Day 4: The Betrayal
Read: Mt. 26:17-35; Mk. 14:12-25; Lk. 22:7-20; Jn. 13:1-38.
Living to treasure the glory of God in our hearts in order to risk our lives for the joy of others is the most worthy cause for our existence. But, the fundamental problem of a man is that the heart is twisted by the affection for the flesh. When our affection for life is satisfied by anything less than the glory of God, we are in danger of betraying the glorious splendor of His majesty. We are twisted and wicked when we become passively or intentionally become disinterested in the worship of God.
We are all seeking happiness in life; and, wanting happiness is not a sin in itself, but it becomes a sin when our seeking for happiness in the glory of God becomes passive. Here, we become physically and mentally weak, and we lose the power and the intensity to see the glory of God. Thus, we will be easily overcome, persuaded, and defeated by the flesh.
Paul says Jesus has crucified our flesh or sinful nature with its passions and desires upon the cross (Gal 5:24). Therefore, if we live to gratify our flesh we betray the power of the cross and the death of Christ that brought us the freedom. Here, we waste the newness of life given to us by Christ.
Centuries ago, in an old ancient establishment, there was a cruel but effective punishment for murder. What the leaders of the town would do after catching a murderer is get the dead carcass of the slain victim and tie him to the one who murdered and leave both bodies in the middle of the town square. Slowly, the maggots, the decay, and bacteria would quickly penetrate and disperse from the dead flesh onto the live flesh of the murderer. And, eventually, he would die a slow and painful death by being united with the one whom he murdered. Jonathan Edwards said, “Be killing sin, lest it be killing you” If you don’t kill sin, it will eventually return and overpower you.
Judas betrayed Jesus for the thirty pieces of silver. In Bethany, a day before the triumphal entry to Jerusalem, a scene of Mary anointing the feet of Jesus and wiping them with her hair is revealed before us. Mary’s offering was valued at three hundred denarii, approximately a year’s wage for an ordinary workingman. Her offering of love and gratitude and wiping his feet with her hair was a gesture of an utmost devotion and reverence. However, Judas Iscariot claimed that the perfume could have been used for a better cause. We are like Judas; misplacing our worship of Jesus by justifying to satisfy our fleshly cravings.
Max Lucado said, “It’s much easier to die like Jesus if you have lived like Him for a lifetime.”
Peter denied Jesus three times because the strength of the flesh that claimed, “Not even if I have to die with you! I will never deny you!” have failed Peter miserably. To live like Jesus, we must depend upon the strength of the Spirit, because by the Spirit we put to death the misdeeds of the flesh that bears fruit unto death (Romans 8:13). Therefore, let us “Live by the Spirit” (Gal. 5:16) and bear fruit unto the Lord!
Pastor Tae
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