Countdown to Betrayal, Part 3

Gratefully, the Bible is filled with stories about real people who dealt with real life issues. Doing so we can readily relate to flawed personalities just like us struggled with their human condition today on Insight for living. Chuck Swindoll invites us to follow along as he describes the final week. In Jesus life during which time several personalities entered the scene some love Jesus. Others hated him. Among the most painful relationships to watch for those who betray Jesus. Chuck is teaching from Matthew chapter 26 title today's message countdown trail. Suddenly the scene changes from a hostile group making dark plans to a gathering of joyful celebration, Matthew writes, he moves from this room were murderers being arranged to a little village named Bethany for one Simon is hosting a meal.

Simon known as Simon the leper is strange to our heirs because we don't deal with leprosy in our culture today. Very little of it is ever even mentioned in our lifetime.

Most of us could say we live and die and never knew one person with the disease. Not so in the day and what one was a leper. One was an outcast for life not even buried among the family and the thought of his being cleansed of leprosy, never refer to one is being healed of it but cleansed of it was so impossible once you got it you died, but Simon didn't know doubt Jesus has cleansed the leper Simon but we still lives with the tag Simon the leper, so he calls this gathering together to celebrate since Jesus was among them, and what a marvelous celebration. It must've been as he describes the change that's come over him.

As a result of being cleansed of this awful dream Z and in this setting of harmony and intimacy. All men and bursts a woman again.

It was customary that only men would be together and incomes a woman who remains unnamed in Matthew's gospel.

Thankfully we had Mark's account and John to tell us that this is Mary.

She's the sister of Martha and Lazarus. They lived in Bethany same village different house, but she comes on the scene for a specific purpose, unrelated to the meal again. I urged you to feel it.

So put yourself in her sandals in her place as she walks in this all-male gathering and she brings with her a priceless treasure. It is a small container: an alabaster jar of perfume. Another writer calls it no this particular perfume is extremely expensive and we read that she she came in with this beautiful alabaster jar and she breaks it, and she pours it on my head and we went over from Mark and John's words. She came to his feet and she smeared it on his feet and letter letter hair down, and with her hair smeared across his feet and and and his legs, she knows of no better way to express her adoration of Jesus. This she breaks the ointment over him, and pours it on his head as he was reclining at the table and then goes down where his feet. She pours them pours it on his on his portable disciples.

We read the word they were and to connect not marvelous act of worship. Not loving woman of God, whose adoration knows no bounds Sendai man look at this. The first response is what always look at it. What always they said it sold for a higher price and the money given to the poor. There so pious since what I so concerned about others. The point is they know what to say so they decide to say the wrong thing and they yell at her for what she has done.

Jesus responses magnificence always magnificent Juanita Jesus aware of this replied what criticized this woman for doing such a good thing to me. I look at the look at it, you will always have the poor with you always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial.

To tell you the truth wherever the good news is preached throughout the world. This woman's deed will be remembered and discussed and by the way, here we are centuries later doing that very thing.

She's the star of the show will she doesn't come to be the star.

She comes over with her adoration and knowing she may never see him again.

She brought her most expensive position and pours it all over. Notice where here we read it's going on his head. The other disciples. The other gospel writers writer pouring it on his feet, taking her hair and smearing it on his feet as expensive as this perfume was we can be certain of this. That fragrance remained on his body, even when it became a cadaver is the most precious aroma. That's often overlooked by all of us to preach the message of Christ to the cross. The fragrance was on his hand under the crown of Florence when they pulled him from the cross and lifted the body from the spike is ugly holes in his feet. The fragrance was all around his feet when he came out of the tomb, the fragrance was with him. You could smell the worship of Mary all over. Praise God for Mary for that kind of worship to tell you the truth wherever the gospel is preached. This this woman would be attached to the message shall be remembered and discussed before I go further behind.

And this for all of us. There were moments when our worship needs to reach such us such a peak where we care little what others think or say.

I have all just confess I've often been in my study and and nine a condo passage as I did in this one and I just sang at the top of my boy of majestic sweetness sits enthroned upon the same. It was marvelous in his presence for you and maybe in your car, maybe alone on the wall. Maybe we gazing at some marvelous scene that only God could put together let it out. Let it you know what I love GGG didn't care that the room was filled with only men they could sing anyway so she was in there loss and wonder love and praise.

As Wesley writes in while lost in praying she cared little what they thought and even less what they said is you will you truly worship or is this sound strange to you so contained and so restrained that everything is gauge about what someone may say or think her model is marvelous to witness Judas couldn't take it. If you follow the story of Judas to realize that he is. He's losing patience, being zealous and hard and waiting for the moment Jesus will began to move against Rome and overthrow that kingdom, but not seeing it come Judas is not the solution. And remember, remember, Judas he's seeing the miracles he's heard the teaching he's been right there witnessing the whole thing is Jesus is… Marvelous life and when he sees this woman in this act of spontaneous and extravagant worship.

By the way, one of the Gospels says the Judas, who led the pack in this criticism deceiver that he was. We Judas is a plea he had been trusted to be the treasurer of the group.

He held the purse and getting pilfered from in here he is seeing this woman lost in her praise and that's all he could stand. Look at it for yourself in this passage 26 verse 14 then don't miss the connective then when when the woman is poured out the perfume.

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the 12, went to the leading priests.

