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!

Arm Yourselves

June 11, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 4:1-6 Prepare to suffer Is. 50:6-8a I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. 7 But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. 8 He who vindicates me is near. The martial language indicates that discipline and grit are needed to live the Christian life, particularly in view of the suffering believers encounter. -Thomas R. Schreiner Some people won’t like you if you follow Jesus When a culture abandons biblical standards, when extramarital sex, cohabitation, and birth outside of marriage become normal, people attack the church for its moral snobbery and judgmentalism. Peter warns us that if we do take a stand, we need to expect slander, not applause. -Daniel M. Dorian This is one of the hardest things a new Christian has to face. Your friends liked you because you shared in “the same flood of debauchery.” It seemed great fun at times, but then you came to embrace Christ… But your friends have not… They will be surprised when you say “No.” -Juan Sanchez. Keep an eternal perspective Our outcome is glorious Suffering is good for us Let’s remember that suffering accomplishes God’s purposes. It exposes what or whom we are trusting (1 Peter 1:6–7). - Juan Sanchez Ecc. 7:2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. Discipleship Questions: Verse 1 tell us to arm ourselves by thinking as Christ did about suffering. How did Christ arm himself for and against sufferings? What does it look like for us to do that? Have you ever lost friendships (or had them change) because you were following Jesus? Do you fear that we (or our kids) will experience greater persecution in the future? If yes, how should we handle that fear?

I Believe That We Will Win

June 3, 2025
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, June 1, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 3:18-22 Jesus suffered and died in order to bring us to God Jesus conquered death by his resurrection “A wonderful text is this, and a more obscure passage perhaps than any other in the New Testament, so that I do not know for a certainty just what Peter means.” —Martin Luther Problem #1 - he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison —Jesus preached through Noah to those who lived at that time (1 Peter 1:10–12) —Jesus proclaimed His victory to evil angels (see Genesis 6:1-4) Problem #2 - baptism now saves you —Scripture is clear - we are saved by grace not works —baptism pictures our salvation from God’s judgment through the resurrection of Christ “The waters of baptism, like the waters of the flood, demonstrate that destruction is at hand, but believers are rescued from these waters in that they are baptized with Christ, who has also emerged from the waters of death through his resurrection. Just as Noah was delivered through the stormy waters of the flood, believers have been saved through the stormy waters of baptism by virtue of Christ’s triumph over death.” —Thomas R. Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude —in baptism we are appealing to God for a good conscience "This appeal is an act of the heart looking away from itself and from all human instruments and calling on God, appealing to God, for grace to save.” —John Piper —in baptism we are pledging to God to live in a manner worthy of the gospel Jesus ascended to heaven and now reigns over everything “We can face suffering as Christians with confidence rather than panic, and hope rather than despair, because the road marked with Christian suffering is, no matter what its twists and turns are, the road to vindication and glory. The God who vindicated Jesus will vindicate you, and he will sustain your faith until that day.” –Juan R. Sanchez, 1 Peter For You Discipleship Questions: How does Jesus’ death and resurrection encourage us when we suffer? Why did we need Jesus to suffer and die to bring us to God? How does Jesus’ victory over death give us eternal hope? What are your thoughts regarding some of the problems in this passage? How does what Peter says about baptism elevate the importance of baptism? When were you baptized and how does this passage inform your understanding of baptism? How does knowing our victory is secured help us with all the things this life throws at us?

Who Can Be Against Us?

May 27, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, May 25, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 3:13-17 Nobody can (truly) hurt Christians Psalm 118:6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? Rom. 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? The train of thought is as follows: “No one will be able to harm believers on the future day if they are zealous for good” (v. 13). Indeed, even present suffering is not a sign of punishment but of blessing both now and especially in the future, on the day when God rewards his people with eternal life. -Thomas R. Schreiner Honoring Christ Erases Fear Share your faith with strength and gentleness Embrace balance Be prepared to share The truth of the gospel is a public truth that can be defended in the public arena. This does not mean, of course, that every Christian is to be a highly skilled apologist for the faith. It does mean that every believer should grasp the essentials of the faith and should have the ability to explain to others why they think the Christian faith is true. -Thomas R. Schreiner Be prepared to suffer “I’ve spent a number of years in India and Africa where I found much righteous endeavor undertaken by Christians of all denominations; but I never, as it happens, came across a hospital or orphanage run by the Fabian Society [a British socialist organization], or a humanist leper colony.” -Malcolm Muggeridge Be bold! We will likely suffer as Christians in this world, but that suffering is slight and temporary compared to the eternal inheritance that awaits us. The worst thing that can happen to us is that we die and receive our promised inheritance. Can you imagine how emboldened Christians would be if we only believed what Peter is saying? -Juan R. Sanchez Discipleship Questions: Does the fact that nobody can (truly) harm us comfort you? What would change if we lived like we really believe that? Are you a more confident person as someone who knows Christ? Does your security in Christ embolden you to take some risks in life, knowing that the worst that could happen is death? How equipped / prepared are you to give a reason for the hope that you have? What would grow your confidence and competence in that? Have you considered joining Michael Clark one day for evangelism at the harbor? Well….you should….
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