The Seventh Sunday of Easter (GA)

Matthew 26:14-16, 47-56

14 Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went 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.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Mt 26:14–16). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

47 While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” 49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. 51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” 55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. 56 But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Mt 26:47–56). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Judas betrayed our Lord Jesus Christ.  He handed him over to the chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the church.  Judas did these things.  Judas betrayed his Lord with a kiss.  Judas sold this man for thirty pieces of silver.  He leads soldiers out to the garden so that they could seize Jesus.

All these things took place to fulfill the scriptures.  All which Judas had done was prophesied by the prophets of old.  All these things were done to fulfill scripture.  Thus, Judas does what God told the prophets in the past.  But Judas has come out with soldiers to betray the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah prayed that he had never been born so that he would not see the dark days of Jerusalem.  Job prayed that he had died in his Mother's womb so that he would not have to face pain and suffering.  Jesus says of Judas, it would be better if he had never been born.  Judas will conclude his part of this tale by hanging himself.

There are many people in the world who face trials and tribulation.  We face struggles and temptations.  We face pain and suffering.  Job and Jeremiah turned to one place to get them through these struggles.  Judas turned to another place.  The place we turn to is the cross of Christ.  Jesus has died for the forgiveness of all our sins.  He gives us certain hope in eternal life through the cross of Christ.  This is where we turn when we wish we had never lived.  God has given us life.  He has given us life eternal through Jesus Christ.