Doubt & Betrayal
Sermon Notes
Doubt is a NATURAL part of life.
[John 12:3-6] Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus' feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance. [4] But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, [5] "That perfume was worth a year's wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor." [6] Not that he cared for the poor--he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples' money, he often stole some for himself.
Doubt can lead us down DANGEROUS paths if left unchecked.
[Matthew 26:14-16] Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests [15] and asked, "How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?" And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. [16] From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
Doubt can ultimately lead to BETRAYAL.
[Matthew 26:21-25 NIV] And while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me." [22] They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely you don't mean me, Lord?" [23] Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. [24] The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born." [25] Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely you don't mean me, Rabbi?" Jesus answered, "You have said so."
Doubt can easily lead to DISBELIEF.
[Matthew 27:3-5] When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. [4] "I have sinned," he declared, "for I have betrayed an innocent man." "What do we care?" they retorted. "That's your problem." [5] Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself.
We need to FACE our doubt, not EMBRACE our doubt.