Mark 14:10-11 KJV
10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.
11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

What does it take for a man to decide to be evil against someone that is good? What does it take for man to do something evil? The first act of sin was by Adam and Eve. Eve sinned because of her eyes and her choice of free will. She was not angry or mad, she seen something that looked appealing to her. Adam just obeyed his beautiful wife, that he could not stop gazing at perhap. Young love, and yet their sin cost them paradise. Sin cost us many things, but sin against God cost us more, including paradise. Was Judas obedient to Christ at the Lord's supper? However was he obedient before the Lord's supper? I am going to be doing the Triumphal entry on Sunday, but we looking at some prescripture surrounding the Triumphal Entry and the Lord's Supper. Reason being to try and keep everything for Easter week rememberance on schedule. There so much in scripture that not all of it will be repeated this year, but hopefully the main parts will be done. This is goaled set out for this coming week of Passion and this week that leads up to Passion Week.

The Betrayal of Christ did not begin on the night of betrayal, but on the night that Judas felt belittled, maybe even put down by Christ. Jesus words that defended Mary when she annointed his feet with perfume, seemed perhaps costly and wasteful. Judas not liking Jesus attitude of it being okay that she anointed him started the evil thoughts of Judas the betrayer because it was a rebuke by Jesus. Judas Iscariot was treasurer of the money bags. Judas care seem to be about the poor and the children, but in truth Judas was a thief. If anyone knows how to keep money, they know how to steal money and Judas was a thief of the money bags. His sin already known. Jesus did not rebuke him over his thievry, but the sacrifice given was meant for Jesus alone. It is more like Judas thought the gift was for himself and not Jesus. Have you ever had someone give you a gift, only to have it for five minutes before someone takes it.

Let me give an example, a husband is given money for work he did only to have it plucked out of his hands by abuser who cuts breaklines to cost that person money that could of been spent on let say medicine, food, or clothing. In truth the abuser only seeking destruction of another, and cares nothing about the hard work of the one that earned the right to have the money. For example Social Security is a blessing not a benefit for most retirees and disabled that earn that money by paying into it A form of protection against being starved, or left on the street for dead. Image if you worked hard only to have to lay down and die instead of enjoying what you earned or paid into for your own protection. That what hatred does, and anger against someone. Instead of being a helper in society the abuser is a leach of society. Never concern that what someone earned is what will protected that person in old age for the needs in old age. Judas is trying to take the gift/sacrifice from the one it was intended for. The abuser claiming it be more useful being used here then in that fashion.

Judas could not make any money unless he sold Jesus for silver. He was loosing what could be gained for the money bags of the group. If it was not going to profit him no one else could have it either. No one was going to have the ability to give Jesus a gift, unless he could sell it, and profit from it. He went to the Chief Priests and offered to betray Jesus. They were more then happy to receive money for the betrayal.

Who would sell a friend and what about a family member? Where is the line drawn in your own life. Do not think there isn't a line drawn? Is this how we should be as believers? There are times when we must take care of self before we takecare of others. There times when others come first. To know the difference means to allow someone to help you, give to you and take. Nothing wrong with what was given to Jesus for Jesus. It was a gift it was a public anointing for burial. Yet did anyone understand it at the time, no. Yet in time they would and those words would come back to remind them that he knew he was headed to a cross only he could bear.

Those retirees out there are facing a cross all will bear if they live to old age. People with special need, or disability, is force to face a battle most may never have to deal with. If you make their struggle worse you become a disabler and not someone that helps another to better their situation to help them be the best person they can be. In other words you become the problem.

King David was thirsty and so were his men and he spoke words that cause his men to endanger their lives. He said he love to have some water from the well of Bethlehem, and his men cross the battle line to get water from a well and return to him, only for him to pour it out. Nothing even as King, did David find more value then the lives of his men and they continued with no water. We get to this place our worthiness is more important then another we fail.

The shocking truth Jesus is walking in human form, walking this earth but still being the only begotten Son of God and Lord of all creation. And yet Judas seeing not who he is, thinks himself more highly then Jesus, to the point he willing to betray Jesus to the Priests that thought Jesus was unworthy of his fame and position that was costing them money. Is Jesus costing you money? Is Jesus costing you financial hardship? Then one you in the wrong line of work, or in the wrong place. Do you think you should be sitting on chief chair in the sanctuary making more then your highest paid member? Then get out of the pulpit, you are in it for gold and not to share the love of Jesus. Nothing wrong with a decent salary, but you acting like Judas if what Jesus is costing you is more then you can bear. What was one bottle of alabaster perfume to someone that kept the money bags, apparently the value of betrayal of Christ. Did it cost 40 pieces of silver? Is that what Judas receive for the betrayal? Think my friend what is it worth to be a betray of anyone?

Consider this morning, everyone needs a hands up from time to time, including yourself because your not God, and gift that helps you in your ministry is a blessing even if it only for you. Yet it hard to receive it sometimes. God is going to allow it be gracious. I seen a mother be thankful for WIC food for women, children and infants. It blessed my heart more then that women will ever know. It is being grateful for the gift that Christ gave his church himself as a sacrifice for sin. Can we be grateful for that. More then one crucified Jesus. In fact we all did because of our sin and our sin that we fight against daily. Yet Christ on the cross said on the cross forgive them for they know not what they do.

Dear Heavenly Father, the abusers of the cross of Jesus have no clue what they do. The abusers of Jesus know not what he did for them. Open their eyes to their sin, and their unworthiness, but also to gift of your Son, who died on the cross for our sins. David was man, but Jesus was king and Lord of Lords. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: 2 Samuel 23:14-19 KJV
14 And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
15 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!
16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.
17 And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
18 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three.
19 Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.