Betrayals, Denials, and Trials

Krista Wilson • April 13, 2022

Notes from Pastor Lance Shumake's message on Matthew 26:47-27:26.


Our text this week covers the part of the Easter story where everything is escalating to the cross very quickly. On Sunday, Pastor Lance examined these events through the lens of a Savior who really does know how we feel.


Jesus knows how it feels to be betrayed by someone he trusts.

Judas betrays Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Judas. One of the twelve disciples who had a front-row seat to Jesus’ ministry. Jesus had called him and trusted him, and Judas betrayed him. You have probably felt the sting of betrayal at some point in your life. Jesus knows exactly how that feels.


Jesus knows how it feels to be falsely accused.

The verdict for Jesus was already decided before he was put on trial (Matthew 26:59). He knows exactly how it feels for someone to make something about you in order to discredit you. Notice how Jesus mostly remains silent even though he is falsely accused. We can learn from this that sometimes we don’t have to respond.


Jesus knows how it feels to be mocked and attacked.

Immediately after Caiaphas accuses Jesus of blasphemy, they began to mock him, spit in his face, and attack him. There will be times we are mocked for our faith or even attacked, and this passage reminds us Jesus knows how that feels. 


Jesus knows how it feels to be rejected by those closest to Him.

Peter denies He knows Jesus three times, even after Jesus told him this would happen. Have you experienced the pain of being rejected by someone close to you? Maybe it was a long time friend or even a family member? Jesus can truly empathize with us.


Jesus knows how it feels to be turned against by those on his side.

Jesus rode into the streets on a donkey and the crowd was celebrating his arrival; then just a few days later the crowd was shouting for him to be crucified! Those who seemed to be on his side, turned against him so quickly. 

 

Jesus truly knows how we feel, but it’s much more important than that. The writer of Hebrews gives us some amazing encouragement.


"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to

the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

—Hebrews 4:15–16


Not only does He know how we feel, He can help us. He truly understands, and He has all the authority and power to help us when we struggle. He can help us persevere, he can help us survive, and he can even help us forgive those who reject, betray, and attack us. 

 

In fact, Jesus is enduring all of this in order to provide forgiveness for all the accusers and attackers!

 

Now let’s turn the tables a bit as we continue to look at this part of the story.


We know how it feels to be Judas and Peter.

So many times we decide something else is more valuable than Jesus. How many times do we not like God's plan or the way he is leading us and try to take things into our own hands? Far too often we live our lives in a way that doesn’t look any different than the world, which is denying that we know Him and follow Him. 

 

Judas and Peter both failed miserably, but their responses are so different. Peter repents and is restored. Judas feels bad and takes his own life.


2 Corinthians 7:10, "For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death."


We can all identify with Judas and Peter but the most important part is our response to those mistakes. Do we turn back to him or do we run away in despair? His arms are always open to restore us.


We need to know how it feels to be Barabbas.

Jesus takes Barabbas’ place on the cross. The guilty man goes free and the innocent man takes his place! That is the gospel story!!


"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness

of God."

—2 Corinthians 5:21


The great exchange is taking place and we need to lean in and know how it feels to be Barabbas. When we feel the weight of Jesus taking our place, that feeling leads to a faith in who Jesus is and what He accomplished. When we have that kind of faith we will follow Him!

