See Jesus’ purpose and power of the cross. 

1) Judas missed the purpose of the cross. (vs. 47-50) Before we get to the verses in Matthew 26, we need a little background on Judas.  If we went back to verse 6, we’d see the scene where a woman, most likely Mary, the sister of Martha, poured expensive perfume on Jesus.  This perfume was probably a family heirloom – passed down from generations.  And it was worth a ton of money – probably over $10k in today’s dollars.  What did Mary do with this perfume?  She poured it all out on Jesus. Why?  Some scholars believe that Mary and Judas were the first two people to believe that Jesus was really going to die.  And Mary’s response was to make the most sacrificial gift to Jesus.  Mary understood that Jesus Christ was worth far more than any earthly treasure.  

But look at Judas and his response in verse 16.  “And from that time he started looking for a good opportunity to betray him.” (vs. 16).  Judas would betray Jesus. Judas would sell him out. Judas sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver – probably $7,500 in today’s dollars – for less than the perfume!  Judas gained less money for betraying Jesus than Mary gave away for believing in Jesus.

Before you write off Judas as some sinister villain, he was well respected among the disciples.  When Jesus said, one of you will betray me, everyone didn’t roll their eyes and were like, “We know, it’s definitely Judas.”  Judas carried the money for the disciples. If he wasn’t respected, he never would have been given that role.  So Mary accepted Jesus as the Messiah and anointed Him.

Why did Judas not accept Jesus as the Messiah and betray Him?  Verse 49 gives the answer to Judas’ heart.  The relationship between a Rabbi and a disciple was one of respect.  The disciple was not allowed to start the greeting.  The Rabbi would greet the disciple and the disciple would respond.  In this verse, we see Judas walking up to Jesus and saying, “What’s up, Teach?” It was a calculated insult.  At this moment, Judas saw himself as an equal to Jesus.  Why did Judas sell out Jesus?  Jesus didn’t meet Judas’ expectations.  Judas believed that Jesus would come to build some kind of earthly kingdom.  Judas believed Jesus was the Messiah he envisioned, not the Messiah Jesus is.  Judas wanted the evil to be punished and the righteous to be rewarded.  Judas wanted a life that he believed he deserved.  It’s a typical religious view of Jesus.  “I do this, so I get this.”  Judas completely missed the purpose of the cross.  Because Jesus wasn’t who he expected, Judas wanted to send Jesus to the cross. 

What Judas had in his heart is something we all have or had in our hearts.  All of us either have or had a price to sell out Jesus.  There is or was something that we valued far more than God, than Jesus, than the gospel.  It may have or may be a girlfriend or a boyfriend.  It may be a career.  It may be an addiction.  It may be your kids, your money, your spouse, your comfort.  It may be a longing you have – something you hope will happen.  What thing in life would you be willing to walk away from Jesus in order to keep?

The purpose of the cross was to give us a way to make Jesus our biggest treasure.  Mary got it.  She knew that she did nothing and got all of Jesus. And that Jesus was enough.  Jesus is enough.  But in order to get Jesus for all eternity, He needed to go to the cross.  Mary knew the purpose of the cross.  While Judas gave up on Jesus, Jesus didn’t give up on Judas.  He addresses him as friend.  The term “my friend” wasn’t sarcasm; it was sincere.  Even in the final moments, Jesus wanted Judas to accept Him as the Messiah He was.  Even in your darkest days, Jesus is worth it.

2. Peter missed the power of the cross. (vs. 51-56) Let’s go back to the scene where Jesus is betrayed.  Jesus had just been arrested and good ole Peter steps in! This is one of my favorite scenes in Scripture, basically because of Peter.  It also shows that the Bible isn’t made up.  I mean, do you all really think Peter went swinging a sword just for an ear?!  I do think, we have to be gracious to Peter.  Peter was just taking a nap in a lovely garden and then he woke up with a party happening.  He comes stumbling in, half asleep, draws a sword, and swings it.  He missed the head, but got the ear.  Look at Jesus’ response to Peter’s antics.  We do know that Jesus put the ear back on from other passages.  I don’t get how the mob missed Jesus – He put an ear back on! 

What did Jesus say?  ⁵³Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?  Jesus specifically said 60,000 angels (which is 12 legions of angels).  Think about this – we know in Revelation that earth will be destroyed with only 4 angels.  Think about the power in 60k angels! 

Jesus is revealing how much power is going to come through the cross.  Jesus is establishing God’s Kingdom through the cross.  The greatest movement in humanity will come through the cross.  Not through politics, not through war, not through technology.  But through the power the cross.

The hope we have because of the cross is far more powerful than anything else in this life.  We live in kingdom power now.  Don’t miss what the cross established.  The purpose of the cross was the bring salvation.  Salvation brings people into God’s Kingdom.  The power of the cross grows God’s Kingdom.  Live in the power of the cross as you live as a citizen of God’s Kingdom.  Don’t miss the power of the cross! 

3) The religious missed the Priest on the cross. (vs. 57-66) Jesus brought before the high priest, Caiaphas (vs. 57).  Priests found people who would lie about Jesus (vs. 59).  They found two men who would say, ““This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” (vs. 61).  Jesus went on a religious trial with religious people.  And they found Him guilty!  We can sit here today and go, “Well, that was dumb of them!”  Let me ask you a question, “Would you have thought it was dumb if you were there?”  For these religious people, Jesus was a threat to everything they thought to be true.  And they thought they were the good guys.  But when Jesus declared He is the Son of God, it forced them to either accept or deny Jesus.  Not only did they miss the person on the cross, they sentenced Jesus to the cross.  These religious priests missed the Great High Priest making the final sacrifice.  They choose their pride over the truth.  When Jesus threatens what you think you know to be true, you are forced to accept or deny Him as truth. 

Don’t miss Jesus on the cross as truth.  Don’t let your pride become too big that you can’t accept the free gift of salvation.  Don’t let your religious activity become bigger than the grace Jesus offers on the cross.  Don’t miss Jesus on the cross.

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