Human Nature

The message given on Good Friday, April 15, 2022 in the Gettysburg United Methodist church.  The Bible verses used are Luke 23:1-46.

            One of the problems with hearing Bible stories that we’ve heard several times before is that, eventually, that’s what they become.  Stories.  Like a mystery novel or a romance story.  Something that’s interesting, but something that does not actually seem real to us.  But they were real.  They happened to real people in a real place.  In this case, they happened to Jesus in Jerusalem.

            The events we’ve heard about tonight happened on Jesus’ last full day of life on earth.  Think about what this day was like for Jesus.  He wakes up, knowing what the day is going to bring.  Maybe he did not sleep very well, thinking about it.  He knew things had to happen this way–he said so himself, many times.  But it’s one thing to think about something that’s going to happen at some point in the future.  It’s another thing to be face-to-face with the reality of it.  

            He had determined to go through with it, of course.  But that did not make it any more pleasant.  He knew what was going to happen–the betrayal, the arrest, the abandonment, all of it.  It would not be an easy thing to face, even for Jesus.

            The disciples came to Jesus, asking him what he wanted them to do to prepare to eat the Passover meal.  Jesus tells them what to do, and they do it.  And the next thing we’re told, it’s evening.  

What do you suppose Jesus did during the day that day, his last day of life on earth?  What would you do, if you knew it was your last day of life on earth?  

Did he spend some time with Mary, his earthly mother?  We’re told that Mary was there at his crucifixion, so she must have been in Jerusalem.  He almost certainly spent some time in prayer, talking to God the Father.  Did he think about what he might say to the disciples, to prepare them for what was going to happen?  Last night we read what we called Jesus’ Farewell Address to his disciples, which covers about four chapters of the gospel of John.  Maybe he was planning that out.  Maybe he was thinking about how he was going to tell the disciples that one of them would betray him.  Maybe he wandered around Jerusalem, taking one last look at everything.

Whatever he did, eventually evening came.  And Jesus tells the disciples straight out, “one of you will betray me.”

We’re told that the disciples were very sad when they heard that.  I don’t know that I ever thought about that before, but does that not seem like kind of a strange reaction to you?  I mean, I’d have thought that they’d be shocked.  Or outraged.  Or angry.  But no, they’re simply very sad.

That tells me that the disciples maybe had more of an inkling of what was going on than we sometimes think.  They knew the authorities were after them.  They knew things were coming to a head very soon.  And now, they knew how it was going to happen.  It was going to happen because one of them would betray Jesus.  Of all the ways for things to end.  To have it end that way, with one of them betraying Jesus.  It was, indeed, a very sad thing.

And it’s also interesting how the disciples respond next.  Each of them asks Jesus, “Surely you don’t mean me?”

That tells me a couple of things.  One of them is that they did not know, at this point, that Judas would be the one to betray them.  They don’t even appear to have suspected him.  Because no one says, “Is it Judas?”  They don’t ask, “Is it Andrew?” or “Is it Philip” either.  They simply ask, “Surely you don’t mean me?”

What that tells me is that each of them thought, deep down, that there was a chance that it might be them.  None of the disciples, not James, not John, not even Peter, was a hundred percent sure that they would not be the one to betray Jesus.  Which raises the question:  had Judas not betrayed Jesus, would one of the others had done so?  We don’t know, obviously.  But none of them was sure it would not be them, so we cannot be sure about it, either.

And when you think about it, in a way, it was every one of them.  We did not read this far, but when Jesus was arrested, all the disciples ran away.  None of them stood by Jesus.  None of them was willing to be arrested with Jesus.  Everyone deserted him.  They all betrayed Jesus to one extent or another.

It’s something for us to think about.  Because, you know, none of us likes to think of ourselves as Judas.  We all want to think, if we had been there, that we would never have betrayed Jesus.  But they all did.  Even Peter, who swore that even if everyone else fell away, he would not, did.  So if all of them did, there’s probably a good chance that you and I would have, too.

But here’s the thing.  After Jesus tells them one of them will betray him, and knowing that all of them will desert him, Jesus then goes on to offer them what we now call Holy Communion.  He says words that are very similar to what we will say when we share in Holy Communion in a little while.  We’re told that, “Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’   Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you.  This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’”

Jesus offered that bread, and that cup, to everyone.  He offered his body, and his blood, for everyone.  He offered the forgiveness of sins to everyone.

And that “everyone” includes Judas.  After all, there is no indication that Judas had left.  It certainly appears that he was still there.  Jesus offered the forgiveness of his body, and his blood, to Judas.  Knowing exactly what Judas was going to do, knowing exactly when and how and why he was going to do it, Jesus still offered the forgiveness of his body and his blood to Judas.  Jesus offered salvation and eternal life to Judas.  And he offered it to all the other disciples, the ones who would abandon him, as well.

Does that mean Judas went to heaven?  Well, I don’t know about that.  Jesus said, in our reading for tonight, “woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”  That certainly does not sound promising for Judas.  On the other hand, we’re told that our salvation is not dependent on our goodness, but on our faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior.  Jesus even said to one of the men who was crucified with him “Today you will be with me in paradise.”  Is it possible that, before he killed himself, Judas repented of his sins, asked for forgiveness, and proclaimed his faith in Jesus?  The Bible does not tell us that, but it does not specifically tell us that he did not.  Ultimately, of course, what I think about this does not matter–this is a decision for God, not for me.  But I do think it’s possible.

 But what that should do for us is give us hope.  Because, as we said a couple of weeks ago, we all have a little bit of Judas in us.  We all betray Jesus on occasion.  Not in the way Judas did, obviously.  But have you ever been a little disappointed in God?  Have you ever been upset with God?  Have you ever felt like God let you down?  Have you ever failed to trust God as much as you should?  Have you ever tried to tell God what to do, and then questioned or doubted God when God did not do it?  I suspect most of us, maybe all of us, have done at least one of those things, maybe more.  And when we have, we’ve betrayed Jesus.

But even so, Jesus still offers us Holy Communion.  Now don’t get me wrong, taking communion does not guarantee that we have salvation and eternal life.  It’s not a get out of jail free card.  But it is one of God’s means of grace.  It is one of the ways God’s Holy Spirit comes into our hearts.

Just as he did with the disciples, Jesus offers the bread, and the cup, to everyone.  Jesus offers his body, and his blood, to everyone.  Jesus offers forgiveness to everyone.  Jesus offers salvation and eternal life to everyone.  Including Judas.  Including Peter.  Including you.  And including me.

As we move into our time of sharing in Holy Communion, let’s think about all this.  Let’s think about the fact that Jesus offers salvation and eternal life to everyone.  Even to those who betray Him.  As long as we are alive, it is never too late to repent of our sins, to ask for forgiveness, and to receive salvation and eternal life.  Jesus offers his body and his blood, to allow us to be saved.  Let’s accept His offer.  Let’s truly accept Jesus Christ as the Savior.