Worship Preparation Guide for Sunday, September 14

In this Sunday’s passage in John 13 we move from the beauty of the sacrificial, serving love of Jesus to ugly betrayal of Jesus by Judas.  Why did Judas do it and what can we learn from this event?  The specific workings in his heart are unknown, but the fruit of Judas’ heart is clearly recorded.  In the ongoing struggle in John’s gospel between light and dark, between good and evil, Judas leaves the light and goes out into darkness – the physical darkness of the night and the spiritual darkness of lostness.  The last image we have is a man filled with regret, who tries to return his payment for the betrayal.  But it is refused, and Judas commits suicide (Matt. 27:1–10; Acts 1:16–20). 

“Here we have a man who stood closer to the revelation of God than many. Judas heard Jesus teach and witnessed his miracles.  While Peter expresses doubts about Jesus’ announced crucifixion and Thomas later doubts the resurrection, we have no description of Judas that shows him as anything but faithful. In the Upper Room, Peter refuses to have his feet washed. But Judas (apparently) complies, accepting the humble role of Jesus. Something happens to intervene in this man’s pilgrimage. He changes sides. To use John’s language, he flirts with the darkness to such a degree that he becomes one of its own.” Burge, Gary M.John (The NIV App Commentary)

Flirting with the darkness is dangerous.  Worship helps us in this battle.  It helps keep our eyes focused in the right direction and helps keep our hearts humble before God.

Did Judas have his own assumptions and aspirations for Jesus and His ministry?  Did he have expectations of Jesus that were not met?  Was Judas motivated by his own greed and ambition?  We can’t be sure.  This much is clear – Judas spent three years with Jesus; he saw the light, at some level believed in the Light, but chose the darkness anyway.  The Upper Room was a spiritual turning point in which Jesus was instructing his disciples and preparing them for what was to soon unfold.  But Satan was at work too.  Where God is most deeply at work, Satan’s work and attack is that much more acute. 

I seriously doubt Judas woke up one morning and said “I think I’ll betray Jesus today.  I wonder how much I can get for him?”  Certainly his walk away from the light into the dark was gradual.  One sinful thought here; one satanic prompting there; and over time Judas’ soul is hardened, the light dims and the darkness sets in.   

Judas is a parable – a warning for us all.  “We too, then, are in danger—in danger of misunderstanding Jesus and of being seduced by our own dreams and visions for life.  In doing this work, we betray Jesus.  The “betrayer” is someone who “hands over” Christ to his enemies and who (unwittingly or not) serves the forces of darkness rather than the light.”  (Burge, Gary M.)

The book of Hebrews is filled with warnings about this gradual spiritual hardening and the need to stay alert.  These warnings include the responsibility we share for the spiritual well being of our brothers and sisters in Christ.  As we prepare for worship lets take heed to these warnings, and consider those who may need us to reach out in love the way Jesus reached out in love to Judas.  

 “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” (Heb 2:1)   “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”  (Heb 3:12-13)   “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”    (Heb 10:23-25)

Ultimately our only hope in this spiritual struggle is Christ.  This Sunday we will sing about the unfailing Fortress we have in our Savior.

A mighty fortress is our God,


A bulwark never failing


Our helper He amid the flood


of mortal ills prevailing


For still our ancient foe


Doth seek to work us woe


His craft and power are great,

And armed with cruel hate,


On earth is not his equal

Did we in our own strength confide


our striving would be losing


Were not the right man on our side,

The man of God's own choosing


Dost ask who that may be


Christ Jesus it is He; 


Lord Sabaoth His name!


From age to age the same


And He must win the battle

And though this world
with devils filled


should threaten to undo us


We will not fear
for God hath willed


His truth to triumph through us


The prince of darkness grim


we tremble not for him;


His rage we can endure


For lo his doom is sure! 


One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers,


No thanks to them abideth;


The Spirit and the gifts are ours


through Him who with us sideth.


Let goods and kindred go; 


This mortal life also.


The body they may kill


God's truth abideth still;


His kingdom is forever.