Read Mark 14:10-11
Don’t Betray Jesus.
After Jesus rebuked others for rebuking the woman who poured expensive perfume on him, Judas Iscariot went to the chief priest to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted to hear this and promised to give Judas money. So Judas started watching for the opportunity to hand Jesus over to them.
Judas was a money hungry person and often stole money from the treasury he was in charge of. Jesus wasn’t consumed with money. Jesus taught a lot about money, both positive and negative. His teachings must have been so offensive to Judas that it “merited” him to betray Jesus to the authorities.
What do we find offensive about the word of God? What teachings eat at us so much that we are willing to, not just disagree with the word of God, but even betray Jesus by preaching and teaching against the word of God?
Some issues I have noticed that have been offensive to christians, or pastors, or even Christian denominations are:
1. FORGIVENESS. I’ve seen people so hurt by others that they make an oath never to forgive someone for what they did to them.
2. SEXUAL IDENTITY ISSUES. These issues have caused churches and denominations to split.
3. HATE. I’ve seen Christians so passionate about their political views that they demonstrate such hatredness for those who oppose their views. In fact, some will accuse others for having such hatred views, while hating the person who they accused of having the hatred views. It’s insane.
4. JUSTIFICATION. Some are so trapped in sin that rather than confess their sins and repent from them, they justify their sin as if everyone else has a problem but they don’t.
What’s sad is, some of us are willing to fight against God’s word for free. We don’t care if we get paid money for our opposing views.
God’s word, if followed, promises to give us freedom from the bondage of sin and fill us with the Holy Spirit. It empowers us into a holy life filled with love, hope, and healing. God’s love breaks down walls of sin. It brings healing to our souls and gives Hope in what seems like hopeless situations. So let God’s word enlighten us with truth and even share it with others so others can experience this LOVE, HEALING, and HOPE versus betraying God’s word and putting people in bondage.
