Easter Sunday: Right Thing - Wrong Way
Speaker: Pastor Pierre du Plessis
Read: Matthew 26:6-16; 27:1-9
During this Easter season as we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus, we are reminded that it was Judas, one of His disciples, that betrayed Jesus with a kiss for 30 pieces of silver. Judas is often ostracized and criticized as a “bad” disciple, but in reality, he had enough virtue for Jesus to choose him to be a disciple and was trustworthy enough for him to be assigned to hold the money bag. It may be helpful for us to learn of his story and understand some of the motivations for his actions. We may find that in some ways we are like Judas.
The Jews were under the oppressive rule of the Romans during the days of Jesus and Judas. Like many others, Judas was zealous in his desire to set his people free. He believed Jesus to be the long awaited One, and was waiting for Jesus to come up with a plan for liberation. He may have felt Jesus was moving too slowly and took matters into his own hands to accelerate God’s plan. What he hoped for was the right thing, but he went about it the wrong way, and his actions led to deadly regrets for him. We too may be like Judas when we want God to work according to our plans or when we go ahead of him to accelerate his working in the ways we think He should. But like Judas, we need to understand that God does not change His plans to accommodate ours. We simply have to trust that He knows best and that His timing is perfect.
Discussion Questions:
What resonated with you as you listened to this sermon and reviewed it?
Have you ever been like Judas and tried to accelerate God’s plan in your life?
What did you learn from that experience?
It was said that Judas’ kiss was a departure from God’s way to his own way. What does this mean to you?
Have you ever felt impatient as you waited for God to bring forth an answer to a prayer? Rather than go ahead of God, what can we do while waiting?
Both Jesus and Judas hung on a tree. What was the difference in their reasons for being there?
The fake Roman coin we received represented our plans, our independence and self-reliance, and perhaps specific desires in our hearts. We were encouraged to drop our coins at the feet of Jesus. What does this mean to you?
It was said that Judas wanted Jesus to come up with a plan of liberation. In reality, Jesus had a plan that was different from Judas’. What was the difference? What can we learn from this example?