Betrayals, Denials, and Trials

Krista Wilson • Apr 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!

Jesus is Much More Better

15 May, 2024
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, May 12, 2024. Sermon text: Romans 5:12-21 Adam ruined it for everyone —sin came into the world through Adam —death came into the world through sin —death spread to all men because all sinned “God has always dealt with mankind through a head and representative. The whole story of the human race can be summed up in terms of what has happened because of Adam, and what has happened and will yet happen because of Christ.” —Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Jesus is the true and better Adam “Cranfield explains, ‘That one single misdeed should be answered by judgment, this is perfectly understandable: that the accumulated sins and guilt of all the ages should be answered by God’s free gift, this is the miracle of miracles, utterly beyond human comprehension.’ The final word from God could have been “Condemned, on the basis of many trespasses.” Instead, it is “Justified, through the gift of Jesus’ righteousness.” That is why Paul declares that the gift is “much more” or “much better” than the result of Adam’s trespass.” —Daniel M. Doriani, Romans Through Jesus grace abounds and grace reigns Discipleship Questions: What are some reasons we might not like the idea that we all sinned when Adam sinned? What can help us embrace the idea that we all sinned when Adam sinned? How does that idea set us up for the good news about Jesus and what He accomplished? How does the truth from this passage build our assurance of our salvation? In what ways is what Jesus did much more powerful and better than what Adam brought us? How have you experienced the reign of grace in your life despite the reign of sin and death in the world? How can we experience the reign of grace through Jesus in everyday life?

No Fear of Judgment

08 May, 2024
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, May 5, 2024. Sermon text: Romans 5:6-11 God has already done the work needed to save us He took the initiative “God has addressed the cause of the offense… Although he is the offended party, God has removed the offense. God has extended “the olive branch.” -Jay Smith He justified us He reconciled us Reconciliation is an objective event that God accomplished by removing the barrier of sin that separated himself from humanity. This result is independent of humanity’s response although it formed the basis for an individual’s subjective appropriation.” Jay Smith Appropriate: “To set apart for or assign to a particular recipient.” Christians need not fear judgment day 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Discipleship Questions: How does it change your outlook on life to know that you have peace with God? In what ways have you experienced the greatness of access to God’s grace? How does future certainty bring us lasting hope? Describe a time when you experienced joy in the midst of suffering. How has God used suffering to grow your faith and mature you? What are some ways you have experienced God’s love being poured into your heart?

The Joy of Justification

29 Apr, 2024
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, April 28, 2024. Sermon text: Romans 5:1-5 We find joy in the blessings brought by justification —peace with God —access to God’s grace Hebrews 4:16 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. —hope of the glory of God “Christian hope is not uncertain, like our ordinary everyday hopes about the weather or our health; it is a joyful and confident expectation which rests on the promises of God, as we saw in the case of Abraham. And the object of our hope is the glory of God (2), namely his radiant splendor which will in the end be fully displayed. —John R. W. Stott, The Message of Romans We can even find joy in our sufferings “Various kinds of sufferings will come to us, but we can rejoice in them when we recognize that they serve a purpose: to develop our Christian character. In verses 3b–4 Paul shows how a godly response to suffering can initiate a series of virtues, culminating, strikingly, in hope. Note, however, that Paul is not saying that we should rejoice because of suffering. Evil things are still just that—evil—and we never should be happy about them. But by looking beyond the suffering to its divinely intended end, we still can rejoice in the midst of them.” —Douglas J. Moo, Encountering the Book of Romans —suffering produces endurance “ We know this, especially from the experience of God’s people in every generation. Suffering produces perseverance ( hypomonē , endurance). We could not learn endurance without suffering, because without suffering there would be nothing to endure.” —John R. W. Stott, The Message of Romans —endurance builds character —character gives us confident hope Discipleship Questions: How does it change your outlook on life to know that you have peace with God? In what ways have you experienced the greatness of access to God’s grace? How does future certainty bring us lasting hope? Describe a time when you experienced joy in the midst of suffering. How has God used suffering to grow your faith and mature you? What are some ways you have experienced God’s love being poured into your heart?
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