Matthew chapter 26. This is where we are this evening. Matthew chapter 26. We read tonight beginning in verse 17 to verse 25. On the first day of the bread without yeast, the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover? And he said, Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, The teacher says, My time is near. I'm keeping the Passover in his house with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus commanded them, and prepared the Passover. Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve, and as they were eating, he said, Truly I say to you, that one of you is going to deliver me. and greatly saddened, they each one began to say to him, Surely I am the Lord? And he answering said, The one who dips his hand with me on the plate is the one who will deliver me. The Son of Man is going, according to what is written of him, for whom the Son of Man has been given, good be that man that is not born. And Judas, answering Jesus, who gave him, said, Surely not I, Master? Jesus said, You yourself said it. Let us go to the Lord in prayer. Our Father in heaven, tonight we have sung your praise. We find your grace tonight. And we know through the gospel, and through our faith in your word, and through the experience in salvation, we know your grace. And we know that the more we live, the more we know the truth, and we are fully aware that salvation must be only by grace, or else we would perish. When we consider all that sinning means, and all that we are, far from Christ, we know that our only hope was and is the Lord Jesus Christ. His blood has washed away our sins. His Word has made us, once your enemies, now your children. Adopted by the new birth. We give you praise and thanks for this great mercy you have had for your people. And tonight, facing these verses, we ask that you help me to declare them as they are, that they work in our minds and in our hearts, that we know you, and we wish to know you even more, to walk with you, Lord. walking with you is pleasing in your sight. So may tonight's time, when we encounter your word, be for the edification of your church. We know that there are people here who hear us, who do not belong to your kingdom, and we ask you, we ask you, Lord, that you would have mercy upon them and that they may be saved. You saved us by grace alone. And we know that you can save them too. We ask that you do it. We thank you for what you do in the name of Jesus. Amen. All around Jesus, the wolves have gathered. We saw this morning that there were meetings, strategies that were being made about how to catch Jesus with deception and how to kill him. The priests were planning to take the life of the Son of God. Those plans were as close to Jesus as his own disciples. There is one among them who by his own hand, by his own will, volunteered to betray Jesus. This is not something he sought out. This is something he sought out. He makes his way to the enemies of Jesus and offers himself to give them Jesus in a way that protects them from the riot that they feared. His lack of love for Jesus, his blindness to the deity of Jesus is demonstrated in the price that he asks for his services. 30 pieces of silver. The price of a slave. This is the value that he placed in the life of Jesus. What motivated him to do this? Maybe you've heard over the years that Judas was trying to force the hand of Jesus. It's a very generous way to think about Judas, trying to force the circumstances by which Jesus would stand out and he could deliver him. I don't think that's true, but that's something we can imagine. Some have thought, perhaps this is closer to reality, some have thought that it was the disillusionment that motivated Judas, the longer, He was disillusioned thinking that Jesus was not the kind of Messiah that he had thought initially and that he had not done the things that he wanted him to do. And then perhaps he was especially strong when he was rebuked by Jesus. The disciples are rebuked when they are scolding when they rebuked Mary, when they rebuked, rather, because Mary had smeared him with the perfume and he felt repressed. Judas, in his hypocrisy, protested, saying that this perfume could have been given to the poor. And now Judas wants to do harm to Jesus. The truth is the Bible does not give us a specific motive. The Bible never tells us what motivated Judas to betray him. The only clear motive that we have is money. We know that he was already a thief. John told us that, already stealing from the disciples' funds. So maybe, from a moral point of view, it's as simple as a man of greed, just to buy your money. We don't know. What we do know is that the Bible treats this betrayal as something very scandalous. Again and again, the Bible mentions it, indicating that this is an abomination. From the common betrayal point of view, we realize what an ugly thing it is to betray someone. Sooner or later, sooner or later, we will be betrayed by someone. If you live long enough, we'll experience the very worst of disloyalty. Someone is disloyal to you if you've loved them. Someone who's disloyal to you when you've been good to them. Someone who's disloyal to you when you've been good to them, when you've trusted in them. It's just from our own common experience, we understand betrayal is a great sin. We've experienced more outrageous than the thought of someone who betrayed the Son of God. That's why the Bible describes Judas on many occasions as a traitor. For example, when Matthew gives us emphasis on this betrayal, Matthew