THE BETRAYER

“The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born” (Mark 14:21 NKJV).

These words were spoken by the Lord Jesus in the Upper Room the night before His crucifixion. They have to do with the subject of His betrayer. Thus, we want to note: the prediction of the betrayer, the power over the betrayer, and the peril of the betrayer.

Prediction of the betrayer – “The Son of Man is betrayed.” The betrayal of the Lord Jesus by Judas Iscariot came as no surprise to the Lord. He was God and knew before it happened. In fact, early in His earthly ministry, the Lord predicted that Judas would betray Him (cf. John 6:70-71). Evil does not take God by surprise. The crucifixion did not catch God off-guard. He not only knew that it would happen, but He planned how it would happen.

Power over the betrayer – “The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him.” This statement speaks of the power of God. It says that the Lord Jesus would accomplish His purpose regardless of the evil that works against Him. The Lord Jesus fulfilled Scripture regarding His work and ministry even though evil was constantly trying to stop His work. In context, the Lord Jesus is saying that the betrayer’s action would not interfere with His calling. In truth, the betrayer’s action would fulfill Scripture. Man may plot against God’s plans, but God’s power will overcome all evil.

Peril for the betrayer – “Woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born.” Judgment for those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ is so great that it had been better that the rejecters had never been born. Folks may mock the idea of God judging sinners, but the moment they die they will quit mocking and wish they had never been born. Rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ is no small sin. It will bring horrifying eternal judgment upon the rejecters.

(Adapted from Butler's Daily Bible Reading 3)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction!”

Blaise Pascal (1623 - 1662)

French Mathematician, Physicist, Inventor, Philosopher, and Author

Word Study

Expect

In Jam. 1:7 we read, “For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord!" (NASB).

“Expect” is the Greek word oíomai (οἴομαι = oy'-om-ahee). It means to consider something to be true but with a bit of uncertainty. It means to regard something as presumably true, but without particular certainty. Hence, it is to suppose, to presume, to assume, to imagine, to believe, to think, to intend.

“Fear Nots” Found in the Bible

“But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost” (Matt. 1:20 KJV).

Did You Know…

The Book of James does not mention anything about the Lord Jesus Christ’s sufferings, death and resurrection (cf. James 1-5).

Bible Quiz

After anointing the feet of the Lord Jesus, what did Mary use to wipe His feet?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: According to the Matthew’s Gospel, where was the last place Satan took the Lord Jesus in order to tempt him? A “high mountain” (Matt. 4:8).

Names For the Lord Jesus in the Bible

“OUR GREAT GOD AND SAVIOR”

"Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13 NKJV).

1. Meaning – OUR GREAT GOD AND SAVIOR speaks of the deity of the Lord Jesus and the One for whom believers have been waiting.

2. Insights – This One for whom Christians look forward to meeting is the same One who gave Himself to redeem us, our “Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (cf. v. 14). This “hope” is not a wish. It is the certainty of blessing which will occur when the Lord Jesus Christ appears again. In this “appearing” the splendor of God’s glory will be seen. The Lord Jesus’ second coming will not be hidden. It will blaze in fulfillment of His authority over all the universe. As believers in the Lord Jesus, we look forward to His wonderful return with eager expectation and hope. And this “hope” provides the primary motivation for godly living in the current age.

Did You Know – Christian History

Hans Schlaffer was a former Roman Catholic priest, who became an Anabaptist in 1526. He was highly regarded by Anabaptists as a true preacher of the Word of God.

In May 1527, Schlaffer was part of the group surrounding Hans Hut, who were involved in a notable theological debate taking place in Nikolsburg, Moravia. The debate may have involved the question of whether or not a committed Christian could hold a job, e.g. as a soldier, in which he would be required to use violence.

Later that year on December 5, 1527, Schlaffer attended an Anabaptist meeting in Schwaz, and then headed up the Inn River toward his home in the mountains of Austria. The December evening was cold and Schlaffer planned to sit out the winter months until spring, when he would renew his ministry. But the plans of this former Roman Catholic priest received a rude shock.

Schlaffer along with fellow Anabaptist Leonard Fryk were arrested by Roman Catholic authorities and brought to Schwaz. He was questioned regarding his views on infant baptism as practiced by Roman Catholics and whether it was appropriate. In nearby Frundsberg Castle, he was then tortured and further examined. When asked on what foundation the Anabaptists rested, he replied, “Our faith, actions, and baptism rest on nothing else than the commandment of Christ.” Schlaffer said that according to Scripture, a man had to “hear, understand, believe, and receive” God’s Word before being baptized. As he saw it, this alone counted as Christian baptism. Children need not be baptized and the Lord did not command it because they were already his. Further, according to Schlaffer, “the Christian life is not child’s play; but bitter earnestness, truth, courage and saintliness must be there.”

Schlaffer was known as a master of prayer. On the day he was arrested, he had been teaching his hearers about prayer. Two months later, on the night before his execution, he was still focused on prayer. He wrote a last letter to his flock; it was smuggled out of the castle and preserved for us. It read in part: “Oh Father in heaven, whoever lives in Christ your Son and suffers and dies with him will rise with him in glory to be in his Kingdom forever. This is how we have understood the holy Gospel. This is how we understand Christ and his teachings, and this is how we now understand the word faith which we never understood like this before.” With the letter he included a prayer. Schlaffer refused to recant, and both he and Frick were beheaded at Schwaz on 4 February 1528.

A Little Humor

Mortal: “What is a million years to you like?” God: “Like a second.” Mortal: “What is a million dollars like to you?” God: “Like a penny.” Mortal: “Can I have a penny?” God: “Just a second…”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“It is never too early to decide for Christ, but the time will come when it will be too late!”