Text: “And in the evening He cometh with the twelve. And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with Me shall betray Me.
Mark 14:17-18.
Good morning, Bible-prophecy-believing Christian! It thrills your regenerate heart and mine when we see, so very clearly, the close fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies revealed in the pages of the New Testament. Many years pass before the fulfilment, but the fulfilment certainly comes. Praise God for revealing future events from His precious Word! Here is my teaching concerning the prophecy of Christ’s betrayal as expounded in my Searching in Psalms writings (online on www.ulsterchristians.org)
A Prophecy of Judas, The Arch-Betrayer! Psalm 41:9.
Text: “Yea, mine own familiar friend in whom I trusted, which did eat of My bread, hath lifted up his heel against Me.” Psalm 41:9.
Good morning, betrayed Christian! Having trusted a close friend, even a brother or sister in Christ Jesus, and having been terribly let down by them – the feeling of betrayal lies heavy in your heart and causes you much profound sorrow and emotional pain. It’s a fact – being betrayed by a trusted friend is a horrible experience indeed.
Today’s Bible text from Psalm 41 and verse 9 reflects on one level the betrayal that king David obviously felt when grossly betrayed by some of his closest friends and associates.
King Saul, whose entire kingdom was under Philistine threat when the young David, a mere shepherd boy, took on the National challenge and slew Goliath of Gath, the Philistine giant of oppression. Was king Saul forever grateful for David’s brave intervention and the manner in which he delivered Israel from Philistine threat? No. Very soon Saul’s jealousy of David drove him not only to despise him, but to try to run him through with a javelin! How deeply must David have rued such a betrayal, as the armies of king Saul hunted him and compelled him to live in rough caves of the earth to escape Saul’s envious venom.
Verse 9. “Yea, mine own familiar friend. ‘The man of my peace’, so runs the original, with whom I had no differences, with whom I was in league, who had aforetime ministered to my peace and comfort. This was Ahithophel to David, and Iscariot with our Lord. Judas was an apostle, admitted to the privacy of the Great Teacher, hearing His secret thoughts, and, as it were, allowed to read His very heart. Et tu Brute? Said the expiring Caesar. The kiss of the traitor wounded our Lord’s heart as much as the nail wounded His hand.” (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 200)
Verse 9. “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted…hath lifted up his heel against Me. The betrayals of David, the son of Jessie, were horrible and sore to bear from the mere mortal associates of David who undertook to treat him in such a despicable manner. However, when Judas Iscariot, the bearer of the purse of the little band of Christ’s disciples, covenanted to betray Jesus – his gross betrayal was infinitely more horrible because he was betraying the very Son of God Himself! How deep the pit of Hell in which now he languishes as a wage for his infamous treason! (Romans 6:23)
It is a profound wonder of God’s Sovereign will that Judas Iscariot was foreordained to be chosen by Christ Jesus as His eventual betrayer. Only the Lord God knows the end from the beginning in all things. “I speak not of you all (the chosen disciples): I know whom I have chosen: but that the Scripture might be fulfilled, ‘He that eateth bread with Me hath lifted up his heel against Me.” (John 13:18) Old Testament prophecy was clearly fulfilled.
“When Jesus had thus said, He was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily (truly) verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray Me.” (John 13:21-27)
This Scriptural prophecy of the betrayal of Jesus Christ, from the pen of David, pre-figured, by hundreds of years, what God had ordained must take place. When reading our Bibles, we must at all times realize that the Word we are reading/studying is in fact the inspired (God-breathed) Word from God unto us; and is written in words easy for us to understand and believe. What God says in His Word – God always does! Only believe.
“But He (Jesus) said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the Word of God, and keep it.” (Luke 11:28)
When the preacher/Bible teacher is quoting Holy Scripture (KJV), listen to him and take heed to what he says. If the would-be preacher/Bible teacher is merely spewing out his own words, thoughts, philosophies – pay him no attention! All that glitters is not always gold – sometimes it is merely YELLOW. Speak clearly, and listen intently, to God’s truth!
“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them.” (Isaiah 8:19:20)
“For I (the risen Jesus) testify unto every man that heareth the words of prophecy of this book (Revelation and the 66 Bible Books), if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the Holy City, and from the things that are written in this book.” (Revelation 22:18-19)
On the evening of Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord Himself prophesied it was about to happen, a short time before it actually happened! (Mark 14:18) The Old Testament Bible prophecy of Christ’s betrayal was given to the Psalmist David hundreds of years before it actually happened. (Psalm 41:9) Yet, in both cases, Bible prophecy was proven to be a true and accurate account of what would most definitely take place.”
Thought: Take note Bible-prophecy-believing Christian! Be ready to receive the returning Christ!