Two Betrayals

Acts 1.15-26

1 John 5.9-13

Peter and Judas. Each betrayed Jesus in different ways. Each had very different outcomes. Let’s start at the Last Supper in Matthew 26 for the backstory. Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples when, while eating, he lets out this bombshell, “One of you will betray me.” Each one asks, “Is it me?” but only one is being insincere. Judas Iscariot knew full well it was him. He’d already struck a deal to hand Jesus over. After the meal, they went to the Mount of Olives, all still wondering, “who’s the betrayer?” Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” Peter piped up, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” I’m sure Peter meant it. It was a loud protest that he wasn’t the betrayer. So imagine his horror when Jesus says, “This very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” Peter would’ve been terrified. He ups his protestations. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” Every disciple said the same. There was an air of suspicion now amongst this band of brothers.

Shortly after, Judas was with the crowd that came to arrest Jesus, who plainly says, “here comes my betrayer”. But Judas kisses Jesus. Calls Him, “Rabbi”. Jesus calls Judas, “friend”. Did this show of affection prevent the disciples understanding?

Peter demonstrates his intention to follow Jesus to death by cutting off the ear of the high priest’s servant (which Jesus promptly reattached). He followed the arrested Jesus to the high priest’s house. This was brave and he deserves credit. But Peter lost his nerve. People started saying he was a follower of Jesus. Peter kept denying it. Then the rooster crowed, as Jesus prophesied. Luke adds that Jesus then looked at Peter. Peter wept bitterly. His resolve crumbled. It’s possible to think you’ll be heroic until you’re in a situation that demands it!

Peter denied Jesus rather than suffer with Him. In Matthew’s gospel, Peter’s name doesn’t appear again. But it’s not the end of Peter’s story any more than our failures are the end of ours. Maybe we don’t always choose to suffer with Jesus, even if we don’t actually say, “I don’t know the man!”

Skipping on. Luke tells us more. The women saw the risen Christ and the empty tomb. They told the eleven disciples, who didn’t believe them. What nonsense! It still sounds like nonsense to people today. “Dead men don’t rise.” Despite this, who ran into the tomb? Peter. No body, just grave clothes - strips of linen. He leaves, wondering what happened. I want to scream at him. “He kept telling you about this!!!” Then I think, how often do I have to hear Christian things before they sink in?

John shares a vital point in the story. After a miraculous catch of fish and breakfast on the beach with the disciples, Jesus talks with Peter.

Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep…”

But. The English word “love” translates two different Greek words. Agapao and phileo. Sacrificial love and fondness. So might we paraphrase it like this?

“Simon son of John, will you sacrifice yourself for me even if these other disciples don’t?”
“Yes, Lord, you know that I’m fond of you.”
“Feed my lambs.”
“Simon son of John, will you sacrifice yourself out of love for me?”
“Yes, Lord, you know I’m fond of you.”
“Take care of my sheep.”
“Simon son of John, are you fond of me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Are you fond of me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I’m fond of you.”
“Feed my sheep…”

Peter loved Jesus but couldn’t bring himself to say the right love word. I wish we could see Peter’s face. Could he look Jesus in the eyes? I find it difficult to say the “L” word because I know my inadequacies. I know what love means, but find it hard to say so.

Peter had said, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” And, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” Despite his willing spirit, his flesh was weak. Peter thought he was better than the others. He’d stay strong when they crumbled. However, when the going got tough, he denied Jesus. “Do you love me more than the other disciples?” Peter couldn’t claim that now. But Jesus is merciful. To Peter, Jesus had said, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” So Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Now the focus rests on Peter alone. He can’t bring himself to say the word. “Take care of my sheep.” Jesus then shocks Peter. “Simon son of John, are you fond of me?” I expect Peter deflates a bit. It hurt him that Jesus stepped down to his level.

Jesus doesn’t humiliate Peter, but gently forces him to face up to reality. Jesus takes us as we are. We can come no other way. We can’t deceive God. Peter accepts he’s not better than the others. Jesus says, “feed my sheep”. Despite everything, Peter still has the job. But it’s not a Peter who might lord it over the others. It’s a humbled Peter. It’s Simon, son of John.

Jesus continues, “Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Peter WOULD sacrifice himself for Jesus. His fondness WOULD transform into sacrificial love. God won’t let him fall away. But still the challenge remained. “Follow me.” But, but, but, what about John? What’s going to happen to him? Not your business. “Follow me” is your business.

Peter followed. He journeyed from “I’ll die for you, no matter what!” to “I don’t know the man!” to “You know I’m fond of you, Jesus” to following, knowing he’d die for Him. This isn’t self righteous Peter. This is humbled Peter.

If you or I had been told, follow Jesus and you’ll die for Him, would we have followed?

So we come to Acts 1. Jesus has ascended to heaven. The apostles, the women, Mary and Jesus’ brothers are praying and waiting in Jerusalem, as Jesus told them to. Peter stands up to address this group. Peter is no longer like the child who wants to be noticed. “Ooh, teacher, pick me pick me!” Now he’s the Peter who must feed Christ’s sheep. He doesn’t begin, “Listen to me, subjects. I’m your leader. Jesus said so!” He begins, “brothers and sisters”. He’s not better than the rest. He sees a need to replace Judas Iscariot as apostle. He doesn’t pick a successor. He sets out the job description and the criteria. The whole group chooses two candidates. They cast lots, effectively giving God the final say.

Peter doesn’t go on to be perfect, but in Acts and in his letters, he’s a changed man.

What about Judas Iscariot, the actual betrayer? He showed remorse. He recognised he’d betrayed an innocent man. He confessed he’d sinned. He gave back the money. Why wasn’t he restored? He allowed himself no opportunity to change his life.

Judas followed Jesus out of self interest, stealing from the money bag that belonged to all. Yet he’d been sent to proclaim the gospel and heal the sick, like the others. He witnessed miracles, heard Jesus’ teachings, told others about Him. But he didn’t believe it. He had no faith in God. How on earth does that happen? Consider the Israelites whom Moses led out of Egypt. All they saw and experienced, yet the vast majority didn’t trust God. Dear Father, may our hearts not be unbelieving. I went to Bible College 30 odd years ago. One student I was friends with used to evangelise in his spare time. He’d pray with others and join Bible studies outside official college meetings. In other words, when he wasn’t obliged to. Years later I received a letter from him. Christianity is stupid. Christians are stupid, relying on blind faith. He never believed. He was always an atheist. It was all an act. Really? It’s what he claimed. Why spend two years at Bible College if it was all fake? Maybe you can put on a show and pull the wool over people’s eyes, just like Judas.

Our reading from 1 John gets to the heart of this. “Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

Peter believed. Judas didn’t. God said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Peter believed. Judas didn’t. Most still don’t believe it. Do you believe it? I once met a 93 year old lady who’d been going to church since she was 3. Someone asked her why Jesus had to die. She answered, “I don’t know why that young man had to die.” Doesn’t that break your heart? 90 years attending church and she didn’t even know that. We need to know Jesus died so our sins could be forgiven, believe in Him, seek Him in our lives, be fond of Him but also be living sacrifices. If the most we can offer is to be fond of Him, He can transform that into something greater. We won’t all need to die for Him like Peter did. But we must die to self, giving up sins and things to do what He wants. None of us love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. We confess that every week. But He offers forgiveness. And the opportunity to change if we’re willing and don’t walk away. 

Image by Antonio López from Pixabay

https://pixabay.com/photos/agony-in-the-garden-jesus-salzillo-501754/