chapter verse 2, The names of the twelve apostles are these. First, Simon, named Peter and Andrew, his brother. James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, the publican. James, the son of Alpheus, Lebeus, by the name of Taddeus. Simon, the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also delivered him. He doesn't finish the list by saying that he was a traitor. When Jesus awakens his sleeping disciples, when they are sleeping, he uses the word betrayal. Matthew 26, 45 says, Then his disciples came and said to him, Sleep, and rest here. The hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. The hour is coming, and the Son of Man is betrayed and delivered into the hands of the sinners. He is warning them, telling them that he will be arrested as a result of this betrayal. When Paul gives instructions for the Last Supper to the church of Corinth, he gives those instructions through Paul, reminding them that he gave these instructions on the night that he was going to be betrayed, because I received from the Lord what I have also taught, that the Lord Jesus, on the night that he was delivered, took the bread, according to 1 Corinthians 11, verse 23. Earlier in the ministry of Jesus, when he's talking about the fact that he's the bread that comes out of heaven, and the need to embrace him and to drink his blood. And people were offended because he spoke in this way. The disciples are leaving him there. John is careful to tell us that Jesus already knows who Judas is. John 6, verse 60, when many of his disciples heard it, they said, this is a hard word. Who can hear it? Jesus, knowing himself that his disciples were murmuring about this, said, can you take offense at this? Well, what if you were to see the Son of Man go up to where He was first? The Spirit is the one who gives life to the flesh and does not take advantage of it at all. The words that I have spoken to you are a Spirit and are life. But there are some of you who do not believe because Jesus knew from the beginning who the people who did not believe were and who was to be given to Him. Christ was aware of those who were not true believers and who were not, and yet here Jesus is the one who is going to betray him. We saw this morning that John writes about the prescribed indignation that Judas had supposedly verbalized about the expensive perfume. expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of pure nard, and Jesus was scared, and wondered if I had seen him. So he bowed and betrayed him. So one of his disciples said, Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, the one who would have given him to the traitor, John also tells us in John 12. John also tells us in chapter 13, he shows us the spiritual source. Apart from Judas' sin, the source of sin was the devil himself. In fact, Satan entered Judas. John 13 says, Before the feast of Passover, knowing Jesus that his time had come to pass from this world to the Father, as he had loved those of his who were in the world, he took them to the end. And when they were eating, as the devil had already put in the heart of Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to give him, knowing Jesus that the Father had given him all things in his hands, and that he had gone out of God, and to God he was going. He laid asunder his robe and took off his cloak, and, taking a towel, he bathed her. Then he put water in a bucket, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wash them with the towel with which they had been stained. Then Simon Peter came to Peter, and Peter said to him, Lord, do you wash my feet? Jesus replied, and he said to him, what I do, you do not understand now, but you will understand later. But he said to him, you will never wash my feet. Jesus said to him, if I do not wash you, you will have no share with me. Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head. Jesus said to him, The one who is washed does not need to wash his feet, for it is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you. For he knew who was going to deliver him. That is why he said, You are not all clean. Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, including those of Judas. He knew he would be betrayed. So over and over and over again, the Bible signals and underlines the betrayal of Judas, signaling the most outrageous abomination, the betrayal among men, What is it to betray someone who has loved you perfectly? This is the most grievous kind of disloyalty. You've been granted access to lie to the Son of God on earth. A sin against the perfect goodness. A sin against this great privilege. A sin against perfection. before the deed is committed. Against all of that, in the face of all of that, Judas betrayed Jesus. And tonight we're gonna see that Jesus warned Judas. One last time, before he goes out to commit this sin, the actual destroyer of Judas, Jesus warns Judas. He reminds us once again that Jesus is not a victim. He is the victorious, sovereign God. He has not been taken unawares. He has not been dragged to the cross. He marches to the cross. However, and this is a very serious, very bad act by Judas, in Acts 2.23 it says to him, given by the certain counsel and anticipated knowledge of God, you sold and killed by the hands of iniquity, crucifying him. This includes Judas' betrayal. According to God's plan, he is not a victim. He is a victorious God. And now we see this plan. There are two main points tonight. The first one is this, and both celebrate and emphasize the sovereignty