Judas Alone – A Sermon on Luke 22:1-23 (Updated from Mark 14 in 2012)

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our text tonight is our Gospel Lesson, particularly verses twenty-one and twenty-two. “But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!””

“Judas, this is your conscience. Why did you take that money? I told you it would only be trouble. They’re going to notice the money missing soon. You need to let them know what happened.”

“I can’t do that,” Judas replied. “What will the others think of me? What will Jesus think of me? I can’t let them know.”

The voice changed. “Well, then you’d better find a way to replace it. If they find out, you’ll be all alone. No where to go. No friends. No one to turn to. There is a way. A way that cannot fail. The chief priests and elders are looking for a way to trap Jesus. And they will pay all that is missing and more. Jesus Himself is innocent. They can’t possibly make a charge stick to him. They’ll have to release Him again. And by that time, you will have been paid. You can replace the missing money. You can stay with Jesus. You can still be part of Jesus’ disciples. And no one, no one will know the difference.”

“There’s a big problem with that. They asked me to lead them to Jesus. He’ll see me. The others will see me, and know I was selling them out. I’ll be all alone either way.”

“Judas, Judas. You have to be more cunning than that. Make the sign a kiss. Make it look like you were simply followed through no fault of your own. The chief priests are happy that you did your job, and no one will accuse you. You will be able to rejoin Jesus as soon as they let Him free. Claim ignorance. No one will be able to prove otherwise. And if even if they do, you have made better friends. You have an in with the chief priests and elders. You will never be alone again.”

The first day of Unleaven Bread. Sundown at the beginning of Passover. Where Jesus and his twelve disciples gather together. United under the blood soaked doorposts. United by the roasted lamb. United in the unleaven bread. United in the bitter herbs. United in God’s promise to His people. And Jesus brings words of division. “Behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!””

The disciples ask, their hearts breaking, “It is I, Lord?” All were shaken, but perhaps none more than Judas himself. Jesus already knew. Had Jesus seen him go to the chief priests? Did Jesus know the details? Would Jesus forgive him for doing this?

But Judas couldn’t turn back now. He needed the money. He didn’t need to be arrested. Which is surely what would happen if he didn’t go through with the plan now. He couldn’t afford to lose both Jesus and the chief priests. Then there would truly be no where left to turn. But Jesus’ words sank into Judas. “…[W]oe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!” This was not turning out to be the foolproof plan it promised to be.

Yet Jesus also had handed him bread and said, ““This is my body, which is given for you.” Jesus had also handed him the cup and said, ““This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” It was awkward. Even for Jesus, who did awkward things all the time. Could these things really be for Judas? Even with the plan to betray Jesus already in motion? Even when Jesus already knew?Even with Satan already inside?

Oh, to go back and do it all over again! Jesus knew. Jesus knew, and it was all over. He was alone. There was no way to stop what happened next. Judas felt as though he was carried along by things he could not stop. He couldn’t even stop himself, as Satan used him. He led the guards. Kissed Jesus on cue. And stood watching as the other eleven all scattered in fear. He was alone. Cut off from even himself. Out of control. And when it was all done, Satan let him go.

And when he saw that Jesus was condemned instead of being set free. Guilt piled on top the emptiness. And seeing the thirty pieces of silver in his coinpurse made him sick. Judas had really messed things up this time. This wasn’t anything he could fix on his own. This wasn’t anything he could make right. It was time to go to God. And so Judas went to the chief priests, just like he was supposed to as a good Jew.

“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” Judas said. And he was waiting to hear what sacrifice must be made. What restitution must happen. How he could be made right again with God. This was Judas’ last hope. And the chief priests said, “What is that to us, see to it yourself.” And Judas was left alone again. He threw the silver down and ran off.

Judas had betrayed Jesus for a useless thirty silver coins. And in exchange he had lost his Lord, his friends, his place. And he had lost even God, if he were to believe the chief priests. Even Satan could abandon him. “Wow, Judas, I don’t even have to stand and accuse you. You betrayed Jesus of all people. Led him to His death. God’s chosen Messiah. What more is there to say, Judas. It’s an open and shut case. How can anyone ever forgive you for this? You’ll be alone forever.”

Jesus was right. It would have been better if he had not been born. He was that man. That singular man. All alone. Empty. Guilty. Grieving. Without hope. Hell is when God gives you want you want. When God leaves you all alone just like you asked. But this wasn’t what Judas asked for. He had been trying so desperately to not be alone ever again. And became the loneliest man who ever lived. So lonely, that even death looked more inviting than this life. So inviting, that he entered death by his own hand.

This is what sin is. This is what sin does. Not only to Judas, but also to Peter. Also to the rest of the disciples. Also to the whole Church. Also to you and me. Sin is to be alone forever.

If only Judas had understood what communion was. Comm-Union; Together with.   It wasn’t by accident that Jesus brought up the aloneness of betrayal with the togetherness of His body and blood. And why he didn’t single out Judas as the betrayer, but included him in this communion. For all of us are alone. Divided. Separated. Desperately looking for something. Looking for somewhere. Looking for someone. So that we’re not stuck by ourselves in this sin any longer.

And that’s what makes death so devastating. Not only for Judas at Jesus death. But for us at the death of those we love. We’re left alone. And that is a foretaste of Hell itself.

But Christ does not leave us alone, in spite of our sin. This night He gave us Himself. So that we will never be alone. Communion. Together with Christ. Together with each other in Christ. United by more than a symbol. United in Jesus’ own body and blood. A union so strong, that not even death itself can overcome. Christ’s blood of the covenant which is poured out for many. Not many, meaning some but not others. Rather it means that you are not alone. You are part of the many. You are part of Christ’s church. His holy people. Made holy, not by what we have done by ourselves. But rather by being together with Jesus. Body and blood. Given and shed for the forgiveness of sins. All sins. Even Judas’. Even yours.

All the disciples were going to need that communion in the days to come. Gathering together. Sure, in fear at first, but still together. And together to see Jesus risen from the dead Easter morning. All except Judas. I wish I could tell you for sure what Judas’ final fate was. Only God knows. Maybe he was an example of what despair and loneliness can do. Maybe he was an example of how much sin is forgiven by Christ. Both are possible. Neither are given.

But we do know this. Christ did not abandon him, even at his darkest hour. And neither does He abandon us. You are not alone. Jesus is with you always. And He is with you now, as we prepare to receive His communion. His body and blood. Given and shed for you. Thanks be to God.