Should you have been born?
Mark 14:12-21
- Don’t be Judas
- I want to start with the end of the story instead of the beginning because the end should make us respond to the beginning.
- In this story, we see a few things- the Passover preparation, the sending of the disciples, a man leading the disciples, and Jesus prophesying his betrayal
- Today is Easter. We celebrate that Jesus rose from the dead after being crucified as proof that he was God and able to save us from our sins.
- This is the message of easter- 2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
- Part of the story of Jesus is that someone betrayed him to send him to the cross- sold him out
- We see the beginning of this story unfolding as Jesus says “One of you who eats with me will betray me” This prophetic!
- Psa 41:9 Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.
- One of Jesus disciples and friends was the one who gave up Jesus and sent him to the cross
- His name was Judas. Not long after he gives up Jesus he commits suicide, most likely from guilt
- Jesus says it would have been better if Judas was never born v 21 but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born.”
- What a judgment!
- Jesus explained that His betrayal was part of divine purpose that the Old Testament had predicted (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53).
- Nevertheless the betrayer would bear the responsibility for his deed and would pay a severe penalty.
- IN Jesus estimation, not even having life would be better than the eternity that Judas was going to spend in torment because of his act. – BETTER IF HE WAS NEVER BORN
- Acts 1:25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” Yes- Judas took part in God’s cosmic plan, but he still went to Hell
- Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;
- Some would conjecture “well someone had to do it” sure. Someone, but lets not waste time on ‘what ifs’ and focus on ‘who did’
- Jesus says what he says and in that declares- “The wages of sin is death” even if you’re part of the cosmic plan of the salvation of men, you will still pay the penalty for sin
- Can you imagine if Jesus said that it would be better if you were never born?
- “For you will certainly carry out God’s purpose, however you act, but it makes a difference to you whether you serve like Judas or like John.”
- I don’t want you to wonder about what happened to Judas, I want you to wonder whats going to happen to YOU- what if Jesus said it would be better if YOU were never born based on your betrayal?
- Forget about Judas! Would Jesus say that about you in your present condition?
- Would he say “it would be better if Matt had never been born” because he’s going to Hell anyway?
- That’s a sobering statement! Sure, we’re not selling out Jesus, but Do we deny him? Do we betray him? Do we sell him out for our own selfish satisfaction? Knowingly indulge in sin?
- I may not betray Jesus by sending him to the cross, but what about my mind? My actions? Inaction?
- Most people miss the whole point of Easter- The only reason that Easter is exciting is because it means that we’ve been forgiven of our sin!
- But Judas didn’t get that forgiveness. Judas wasn’t able to be saved- Jesus said it would have been better if he wasn’t born.
- If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably had those moments when you wondered if you even added any value to this earth. “why was I even born”- but can you imagine if God himself said it would be better if you weren’t?
- Here’s the question that keeps me humble- Am I living in such a way that Jesus would say it would be better if I were never born. I sure hope not
Here’s where it gets good though- there is a provision for us! A place we can live where we know that God DOES love us- That we DO have value. That we ARE worth it. Which is the message of Easter!
- The custom of the Passover
- Lets go back to the beginning of the story-
- 12 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?”
- Jesus was preparing the last Passover not the last supper
- The two are intricately connected to who we are as Christians and our salvation
- Passover lamb was the animal that God told Israel to sacrifice when in Egypt when God struck down the firstborn Ex 12:29
- God instructs Israel to observe the Passover as a memorial to what God did Ex 12:4
- Jesus observed the Passover to commemorate what God had done!
- man of the house was to kill the lamb at twilight, not break the bones, and sprinkle the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe of the house, and then the lamb was supposed to be roasted and eaten Ex 12:7-8
- when God saw the blood on the house, he would “Passover” and no one would be killed
- If a home didn’t have the blood, their first born son would die Ex 12:12-13
- In the NT there is a clear relationship with the Passover lamb and Jesus Christ
- 1 Cor 5:7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us
- John the Baptist called Jesus “the lamb of God”
- John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
- Peter calls Jesus “a lamb without defect”
- 1 peter 1:19 Jesus was without blemish because he did not sin Heb 4:15 Rev says Jesus was seen as “a lamb looking as if it had been slain” Rev 5:6
- Jesus was crucified during Passover mark 14:12
- The bible is clear that those who believe in Jesus have the blood sacrifice of Jesus on their hearts and have escaped eternal death Heb 9:12, 14
- Hebrews 9:14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
- Just as the blood of the doorpost stopped death, the blood of Jesus stops death
- Rom6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- First Passover marked the release of the Jews from slavery, the death and resurrection of Christ marks our release from the slavery of sin
- Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
- The Passover was a foreshadowing of the ultimate Passover jesus Christ the one who shows us the way to eternal life 1 peter 1:20-21
- What does it mean to you
- The story of Jesus is the most important story in the world- You must put your faith in this story if you want to have eternal life. Jesus satisfied the wrath of God through his death on the cross as the payment for our sin. If you don’t believe this, you are not a Christian
- This is the message of easter- 2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
- Often times people don’t understand why a Christian does what they do- why worship? Serve, give? Its in response to what he’s DONE for us. In my life I have probably saved 3 kids from drowning. Not much heroics, just right place right time- What if I needed a ride to the airport?