of Christ. The first one is this, the sovereign preparation of the Last Supper. The sovereign preparation of the Last Supper. Now, on the first day of Unleavened Bread, On the first day of the bread-free feast, the disciples of Jesus came, saying, Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover? And he said, Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, The teacher says, My time is near. In your house I will celebrate the Passover with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus said, and they prepared the meal. Luke tells us that Jesus expressed a great desire at this moment. This is the last Passover that Jesus will observe before giving his life. He has observed this throughout his life, like every Jewish man, with his disciples, but this is the last time he's looking forward to this time, and he's longing for it. Because at this time, he is going to warn them of his death and he is going to tell them about his future kingdom. Luke 22, verse 14 says, When the hour came, he sat at the table with the apostles and said to them, How long have I desired to eat with you this Passover before I suffer? For I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. I have waited a long time for this moment, before my death, for you. And I won't have it again until it is accomplished in the Kingdom of God. This would have taken place in preparation on Thursday, afternoon heading into the evening. And then Friday would come, according to how the Jews would gather. That night Jesus would be arrested. would be taken to a summary trial and then crucified on Friday before Saturday. I know you know this, but Easter was an annual commemoration prescribed by Moses, remembering the release of Israel from Egypt. after the last plague and in which the firstborn of each family was killed, having given God instructions that each house should have blood on the doorpost so that they would be freed from this sacrifice. And this is what Jesus celebrates. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a reminder of how the Israelites came out of Egypt in haste. Exodus 12.33 says, And the Egyptians rewarded the people by hurrying to throw them out of the land, because they said, We are all dead. And the people took their mass before the audacity, their masses wrapped in their sheets over their shoulders. And they baked cakes without yeast from the dough that they had taken out of Egypt, because they had not yeasted. There were meals that they were preparing, the feast of bread without yeast that they had prepared, and they were leaving Egypt in a hurry. delivering all of us, all of his people by his blood. And now he's sitting with them before them in the Last Supper, transforming into what would be the Last Supper given to us so that we may remember it. That's why we take the Last Supper, to commemorate it from time to time. And in this close association, the Passover, the Last Supper, the Last Supper, As he exhorts us to purity, he writes this in 1 Corinthians 5, 7. First, out, ye old leaven, that ye may be a new mass, unleavened. Christ, our Passover lamb has been sacrificed for us. And so as we think about the Passover and thinking about Israel, We think we've been cleansed of our sins. what God means for us to link these things up. And I think he wants us to understand the great and glorious salvation. Why do I say this is a sovereign preparation? Jesus is in charge here. He's the one who's made prearrangement for these things. He's telling his disciples what they have to do. Why do I say this is a sovereign preparation? Because his plan for the last supper and what he's going to do with respect to the glorious supper already talking about his suffering, of his kingdom that is coming. His sovereignty is already being displayed. But also it's seen, you look at Mark and Luke's experience that happened, there's also the display of omniscience that took place. Luke 22 verse 8 says this, Jesus sent Peter and John to say, go and prepare the Passover so that we may eat it. And they said to him, where do you want us to prepare it? He said to them, behold, when you enter the city, a man carrying a bucket of water will come out. Follow him to the house where I will enter, and the father of the family of that house will decide. The teacher will say to you, where is the room where I have to eat the Passover with my disciples? And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they MacArthur says, probably part of this work, talking about the man carrying the water pot, which was not customary because it was generally women, MacArthur says, probably part of this preparation of the meal was to carry the water, which was generally carried by women, so a man carrying the water would be something very unusual. the knowledge of what Jesus would do at that precise moment, indicates to us that it is a manifestation of his knowledge of absolutely everything. I am not totally sure of that, but I do agree with Pastor MacArthur. The sovereignty of God and his knowledge of everything is shown here. He speaks of his suffering, of his suffering and of the kingdom that will come. preparation for the Last Supper. And the sovereignty of Jesus is also being displayed immediately in verse 19. And the disciples did as Jesus commanded and prepared the Passover. When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. And as they were eating, he said, Truly I say to you, that one of you is going to deliver me. And being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to