Sunday School lessons

 

Under “why is this lesson important” it reads “disciples often believe they are immune to the temptation of betraying Christ; yet a lack of spiritual discipline and a tendency toward apathy lead to ineffectiveness as Christians, which is a form of betrayal.”me ?? How could we betray Christ today – we know the ending at the cross – we are a witness to the resurrection of Christ thru Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John. We have seen John’s vision of revelation- the revealing of Christ’s return. Look at top of page 56 in your books where it says:”it is difficult to think of anything that destroys lives and relationships more than betrayal. Because the danger is so great and the stakes so high, we always must be careful to avoid becoming betrayersand they forsook him, and fled”.” We see in our verses today that the disciples upon learning the scriptures must be fulfilled -lack understanding of that and they are not understanding what was happening at the moment of Christ being arrested so they betrayed Him; it says in Mark 14:50 – “ Well; is this author talking about the disciples that are surrounding Christ on His last days on earth, or is this author talking about you and

Matthew, in almost the exact words says the following:Mt 26:55. At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching,and you did not arrest me.  

^{Mt 26:56}But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.”Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Mr Webster says betrayal is:”is to deliver to an enemy by treachery or disloyalty, to be unfaithful, to reveal or disclose”

We can probably say with a certain amount of confidence that we have not used treachery to betray a brother or sister in Christ, a friend, family member, or co-worker; we can also say that as a Christian we have not been unfaithful; BUT disloyalty may be another story.

If we had been standing with Christ that night, would we have run when they came to get him?, when they come today, to get a fellow brother or sister in Christ, will we run again?; when they ask the crowd you are in, for the Christians to raise their hands – will you raise yours?

In Luke we see it told from a different angle with the emphasis of betrayal solely placed on Judas:: Lk 22:47.  While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 

 Interesting that Christ was betrayed here with a simple kiss. Also interesting here is that the apostles carried swords, but that is another story.

^{Lk 22:52} Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs?  

^{Lk 22:53}Every day I was with you in the temple courts,and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour —when darkness reigns.” Can we assume here that when there is betrayal, it is a time of darkness,       and have we as a nation used up our hour?

 

:Mk 14:27.  “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: “ ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’   

^{Mk 14:28}But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”  They didn’t understand that did they, we understand it now and yet how easily can we be scattered today, will we fall away when we become overwhelmed with the world?

^{Mk 14:30}“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.” 

^{Mk 14:31} But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.  The crowd was brave but when Peter was alone he betrayed Christ, will we react the same way when it comes down to the Church being challenged by the world?

John also saw it in a different light and probably had the most understanding of this moment than the others when he told it this way: Jn 13:36.  Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now,but you will follow later.” 

^{Jn 13:38} Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three timesWhat if Christ asked us that question today? How would we answer?

Your book says at the bottom of page 57: “unintended betrayal typically begins with overpromising… we become overconfident.

My book says:” We also should note here that loud boasts about one’s commitment invites testing. We are at war against the spiritual forces of evil. We must never forget that. If satan can make us stumble, especially after we have boasted we will succeed, then we are likely to fall even further. And we will feel the sting of that failure for a long time; we can rest assured the devil will remind us of it constantly. Most of us overestimate our faithfulness and underestimate the spiritual challenges we will face. This is a dangerous combination, and it was inherent in Peter’s downfall.”

Notice your book asks the question in the middle of page 59: “What are some ways you might be tempted to forsake Jesus?” Something to think about in these busy and uncertain times.

 

:Mk 14:32. They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”  Jesus takes His following with Him into an olive orchard and separates them out. On one hand He has prophecy to fulfill perfectly -to the letter- and on the other hand He has a group of men who are becoming more and more confused by the minute and may bolt any minute at the sign of any conflict. Jesus is not His confident teaching self at this moment, He is troubled for He sees what lays ahead of Him and what He has to fulfill.

^{Mk 14:33}He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. Why these three? Why didn’t they notice how troubled, actually deeply distressed, and troubled He was? They seemed oblivious to His emotion. Luke remembers in yet another way and of course he was not one of the three chosen:: Lk 22:33.  But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” ^s  

^{Lk 22:35} Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered.

^{Lk 22:36} He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.  

^{Lk 22:37}It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’ ; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”

 

^{Mk 14:34}“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch Watch for what - they must have thought, we are in a grove of trees, it is night, it is quiet, and we have heard more teaching in this last day than we can handle, it makes our minds weary and our bodies tired.

 

:Mk 14:37. Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?  

Look at Matthew’s version : Mt 26:36.Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”  

^{Mt 26:38} Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” ^r  

^{Mt 26:39} Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 

^{Mt 26:40} Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 

^{Mt 26:41}“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. And here it is again – take note Christians of today -The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

And Luke sees it another way: :Lk 22:39.  Jesus went out as usual  to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 

^{Lk 22:40} On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 

 

 

Your book on page 61 says at the top: “we need to wake up and realize that Jesus calls us to watch and pray – not only to express our love for Him, but also to prepare ourselves for spiritual conflict.”

 

 

 

:Mk 14:48.  “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me?  

^{Mk 14:49}Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”   

^{Mk 14:50}Then everyone deserted him and fled.

 

My book asks the question for us to think about “what sorts of things burden Jesus’ heart today?”  we get caught up in our daily burdens and forget Christ’s purpose for us. He says in today’s verses – get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation as we get near to His return at any moment.

It also asks this question – “to examine your life carefully. Has there been a time in recent memory when you deserted Christ, either by your actions, or perhaps more often by refusing to speak up for Him and His kingdom?”

My book also says “We are victorious Christians when we stand up for Christ, especially in the face of fear and intimidation”

 

 

Lets look at the middle of page 57 and read with me as we close with this statement by the author of this lesson “let us be on the alert, remain humble, and respond accordingly. Faithfulness requires vigilance.”