As Palm Sunday, Holy Week and the celebration of Easter approach, walk with me please through the records of those last hours of the earthly life of Jesus Christ. What does God want us to know? What were those last hours like for Jesus Christ?

In this session we examine Judas Schemes to Betray Jesus Christ

Matthew 26:

¹⁴ Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,

¹⁵ And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

¹⁶ And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Mark 14:

¹⁰ And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.

¹¹ And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

Luke 22:

³ Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

⁴ And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.

⁵ And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.

⁶ And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

Questions for reflection

1) What is the significance of Judas going to the chief priests rather than them coming to him?

2) Does thirty pieces of silver seem an appropriate amount to you?

3) Why do you suppose Judas wanted the betrayal to be convenient and absent from the multitude?

4) What is the relevance of Judas going his way and satan entering?

5) How can you protect yourself from satan?

6) How does Judas seeking opportunity to betray Jesus Christ square with Jesus Christ knowing the details of  His betrayal in advance?

Hebrews 12:

¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good

plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti