1 Corinthians 15:12-34, Mark 14:1-11
You are called to salvation and to fulfill your purpose in God’s plan as part of God’s Church. You, as a believer, are to turn away from self, you can no longer think of self first, no longer do what’s best for you, without thinking of others first.
Jesus, in the garden, did not say I have to do what is best for me, no, He prayed, “Not my will, but yours” (Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42). He thought of others first, He did what was best for others, for you and me, and we did not deserve it!!!
The message of the Cross and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ are foundational to the gospel, which is laid out for us in verses 1-11. As believers, we are to share the Gospel with others so that Jesus, through our witness, can build His Church.
Last week we looked at “all of Israel” as having killed Jesus.
Judas Iscariot, one of the 12.
It is thought that Judas was a Zealot who wanted to see the Roman authorities ran out of Israel, that he, with many others, were looking for a conquering King to come rescue the Israelites from the oppression of Rome. Like the Chief Priests and elders of the people, he wanted what was best for him. And that wasn’t Jesus.
Or it could have been, and this is the most likely scenario, that Judas had a moral failing because of his greed. He was in charge of the money, the treasurer of their little group, so when Mary of Bethany poured the contents of that alabaster jar over Jesus’s feet, Judas lost it (Mark 14:1-11 & John 12:1-8).
Here is seen the generosity and love of Mary, with no consideration of consequences of her actions, in contrast to what Judas saw as a wasteful, irresponsible, and wicked extravagance.
Jesus said, “No one can serve 2 masters… you cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24). God’s word in 1 Timothy, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (6:10). In the end, Judas chose money over Jesus.
In all of this Judas still had free will and God was still in control…
It comes down to this; Judas and chief Priests and elders did not believe that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, the King of the Jews, as Pilate called Him. Both did what was best for them at the time.
As I said last week, lack of belief, unbelief, can, and will, put you outside of God’s plan and purpose for your life.
So who killed Jesus? Was it All Israel as Peter said, or was it Judas who betrayed Him? Or was it Pontus Pilate?
Questions:
- Are you living the Crucified life (See Galatians 2:20/Romans 6:4-7)?
- How does your life reflect the fact of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ?
- Are you devoted to God’s purpose for you within His plan?
Further Reading: Matthew 12:1-8, Mark 14:1-49, Romans 4:25-5:21, Romans 6:1-11, Ephesians 2:10, James 2:14-17, 1 Peter 1:3, 2 Peter 1:3-11 (10), John 6:28-29, 1 John 3:23-24
Dayton First Church of God 