each other, I am the Lord. And he answered and said, he who dipped his hand in me in the bowl is going to deliver me. The Son of Man is going just as it is written of him. The Lord, the Son of Man, will go to that man by whom the Son of Man was trained, but there is one who would have been good to that man if he had not been born. And Judas, who was betraying him, said to him, Am I a teacher? And he said to him, You have said it. Where do we see the sovereignty of Christ here? First of all, he announces it in verse 21. Truly, I say to you, that one of you will be betrayed. How does he know this? Because he is the Son of God. That accomplished at least three things, his announcement of the betrayal. This clarifies that Jesus is not being deceived. The one who commits the sin is not wiser than the one who is being betrayed. Jesus knows exactly what is happening. Second, when the disciples recall this to him, or when the disciples recall this, they realize that he was not surprised, that he was not taken by surprise, and that he is not a victim. but rather has been in agreement with the will of God. He is leading himself to this. He is being handed over, but not far from his own will. He announces, before his betrayal, that this is something that he has chosen, that he has decided to surrender, and he announces it. as a new opportunity for Judas to stop, as a warning to stop, to stop this wicked action. It says to Judas, you are not committing this sin in secret. It's not secret. Jesus is in the full light of the knowledge of Jesus. He knows exactly what you're doing. Judas, you're not hiding anything. This is known. And so here is your opportunity to stop before it's too late. Will you stop what you're doing? So Jesus, his poverty is on display. The sovereignty of Jesus is being demonstrated here and unfolds when he captures the nature of this betrayal. He exposes this sin. He describes it as the sin of a close companion. Verse 23, he dipped his hand with me in the bowl, and he said, is the one who betrays me. Not the sin of a stranger, but the sin of a friend. of someone who shares meals with him, who sits at the same table with him. The sin of one who has spent three years with Jesus. According to a sovereign plan, according to the scriptures in verse 24, it says, to the man, that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. This will fulfill Scripture, the rejection and the crucifixion of Messiah. This is attested to in the account of Scripture. What an incredible thing to hear that what you've agreed to, thought in secrecy, now your teacher, rabbi, as he describes it, is telling you that what you have agreed to, not only does he know about it, you are actually fulfilling scripture. He's going to go to death, just as the Scriptures foretold, but woe to you who wickedly contribute to it. Jesus is saying to us, this is not something that you have taken out of your sleeve, or that you have created, and of which you have surprised me. This is something that God revealed long beforehand, and you are one of those who are in the scriptures. You are playing the most despicable role in terms of what is happening. That is sovereignty being demonstrated. Third, He also announces the disaster that awaits the one who holds the scriptures from his betrayal, verse 24, it would be better to that man to have not been born. Just because it fulfills the divine plan doesn't mean it won't be disastrous for the one who is committing the sin. so awful, it would be better for you if it never existed. You will wish you had never been born. He announces the betrayal and then he explains the nature of this betrayal, the sin of a close friend, the one that fulfills scripture and one that will prove disastrous for the sinner. But then he doesn't stop there, verse 25, he identifies the betrayer. Does Jesus know who it is? He knows betrayal is coming. But does he know who the betrayer is? Does he know who the betrayer is? Does he know who the betrayer is? Does he know who the betrayer is? Does he know who the betrayer is? Does he know who the betrayer is? Does he know who the betrayer is? Does he know who the betrayer is? Does he know who the betrayer is? Does he know who the betrayer is? Does he know who the betrayer is? Does he know who the betrayer is? Does he know who the betrayer is? Does he know who the betrayer is? Does he know who the betrayer is? Does he know who the betrayer is? Does he know who the betrayer is? Does he know who the betrayer is? Does he know who the betrayer is? Does he know who the betrayer is? Does he know who the betrayer is? Does he know who the betrayer is? Does he know who the betrayer is? Does he know They know it's going to take place, and the longing is that it's not them who are going to be the ones who are going to betray it. And he who does not have this faith, and does not know this humility, but rather pretends and pretends what he's hearing from the others, he assumes the role of the other disciples. And in so doing, attempts to hide the fact that he is the one. I mean, if you think about the way you've responded, you've identified yourself. And so he answers and says, surely not I, Rabbi, unless something interesting. Some have emphasized the fact that he uses the word Lord, you see in verse 22. Here, instead of using the word Lord, Jesus says, not I, Rabbi. We go to the other Gospels and all the disciples in one way or another refer to Jesus as Rabbi or Master, but the fact that he uses the word Rabbi would not be significant, but