CHOICES
Luke 22:1-7 & 22:47-51
“I have decided to follow Jesus
No turning back. No turning back.
The cross before me the world behind me
No turning back. No turning back.”
The Bible is full of people who made really, really GOOD CHOICES that came with major consequences!
- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego made the choice to honor God with their lives.
- Daniel made the choice to honor God with his life.
- Joshua made the choice to trust God and walk around the walls of Jericho.
- Noah made the choice to trust God and build a huge boat.
- A woman who’d been sick for 12 years made the choice to reach out and touch the hem of Jesus’ garment.
- Four men made the choice to dig a hole in a roof to get their friend to Jesus.
- A boy made the choice to give Jesus his lunch so He could feed 1000’s.
- One leper out of 10 made the choice to turn back and worship Jesus.
The Bible is full of people who made really, really BAD CHOICES that came with major consequences!
- Adam made the choice to eat the fruit.
- Samson made the choice to be with Delilah.
- King David made the choice to stay home when kings went to war.
- Jonah made the choice to run from God.
- Moses made the choice to get angry and strike a rock.
- Ananias and Sapphira made the choice to lie about their offering.
- Peter made the choice to deny knowing Jesus.
- But the person who made one of the worst choice of all was Judas!
“A good name is more desirable than great riches;
to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” Proverbs 22:1 NIV
- Judas was chosen by Jesus Himself to be one of His original 12 disciples.
- Judas heard all the sermons that Jesus preached.
- Judas saw all the miracles that Jesus performed.
- Judas was given spiritual authority by Jesus.
- Judas was actually mentored by Jesus.
- Judas was friends with all the other disciples.
- Judas was the greatest hypocrite that has ever lived.
- Judas made a choice that literally cost him his soul.
“…God gave them over…” Romans 1:24 NIV
“…God gave them over…” Romans 1:26 NIV
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, He gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. Romans 1:28
There comes a moment when God has had enough!
“When a person consistently abandons God, there comes
a moment when God abandon them.” Dr. MacArthur
Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. 3 Then Satan entered Judas called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6 He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present. Luke 22:1-7 NIV
21 Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.” 22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”
25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. “What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him, 28 but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. John 13:21-31 NIV1984
47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49 When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. Luke 22:47-51 NIV
When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it.
2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”
5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
8 “I told you that I am he,” Jesus answered. “If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”
10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away!” John 18:1-11 NIV1984
Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. 2 They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.
3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” 5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. Matthew 27:1-5 NIV1984
For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. 2 Corinthians 7:10 NLT
God gave Judas an opportunity that he chose to squander!
Judas knew about Jesus, but he didn’t know Jesus!
20 When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the Twelve. 21 While they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” 22 Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one, Lord?”… 25 Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, “Rabbi, am I the one?” Matthew 26:20-22, 25 NLT
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matthew 7:21-23 NIV