Key Players At The Cross: Man
Mk. 15:6-15
Maybe you have seen “The Passion of the Christ.” It was a gripping almost too real depiction
of the cross. If you haven’t seen that
one, you have probably seen at least one of the movies that centered around the
cross. Why do I have confidence in
that? Because it’s such great drama
that each generation has tried to come up with a new way of presenting this
story. Books, movies and plays have all
attempted to tell this story and the story of those involved with the cross.
The story of the cross is about as great a drama as there
ever was. Politics, intrigue, love, and
suspense are all found in this story.
For the next three weeks I want to look at some of the key players who
were involved in this drama. We’re
familiar with all of them, but are we familiar with the extent of their
involvement in what happened at the cross?
Today I want to look at humanity and understand what part we play in the
cross.
PRAYER
I. Who
betrayed Jesus?
A.
Betrayal in the cross
1.
The Greek word for betray is used several times in the Bible,
but most of those times are used in the story of the cross.
2.
The word paradidomi which means “betray” has 3 different
meanings in Greek.
a)
To hand over, as in to pass on teachings
b)
To hand over, as in to put into someone else’s power
c)
To hand over, as in to betray
3.
As that word is used around the cross, it is hard to determine
which of the last two meanings are correct, but one fact is clear, betrayal is
never far removed in this story.
B.
Judas
1.
His treachery
a)
The Greek word for betray is used of Judas 33 times in the
Bible. That is more than any other
person in the entire Bible!
b)
In each listing of the Apostles he is always known as Judas
the betrayer.
c)
Each of the gospels not only tell of his betrayal, but also
tell us he led the soldiers to Jesus at Gethsemane.
d)
His was a treachery so bad that you never hear a child from a
Christian nation named Judas.
2.
His motivation
a)
But what would motivate one of the inner circle to commit such
an act of betrayal?
b)
While there may have been more, the Bible gives us one
motivation for sure; greed.
(1)
READ Jn. 12:3-6
(2)
He was a thief before he was a betrayer.
(3)
Yet, did you notice he was still labeled a betrayer even in
this passage?
(4)
Not long after this
incident, he makes his deal with the chief priests to betray Jesus for 30
pieces of silver.
C.
The religious leaders
1.
However, Judas wasn’t the only one to have the word betray
attached to him. It was also used of
the religious leaders.
2.
All four gospels talk about the religious leaders handing
Jesus over to Pilate.
3.
Their treachery went just as deep
a)
They didn’t act as righteous leaders doing what was best in
God’s eyes.
b)
They plotted to kill him, they lead a mock trial and even
hired men to falsely accuse him.
c)
These men who claimed to be the greatest proponents of the 10
commandments and the law, twisted it all over the place to fit their purposes.
d)
And when they did all they could do to destroy the son of God,
they turned him over to the despised gentiles to finish their despicable work.
e)
Betrayal was very much a part of what they did to Jesus.
4.
Their motive was envy
a)
Look again at our text
b)
READ Mk 15:9-10
c)
There motivation was just as bad if not worse then that of
Judas. It was purely out pique that
they acted this way!
D.
Pilate
1.
Then there was Pilate.
What was his role in all this betrayal?
2.
We don’t know much about Pilate either from Biblical or extra
biblical writings.
a)
We know he served this post for about 10 years.
b)
We know that he was considered an able administrator of a
difficult province.
3.
In the Bible, the word betrayer is used of Pilate as well.
a)
He handed Jesus over to be crucified.
b)
But he also betrayed Jesus because he knew Jesus was an
innocent man.
c)
Pilate liked peace more than Justice and allowed an innocent
man to be executed so he didn’t have to deal with any more headaches.
4.
His motivation wasn’t anything sinister.
a)
He wasn’t motivated by greed or envy.
b)
He gained nothing by Jesus execution and surely had no reason
to be jealous of Jesus.
c)
His motivation was simply cowardice.
d)
One Jew wasn’t worth his reputation whether he was innocent or
not.
II. Your
Role and My Role in this Drama
A.
First the bad news
1.
In Acts 3 Jesus was talking to a crowed of Jews. Few if any of them had anything to do with
the crucifixion of Christ, but listen to what he has to say to them.
a)
READ Acts 3:13-15
b)
That phrase in vs 13
“you handed him over” is the word we have been talking about so
much. Paradidomi, Betray.
2.
The New Testament message to us is that we are ALL guilty of
betraying and crucifying Christ.
3.
You may argue that you weren’t there.
4.
You may argue that you would never do such a barbaric thing.
5.
You may argue many things, but the stark reality is that every
time we sin, we betray and crucify Christ.
6.
Because of our sins, we hand the innocent Christ over to the
cross.
7.
It’s the only way we could be saved.
B.
The good news
1.
READ Rom 5:6-10
2.
Even while we were betraying him God was using that betrayal
and it’s consequences for our salvation.
3.
I beg you to realize what you have done to Jesus.
4.
Confess the fact that you betrayed and crucified the Christ.
5.
Rejoice in the fact that God took that evil and made something
good from it.
6.
He allowed Jesus to take on our sins and be our sacrifice.
7.
We betrayed him once, don’t do it again by rejecting all that
he went through just for you and me.