- This should change how you live your life-
- The message of Easter is a life changing message because it means that you can be forgiven of YOUR sins and because of that, you in turn should forgive OTHERS of THEIR sin.
- You GAIN everlasting life. You Gain a right relationship with God no longer strained by sin
- If you feel like God doesn’t answer your prayers it might be because there is a sin divide
- John 9:31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.
- It’s a life changing transaction. Since your sin has been forgiven, you should live differently and if your sin hasn’t been forgiven, you should want it to be!
- The worst thing you can do is forget what someone has done for you- we as Christians do what we do with no hope for reciprocity, but if you’ve helped someone and they act like you’ve done nothing, I don’t know anyone who that doesn’t effect a little bit.
- The Passover changed the life of the Jews, and the Resurrection changes the life of the world
- If you haven’t given your life to Jesus- you should. People get the idea so wrong- its not about what you give up, its what you get.
- I met a lady one time who said “ I don’t have what it takes to be a Christian” and that’s the whole point. You don’t have what it takes- its only with the Spirit of God living inside of you that you can live this Christian life.
- If the Passover is real, then you should obey God
- I will admit, if the resurrection isn’t true, the Bible says that we of all men are the most to be pitied
- 1 Corinthians 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
- If this isn’t true- you should pity me. If what I believe isn’t true, then how I live is pointless.
- But if it IS true and you’re not following Jesus- you’re the fool
- Psalm 14:1 The fool has said in his heart, “There isno God.”
- I went some where the other day and this older gentleman slighted me and was quite rude with me
- For half a second, I wanted to push him off his little seat cart and let him have it. I didn’t. Why? Jesus is Lord, that’s why.
- READ MARK 14:13-16
- Jesus instructs his disciples to ““Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him”
- This is very interesting, carrying water was a womans job, not a man. Men didn’t do this
- Now some people would say, the heros in this story are the disciples that followed the man, but I would say that the hero in this story is the man who was carrying the water. Why?
- Humble– It was a womans job- was he a slave or a willing participant? Either way- he did it
- Obedient– He went to the house he was going to with the water he was carrying, but it was a cosmic interaction whereby he led these men to the place of the Passover
- Insignificant- who was this guy? Scripture only records him as a man who was carrying a pitcher of water- who he was wasn’t as important as what he did- he led men to the place where the final Passover would be held.
What does it mean to you?
- Are you willing to carry a pitcher of water? Are you willing to humble yourself? Willing to admit that your life has no value outside of What Jesus requires of it? Is it good you were born?
- The truth is that most of will be forgotten 50 years after our death, but if we’re willing to be obedient, even carrying a pitcher of water will be remembered for eternity.
- Matthew 23:12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
- If the Passover is real, Easter is REAL it should change your life and you should obey God and do what he says
- Isaiah 1:19 If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land;
- Here’s whats hard- we are the most independent self sufficient people on the planet
- We have no sense of civic responsibility, no respect for others, no reason to submit
- And when given the prospect to give up our whole lives and plans to live for Jesus, the prospect of it seems daunting, demanding, restrictive and pointless
- The call to die to yourself doesn’t sell well.
- Luke 9:23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
- Self denial isn’t something that happens naturally, we must ask God to break us of our own desires so we can fully follow God
- But if this Jesus thing isn’t real, whats the point? The point is it IS Real, so we SHOULD obey!
- It’s the most reasonable thing to do for a life that has been changed- be obedient
- Can you imagine a America without obedience? We drive in the lines, we park in the lines, we stop at the lights, we follow the law. Why? We don’t want the consequence
- Somehow we think that if we spiritually disobey that there wont be any spiritual ramifications
- Choose today to obey God and come to Jesus and be forgiven of your sin. No better day than today!
- Jesus said that Judas should have never been born- but YOU should have been born- you have a chance at eternity! A chance to spend forever with Jesus!
- The truth is that God loves you deeply and wants you to not sin, but be forgiven and live for eternity with him and today is your day!
- Isaiah 49:1 “Listen, O coastlands, to Me, And take heed, you peoples from afar! The Lord has called Me from the womb; From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name.
- Isaiah 43:4 Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, And people for your life.
- That’s the heart of God! Same for Isaiah same for you! He values you!
- Psalm 139:13-14 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
- Should you have been born? There is a resounding YES if you would turn towards Jesus and live for him. Your life DOES have value. If ONLY as a one who carries a pitcher of water- YOU HAVE VALUE
- You should have been born! I’m glad you have been born, but if you don’t respond to the Gospel. You’re no better off than Judas. It would have been better if you hadn’t been born because torment will be yours
- Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- Would you respond?