Freed to Serve

April 28, 2025
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, April 27, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:11-17 This is the beginning of a section addressing how God's people now function in this world. It begins with aliens and exiles and continues with servants, wives, husbands, and finally, all of you. 1.) Our identity defines our actions. We are sojourners and exiles (temporary, passing through, not at home) We have a heavenly citizenship Actions We abstain from the passions of the flesh Keep conduct among the Gentiles honorable (our conduct is for the benefit of other people) Honorable conduct wins souls… sojourners, exiles, and soul winners “Peter’s point is that believers’ behavior creates a context in which people will listen to God’s word. He is not teaching that ‘good deeds’ in themselves convert unbelievers, but they establish an environment for the Gospel-word to do so.” -Barnett 2.) Our identity defines our expectations (Unbelievers will respond to honorable conduct in 1 of 2 ways) Some will speak evil against us as though we are evildoers Some will see our good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation 3.) Our identity defines our view of authority (Does anyone here ever just want to do whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it? That’s why laws exist) Be subject to every human institution (for the Lord's sake) This includes governors and emperors (no distinction between good/bad) The will of God... by doing good, we silence the ignorance of foolish people 4.) Our identity defines our view of freedom Don't use freedom as a cover-up for evil We are freed to serve God Honor, Love, and Fear Discipleship Questions: 1.)Why is it so important to understand our identity before talking about our behavior? 2.) How might this reality impact your parenting? For real, what are 3 ways that you can apply that this week? 3.) How is good conduct a form of evangelism? 4.) What do these verses say that we can expect from others? 5.) How can we honor a government that isn't always honorable? Seriously, what are 5 things we should immediately stop doing and 5 things we should immediately start doing? 6.) What are some tangible ways to honor others? Love the brotherhood? Fear God? Honor the Emperor? 7.) Should we fear the Emperor?

Cornerstone

April 22, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, April 20, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:4-10 Everyone must accept or reject Jesus. He is the cornerstone. We choose to accept Him as the foundation of our lives or toss the truth aside. When we come to Jesus… We become part of His People 1 Pe 2:4-5 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. The cornerstone is The New Temple. From this we learn that following Christ entails joining his community, the church…The freelance Christian, who follows Jesus but is too good, too busy, or too self-sufficient for the church, is a walking contradiction. -Daniel M. Doriani We join a royal, holy, priesthood 1 Pet. 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Because of who Jesus makes us. We receive God’s mercy Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms….Now repentance is no fun at all. It is something much harder than merely eating humble pie. It means unlearning all the self-conceit and self-will that we have been training ourselves into for thousands of years. It means undergoing a kind of death. Acts 17:30-31 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Discipleship Questions: Why is it impossible to be neutral about Jesus? Why do you believe that Jesus truly is the Son of God? Do you ever have doubts about this? If yes, what are they? According to 1 Peter 2:9, who are we after we come to Christ? Why does Paul say (in 1 Corinthians) that if Christ is not risen, our faith is in vain?

Born Again

April 16, 2025
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, April 13, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:2-3 Why do our souls ache for certainty? We are so eager for certainty that we will look for it in all the wrong places. - Certainty in our Finances [show slide from news] - Certainty in our Jobs [Acts 17:24-27] - Certainty in our Health [Covid] - Certainty in our Abilities [Ecclesiastes 3:11 “God has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”] “Things that have never happened before are happening every day.” -Morgan Housel In these verses, God gives us what our souls ache for! 1.) You must be born again of imperishable seed - We have all been born of perishable seed o Impure souls o Disobedient to truth o Unloving insincerity toward others o Lack of loving effort o Impure hearts - We are withering grass and falling flowers - The imperishable seed is the living and abiding Word of God o Does not wither o Does not fall o Does not let us down o It remains forever o It MUST BE PREACHED! But still, how can we be certain that we have been born again? 2.) If you are born again, hope will be seen in your relationships When your relationship with God changes, God changes your relationships! - Sincere brotherly love - Love earnestly - Put away… o Malice o Deceit o Hypocrisy o Envy o All Slander 3.) If you are born again, hope will be seen in your appetite for God’s Word - Like newborn infants - Long for the pure spiritual milk Discipleship Questions: 1.) Where are some unhealthy places where you look for certainty? 2.) Why do you do that? 3.) What were some evidences of your perishable seed before you came to Christ? Any of that still lingering that needs to be repented from? 4.) Why does Peter call the Word of God the imperishable seed? 5.) In light of the text, how would you describe being "born again" to a 5-year-old? 6.) How has imperishable hope proven itself in your relationships? OR How might it if you lean into loving others earnestly? 7.) Why does Peter tell us that hope will be seen in our appetite for God's Word?
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