it is significant that you never find Judas in the Gospels, never referring to Jesus as Lord. As Rabbi, yes, as Master also, but never as Lord. Surely not I, Rabbi. Jesus says to him, you yourself said it, which is a way of putting the onus on the person who just spoke the words. It just came out of your mouth, Judas. Or I think we can capture it this way. I don't know, Judas. Judas, the great hypocrite, plays the hypocrite to the very end. He's been outed. He has to know it. has been revealed. He knows this. When I read this, I think, Judas, why don't you just fall on your knees? Why don't you just start crying over your disloyalty? Why don't you confess to Jesus? Why don't you just admit it for him to forgive you? Why don't you just admit it for him to forgive you? Why don't you let his sovereign knowledge, which has been displayed and shown in such a clear way, don't let all this stop you? It is not so obvious to you that he is the Son of God, but Judas prefers to be a traitor and a liar until his grave, until the end. Sovereign Jesus, strong shepherd. Sovereignty on display as he appears, the Last Supper, which will transform him. Talking about his sufferings, his pain, and his deal with his men, Jesus, strong sovereign Jesus, reaching out, with warning, having washed the feet of Judas. Judas, I know who you are. I know what you're going to do. It is going to be disastrous for you. Judas continues to pursue his course. Let me close tonight. We close this evening with five observations. First of all, isn't it clear that divine sovereignty doesn't destroy human responsibility? The sovereignty of God does not destroy human responsibility. The gospel comes to us with a command to repent of our sins and to place our faith in the Son of God. I can't think of any time where the Gospel has been preached in a way that, in some way, the preacher has said, now, are you the elect? I can find where disciples are challenged to make their calling and election, sure. But when the gospel goes forth and the believer says, here is the good news, here is how God saves sinners, repent and believe and you will be saved. And so I want to ask you, Have you ever obeyed the gospel? Have you ever repented of your sins and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ? Because one day you will recognize that the sovereignty of God does not exclude or excuse your lack of faith. Even when a man is carrying out what it says in the Scriptures with his sin, he is fully responsible for what he does. Which gets to the second observation. The divine love does not destroy divine justice. Jesus had a love for Judas. He was the best friend Judas ever had. But Judas was before the justice of God. He would have to face the justice of God and answer for his sin. Does God have a love for the whole world? He does. The love of God that is general in nature, the love of God that reflects His common grace will not rule out divine justice. And the only place that the sinner has of salvation is in the work that Jesus Christ did on the cross. If you have a son, you have life. If you don't have a son, you don't have life. But the wrath of God will come upon you, just as surely as the blood of the cross over land in the night of Easter was the one that protected those who believed. So God upheld His justice for the justifying sinners because the blood of His Son paid for every sin. forgiving our sins, taking refuge in the work of the shed blood of the Lamb. The death of the Son of God who answers for our sins, and the righteousness of the Son of God that answers for our sins is what saves us. Be convinced this is the only way you'll ever be saved. people putting their confidence in some sort of general love of God for them. I think God is too loving to take everyone away from him. It would be a fearful away from him when they discover that divine love doesn't cancel divine justice. Rather, divine love, as made, has provided a way to be delivered from the wrath of God. If you believe in him and receive what you receive, Third observation. Demonic deception doesn't destroy human evil. The Bible tells us that the devil was at work in what Judas did. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking How to put him to death, for they feared the people. Then Satan entered into Judas, called Iscariot, who was a number of the twelve. He went away with the chief priests and officers. How he might betray him to them. for him to be able to betray him. And they were glad and agreed to give him money. So he sent it and sought an opportunity to betray him. So that initial meeting between those who were going to make the Lord suffer, he did it by having Satan enter him. There is a spiritual motivation, an instigator, in addition to Judas' own sinful nature. And then when he goes to execute the plan that he had agreed to, Satan is on the scene again. Doctor, in verse 26, Jesus answered, it is me to whom I will give this morsel of bread, but I've dipped it. So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Sinai, scattered it. And after he had taken the morsel, Satan, he had dipped it again. Jesus said to him, what you're going to do, do quickly. Now, no one at the table knew what he was saying to him. Some thought that it was just a feedback. Jesus was telling him why what we need for the feast, or that you give something to the poor. So after receiving the morning bread, he immediately went out. But sobering words are from John, and it was night. Satan is at work. But Judas is evil. Satan is at