By the way, housing over they were meeting about their meeting in secret and by the way, what let him in, knowing he was one of the 12. I suggest he had been flirting with the idea for some time and struck up a friendship conjecture.

I admit, but how else could you explain that one of the disciples is allowed in the meeting and immediately given an audience with these murderers planning this conspiracy and he has the audacity to ask how much will you pay me to betray him like a slithering snake coiled and ready to strike. In fact, it reads from that time on Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

But I should return to this moment when he bargains with them. How much are you willing to give me for 30 easily pieces of silver. Verse 15 he agreed to be the trade.

There's an old English couplet I've quoted for years this worth mentioning here. Still, as of old man by himself as price for 30 pieces. Judas sold himself not Christ. Of course Christ is up for sale. Judas is used cheap. What do you this group of murderers never produce 30 pieces of silver more quickly in their lives, they pulled it out and they laid in front of him. He grabbed it was on his way with plans to carry out the betrayal and he is the one earlier who had the audacity to say to the woman look for this money to the poor.

He cared nothing for the woman or for the poor.

When he cared about was that anyone would worship this would who is not doing what he expected to be doing. From that time on Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray a good place to Paulus in search of parts.

I think there is a timely and timeless lesson woven through all of this that says everyone is either for Christ or against is no neutral zone in eternity. There is no neutrality. You will not find yourself in a comfortable place by answering the Lord God, I'm still making up my mind, would you have read your last and you stand before your eternal King better have your mind made up, he looks for time and opportunity to betray him, and surely it will come not long from now, in the garden and check to see it. The act of betrayal, a kiss course so like Judas.

Matthew is recorded. The scene that we might feel the gathering storm because it represents some of you today through life events have occurred that have moved you toward or away from the claims of Christ, and it may have been as quiet and as secretive as Judas himself who doesn't announces plans to those closest to fact, I'm convinced by now he may have been much closer to the enemies of Christ than he ever had been to the fellow disciples is that amazing. He knew the songs he knew the prayers he could describe here the setting and the lame were healed, was raised, but it never touched his heart. Everyone is either for Christ or against everyone of us as well.

Would you write for your city or you for him. Have you told him does your life reveal it or is it all secret very diplomatically lived out so that there would be those on the sideline. Who would think of you as a disciple, when in fact you were not that it all. I urge you to move in the right direction is the message of this passage reaches you turn to Christ laid out before him all the things that I become a part of the struggle.

Tell them where you are. He knows what he allows for you to repeated and to acknowledge that all of that has created for you are today would be great if upon departure on your lips or words like majestic sweetness sits enthroned upon the Savior's brow's head with radium glorious crown his lips with grace or flow. He saw me plunging deep distress and flew to my relief trust now take his relief take his forgiveness is about. Our eyes are closed. We search our souls in moments like this in every scene of the Scriptures we are somewhere in today. The question is where you if you choose Christ for the very first time we have men and women available to help you. All of us happy to talk with you about your soul. Don't leave unsure don't don't go there this day could be your last. Thank you, dear father for your ministry in and among us.

Thank you for giving us a book that is so tied into our day were able to see and touch and even smell. The scene it makes us quiet captures our hearts and we find ourselves wanting to have firm again more deeply grateful we are for the bounty we received such proofs of love divine head.

William thousand hearts to give the Lord they would all be behind all upriver. Those who never yet made this decision you would give them a restlessness, sleepless nights, troubled heart until they turn to you as Lord and Savior.

This we pray through Christ. Everyone said amen concluding a three-day study in Matthew chapter 26 called countdown to betrayal you listening to the Bible teaching of Chuck Swindoll and this is insight for living to discover a variety of resources available on this topic, please visit us online@insightworld.org as Chuck said a moment ago in eternity. There is no neutrality. Everyone is either for Christ or against him is no such thing is teetering on the fence what to that end insight for living provides a variety of helpful resources to help you remain focused on the person and work of Jesus Christ. And today I'm pleased to point out an engaging 30 day devotional from Chuck.

It's titled God's word for you. The subtitle gives you a taste of what this book is all about an invitation to find the nourishment your soul needs.

This letter like devotional is perfect for those who are just beginning their lifelong journey with Christ or for those who hope to rekindle their daily devotional times with him, spend a few minutes every day feeding your soul to purchase a copy right now. Go to insight.org/offer and look for the devotional titled God's word for you as you led to give a donation to insight for living. You can be confident that your investment truly makes a difference. For instance, I just saw a note that read Chuck all the fretting. I do throughout the night is endless.

With tears in my confusion swelled and smother me you and God always seem to foster my heart and relieve the pressure in this listener added Amanda was waiting when I clicked on the link and read your devotional, your gift to insight for living ministries enables us to touch lives like this so thank you for giving Janice as God promised to do so.

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Just imagine walking along the sacred sites and seeing the Bible come to life before your very mark your calendar for March 6-17, 2022 and make your reservation by calling 1-888-447-0444 or go to insight.org/events insight for living ministries tour to Israel is paid for and made possible by only those choose to attend. I'm Dave Speicher tomorrow. Chuck Swindoll describes the emotional scene the night before Jesus crucifixion. Be sure to join us Thursday to hear insight for living in the preceding message countdown to betrayal was copyrighted in 2017 and 2021 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2021 by Charles R. Swindoll. All rights are reserved worldwide.

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