THE GOSPEL: Betrayal of Jesus Leads to Lawlessness and Death!

When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. (Matthew 27:1; Mark 15:1) As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying, “If You are the Christ, tell us.” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will by no means believe. And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go. (Luke 22:66-68)

Jesus already went through an illegal trial and sentencing before the high priest, now they've asked Him to testify against Himself one more time. (see THE GOSPEL: Jesus Charged with Blasphemy by Blasphemers) Jesus refused to "play their game", by telling them clearly they had already made up their mind and had decided what they were going to believe, no matter what He said.  That's how we are to deal with unbelievers, tell them the Truth, what The Word of God says, and when they show that they refuse to believe, stop! "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37)

Jesus concludes by saying, "Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God.” Then they all said, “Are You then the Son of God?” So He said to them, “You rightly say that I am.” And they said, “What further testimony do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.” (Luke 22:69-71) Jewish law required that they have the testimony of two or more witnesses that agree before they could sentence a man to death, but ...the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree. (Mark 14:55-56) Jewish law required that false witness be put to death, but these false witnesses were allowed to go free.  (Deuteronomy 17:1-13, 19:15-21)

Jewish law also required that their be a 24 hour waiting period before sentencing, so that mercy could possibly come into the hearts of all involved, but they judged and sentenced Him within the same hour.  Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. (Mark 14:63-64) Now, they repeat the whole illegal process again, and Jesus concluded the way He did at His sentencing.  ...Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus said, “I am. [*It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter...] And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” (Mark 14:61-62)

Basically, Jesus is telling His blasphemous accusers, "time will tell".  The elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes claim to believe in God and be in the service of God and know the scriptures, but refuse to believe The Word of God in the flesh, in Christ Jesus.  They used false witnesses to condemn Him, but just as He told them before, He told them again that God the Father will be the final Witness. But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. (John 5:36-39)

The works God will do through us and God Himself will be our final witness also, that either we who have accepted Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord have been right or wrong, "time will tell".  But in the meantime, I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (I Timothy 4:1-5)

Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!” Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. (Matthew 27:3-5) (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.) (Acts 1:18-19)

God spoke through the prophet Zechariah, And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—that princely price they set on me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord for the potter." (Zechariah 11:13) Now we know why Judas betrayed Christ for thirty pieces of silver, because that's the price God prophesied would be set on Him. Remember when Peter denied Christ three times,  And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So Peter went out and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:61-62; see THE GOSPEL: The Rock Denies The ROCK)

But Judas doesn't respond the same way.  He was remorseful, but his remorse didn't lead to repentance.  Peter had a reason to live because Jesus had told him, And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (Luke 22:31-32) Peter truly loved Jesus, and Satan couldn't get him because his faith did not fail; but Satan entered Judas. (John 13:27) "...woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” (Matthew 26:24) (see THE GOSPEL: Plan Put in Motion; Choose the Better Plan)

Suicide should never be chosen as a way to escape from guilt and sorrow. Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:4, 7-10) Peter responded in this way, and was restored and used greatly by God.  Judas did not, and became overwhelmed by his grief.  That did not have to be his end, or any of us who have failed God, Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (I Timothy 2:4)

But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.” And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet [as quoted by Zechariah the prophet], saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me." (Matthew 27:6-10) What an awful night, and it continues to get worse...