work, but Judas is called a devil. Don't ever think that all your sins can be blamed on the devil. Your need is for Christ. The devil, he is a reality. The demons are a reality. But if you don't know Jesus, I want you to understand that since the fall of Adam, Without the devil's activity at all, you are evil. What he does is simply offer and fuel, provide ways to satisfy the evil in our heart and soul and draw it out too. And in that way, sort of creases In fact, if you don't know Christ, you already belong to his domain, under the rule of the devil, under the God of this age. Salvation is truly a miracle because when the Lord saves you, transforms you from that domain, which is the kingdom of sin, and you are free. set free from domination and the slavery that you knew, to sin and to satan. And the evil one doesn't touch you anymore. Though sin is still in you and you grieve over your own sinfulness, you're fundamentally different. Your brain is formed at a very different level of your nature. This is what salvation is. Demonic deception does not destroy human evil. The demonic deception does not destroy human evil. The fourth observation is that Jesus is not a weak victim, but rather the strong sovereign shepherd. This needs to be so clear to our minds and hearts. The victorious King, there is our victorious Savior, there is our victorious Shepherd, to whom the wolves have surrounded, but he does not run. for a sheep to save us. Last observation. Pretending we'll never rescue a Judas. Pretending we'll never rescue a Judas. Surely not I, Rabbi. I say what the other disciples say. I'm afraid to ask you. I look the part. No one, no one in that group said, we know who it is. He had been entrusted with keeping our money. You look at it now and we think it's so clear, but it wasn't clear then. There is Judas, with the voice of the Son of God, ripping the cover off of what he had done. He got rid of the mask of what he was going to do. And he chooses to pretend and he loses his life and he loses his soul. We'll never rescue a Judas. Of course, it's not the same thing. But we do experience similar things in our day. How many times has someone sat in a worship service like this one? And the word of God is so tremendously directed to their hearts as if they were the only person in the room. As if the pastor knows all about you. What do you do with those moments? Do you think it's just some human dynamic? some sort of rhetoric or to recognize that the Spirit of God takes the sword of the Spirit of God and through wits, vessels, the foolishness of preaching, puts his finger on human lives and calls you to repent. Just as Jesus warned Judas, sinners are being warned now. Whatever is not real, whatever is pretentious, whatever will not stand the test of eternity, turn from that and trust in Christ genuinely. If you think that playing a part or playing someone else's belief in you will somehow rescue you, you will find you are eternally mistaken. It is the love of God, dear brothers and sisters, that sets our sins before our sight and calls us to find our sin in God. That's the love of God. And so anyone who hasn't done that, may Jesus save you. Maybe you've played the role and maybe you think that you're safe. Maybe you can pretend that you're safe, but the fruit clearly says you're not. Would you stop pretending? Would you stop turning away from your sins and receive God's Son for life? When we look at this scene, are we not great people? Amen. Lord, we thank you for the love of Jesus Christ, on display to the very end for all of his disciples, even the one who wasn't truly his disciple. A love that gave space and opportunity for repentance. A love that exposed the deed before it was committed. But sadly, Lord, a love that was never born. I pray tonight for us. We know your Son, Lord, and may we, knowing who your Son is, Jesus Christ, may we love him even more. May we turn from our sins, knowing what our sins are, and may we submit ourselves to the true King and Savior, striving in every step to live lives that please Him. knowing that we are accepted in Him as our Father, you train us so that in whatever way we need to grow or change, may our hearts prove to be willing. I especially pray, Lord, for anyone who isn't really one of us. Your Word says they weren't of us, but they were not of us. They were all among us, but they weren't of us. Someone is here with us, but not one of us. Would you put your finger on the Holy Spirit of God, on their heart tonight, that they heed the voice of your Son, and be saved. We ask for this in Jesus' name. Let's stand together. I can't wash away my sin, only the blood. O great God, blessed Redeemer, merciful Savior, King of creation, hope of the nations, you are. This is all my hope and peace, only the blood of Jesus. This is all my righteousness, only Redeemer, merciful Savior, You are. Oh, great God, King of creation, hope of the nations, You are. Oh, great God, blessed Redeemer, merciful Savior, King of creation, hope of the nations, you are, you are. Gracious and saving, you are. Perfect and loving, you are. ♪ Gracious in saving You are ♪ ♪ Perfect in loving You are ♪ ♪ One day returning You are ♪ ♪ You are gracious in saving You are ♪ One day returning home. I can wash away my sins only if love is true. The author of Hebrews writes in Hebrews chapter 13, I may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do in his name, working in us that which is pleasing in his name, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.