejected the gospel we find that Jesus reached out to Judas many times only to be rejected you know he knew Judas would betray him but in an attempt to reach him he handed him the sop at the meal in an attempt to reach him each time you'll find that

[29:34] Jesus reached out to Judas he told him hey go do what you're going to do Judas knew that Jesus knew what was going to happen but Judas refused and the Lord does the same for you and I the very fact that you are alive and not in hell today is proof of God's compassion upon you saying there's an opportunity God is reaching out to you he does it because he does not want you to go to hell he does it so you will come to him for salvation he does it because he loves you you know the sad thing is is Judas wasted a lot of opportunities but you don't have to because I want you to understand one day time runs out God's gracious and gives many opportunities but the reality is sometimes in life opportunities are going to run out Isaiah 55 says this it says seek ye the Lord while he may be found call up him while he is near will abundantly pardon you know

[30:45] Genesis chapter 6 talks about God says I will not always strive with man and he limits our days he says 120 years there in Genesis chapter 6 you know what God said he says I'm not going to there's a point reached where they've made a decision you know in this life you have a decision to make what are you!

[31:05] to do! Judas he had compassion have you ever thought the Lord had compassion on Malchus Malchus was the one we find named in the scripture was the servant here's the guy that's even by description he was the servant of the high priest he was out doing his job Peter with his sleepies whops off his ear maims him Jesus heals!

[31:36] you thus far and he touched his ear and healed him you know as a servant of the high priest it's likely that Malchus was probably sent with the mob to serve as a witness to the arrest of Jesus he was probably there so he could go back to his master and give him a full report of all the details concerning the arrest of the Lord Jesus he was one of Jesus but not know him you know Malchus left that day realizing the compassion of Jesus but there's no way recorded that he ever turned to him he was a servant in the temple think about what Matthew 7 tells us verse 21 it says not everyone that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but he that do it the!

[32:28] of my father which is in heaven many will say to me in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils and in thy name done many wonderful works and then I will profess unto them I never knew you depart from me ye that work in in in in in in in in!

[32:46] in! in not do good things to gain favor with Christ there's a difference just as Jesus one is compassion the other is selfishness what's in it for me Jesus gave us display of compassion Jesus had compassion on those who came to arrest him he could have destroyed them but he even when he displayed his authority and his power you know we talked about John chapter 18 and verse 6 it's one of them playing off in my head of how would this look we're not given all the description of what happened but what it reveals to us is they all knew something was different about Jesus authority here these armed men come I want you to understand these people these are men that were trained they are ready to do their task these weren't wimpy guys just showing up saying

[33:53] I'm going to be tough today the armed guards that came were men of war look what Jesus says as soon as he had said unto them I am he and Jesus says who seek he and they said Jesus of Nazareth Jesus I am he and it says they fell backwards the reality is he addressed himself and presented himself as not just anybody he addressed himself as I am I am is I know that's not good English but I am is a proper name of God addressing his authority it says by the mere mention of his name Jesus displayed his authority to them and they knew he had authority he could have destroyed them by the word of his mouth but yet Jesus had compassion on a group of people who came to arrest him you know Peter Jesus also showed compassion to Peter you know sometimes when you show compassion it affects more than one person this is a good example that

[34:57] Jesus healing Malchus his ear showed compassion to Peter Peter operated in his flesh and got ahead and took action that God didn't tell him to do Peter should have been arrested that night for assaulting the servant of the high priest but it's pretty hard to press charges when the guy goes he says but my ear is fine I don't know about you we talk a lot about court cases but I don't think the prosecutor would have had a heart Marcus get up here show us your ear he did cut it off but Jesus healed it I don't think that's the testimony you want when you're trying to prosecute somebody in what he!

[35:34] Jesus showed compassion on Peter because he says Peter I have some other things for you to do you know we found that Jesus told Peter he was going to deny him three times that's there with that passage you need to read the rest of it he says when thou art restored strengthen thy brethren I mean think about that for a moment Jesus says hey Peter I know you're going to mess up but when you get this straightened out and realize and get right with me do the very thing strengthen others with it let them know I'm a God of compassion I'm a God that cares you know the events of this hour of betrayal still impact us today it's a day that Jesus willingly determined to do that for which he came you know Mark chapter 10 says this for even the son of man came not to be ministered unto but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many today the hour of betrayal began what Jesus knew was the path that was going to provide everything we needed to be saved he went for you and

[36:43] I you know though it was a day that lives in infamy you might say of betrayal it's also a great day that reveals our very need for the Savior as the Lord spoke into your heart today are you willing to obey are you willing to respond to the truth of God's word because today you have one of two choices here this morning either respond to what Jesus and the word of God has spoke to you today or you walk out the door unchanged everybody is making a choice what choice are you going to make today are you willing to obey the Savior and call upon him are you willing to come to him in the hour of need are you going to stand up and shake hands and walk out the door just like you came in only person can answer that to you where are you with the Savior today as heads are bowed and eyes are closed here for a moment as you think on that thought what about you what about you heavenly fathers we just give an opportunity here

[37:49] Lord you know each heart each life you know the burdens the struggles the trials Lord you know all the dynamics that go on within Lord if there's one here today that's not sure about where they stand with you that today would be the day they would call upon you Lord today would be a day that they would remember because it was a day that their life was transformed by you the day the spirit come and dwell within Lord the day they were sealed under the day of redemption!

[38:23] Lord we pray just have your hand upon each one maybe there's other needs here today maybe it's just the need of saying Lord I need your compassion because there's things that I got ahead of myself Lord I just need to come and turn to you whatever the need might be Lord pray that you would work in a mighty way in hearts today that we might not walk out just as we came in Lord we