Sermons

Calling the Twelve, Pt. 2

Nov 21, 2021

Calling the Twelve, Pt. 2

Passage: Matthew 10:1-4

Preacher: Jeff Crotts

Series: Matthew

Category: Sunday Morning

Detail

Judas Iscariot, fathered by Simon Iscariot (Jn 6:71; 13:26).

  • A man of Kerioth (2 eligible villages), transliteration of Latin sciarius meaning Zealot-movement?
    • Transliteration of Aramaic meaning falsehood or betrayer?
    • Or Judas the redhead?
    • “Judas the Dyer” according to trade? 
  • His name Iscariot to this day is associated with deception and betrayal. 
  • He was the treasurer which some take to mean he was a man of great wealth. 
  • Trusted to manage the money of the 12.
  • Known to be honest, why he had the money, but he was anything but honest (cf.

Jn. 12:6; 13:29).

ESV  John 12:4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said,5 "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii1 and agiven to the poor?"6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and ahaving charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 

 “How could Jesus make Judas an Apostle?”

  • Did he have powers like everyone else? Yes.
  • Did he sit at the feet of Jesus like everyone else? Yes.
  • Did he play a role in terms of God’s will and purposes working out, just like everyone else? Yes.

ESV  John 17:12 aWhile I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have bguarded them, and cnot one of them has been lost except dthe son of destruction, ethat the Scripture might be fulfilled. (Joh 17:12 ESV)

ESV  Mark 14:21 For the Son of Man goes aas it is written of him, but bwoe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! cIt would have been better for that man if he had not been born." (Mar 14:21 ESV)

 ESV  Matthew 26:14-16 abThen one of the twelve, whose name was bJudas Iscariot, went to the chief priests15 and said, "What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?" And they apaid him bthirty pieces of silver.

16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity ato betray him.  

ESV  Matthew 26:20-25 aWhen it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve.121 And as they were eating, ahe said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me."22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, "Is it I, Lord?"

23 He answered, a"He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me.24 The Son of Man goes aas it is written of him, but bwoe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! cIt would have been better for that man if he had not been born."

25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, "Is it I, aRabbi?" He said to him, b"You have said so." 

ESV  John 13:18-30 aI am not speaking of all of you; I know bwhom I have chosen. But cthe Scripture will be fulfilled,1 d'He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.'  19 aI am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he.20 Truly, truly, I say to you, awhoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me."21 After saying these things, aJesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, b"Truly, truly, I say to you, cone of you will betray me."22 aThe disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke.23 aOne of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table bclose to Jesus,124 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus1 of whom he was speaking.25 aSo that disciple, bleaning back against Jesus, said to him, "Lord, who is it?"26 Jesus answered, a"It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread bwhen I have dipped it." So when he had dipped the morsel, che gave it to Judas, dthe son of Simon Iscariot.27 Then after he had taken the morsel, aSatan entered into him. Jesus said to him, b"What you are going to do, do quickly."28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him.29 Some thought that, abecause Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, "Buy what we need bfor the feast," or that he should cgive something to the poor.30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. aAnd it was night.  

ESV  Psalm 41:9 Even my aclose friend in whom I trusted, who bate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.  

“Why Jesus let this happen?” 

 Why did Jesus select Judas in the first place has to be taken in the realm of what is called “The Problem of Evil.”

  • Why would God allow sin in the world?
    • The only answer is that God’s purposes are higher than our own.
    • God is doing things we do not and perhaps will not fully understand. 
  • At the same, we understand something of what God is doing.
    • He allows evil as a backdrop to what is good.
    • God conquering evil brings glory to God.
    • Black felt will make a diamond glimmer. 

There is also the sense in which Judas accounts for our real experience we all face in life.

  • There are always sheep and goats.
    • One in every batch.
    • The wheat and the tares. 
  • Threats are that constant.
    • Satan is still around posing a real threat, cause for being alert.
    • This is the ultimate example of someone can fall from grace.
      • Not lose salvation but be so influenced by what is good and powerful about Christ, that you look, talk, and act like the real thing when you are not.
      • Someone who’s heart can be hardened and give over to the road to Hell. 
  • This is the warning for all believers, not to be Judas, not to give yourself over to the point of no repentance (ie Heb. 6). 

There is also the sense of Jesus’ compassion.

  • Did he know Judas would betray him? Certainly, the Bible predicted it. 
  • Did he love and treat Judas like everyone else? Certainly.
    • He washed Judas’ feet.
    • He taught and empowered him.
    • Jesus is sovereign but in his humanity he laid aside the independent exercise of his attributes.
    • So, Jesus engaged Judas with full integrity.
      • This was not a game for Jesus.
      • Neither is it for you and me. 

 Who’s names are on the 12 thrones? 

ESV  Matthew 19:28 Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world,1 awhen the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me bwill also sit on twelve thrones, cjudging the twelve tribes of Israel. 

ESV  Revelation 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve afoundations, and bon them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.  

  • Not Judas according to Matthew 19:28. 
  • My guess is these names with Matthias being the twelfth. 

“What about Paul who became the Apostle to the Gentiles?”

  • He was not the original 12.
  • This is not important enough of a question for Scripture to answer. 

Jesus gave these men the mission of missions. 

  • Guess what? 
  • Our mission is to pick up where they left off, so we need to know as much as we can about the mission they undertook. 

Intimidating? 

  • It is important to realize that these were ordinary men just like you and me.
    • Some who were friends as brothers and fellow fishermen.
    • Some who were bilking the system as traitors for Rome, others who were cultish patriots to Yahweh and country! 

Where did this mission take them? 

  • Many would suffer or die but all sacrificed for what was greater than themselves.
    • This is the commission from our King.
    • The mission of missions and you as ordinary people coming from all walks of life join King Jesus and follow his plan. 
  • We will return to Jesus’ war room next week to see their marching orders and hear our own!

 

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