Verse 71 has a key word "to betray." In Greek, this is a verb (imperfect active indicative) Indicative means that it was reality. Imperfect denotes repeated and continual action. In other words, Judas was not simply considering betraying Christ. He was actually plotting and scheming all along to betray Christ. It was a premeditated, progressive slide.

What is the route to betrayal?

1. It was ordained by God. God chose to overlook Judas. God withdrew His common grace. John 13:10 How do you respond to God’s sovereignty?
2. There was a diabolical endorsement of Satan. John 7:1
3. It sprung from a heart of greed. He had sought prestige, power and a love of things, cf. Joh 12:4-6

How do you prevent yourself from going down the "route to betrayal?"

1. [oops, missed this point]
2. Bow in humility so that Satan has no control over you.
3. Rejoice in knowing God’s Son.
4. Delight in the fact that you do not have to sin.
5. Know that even flirting with sin will lead you to despair.
6. Your sin is ultimately a betrayal of Him.
7. If you do not know Him in this way, turn to Him today.

This passage shows that who followed Christ at one point were now walking away from Him. They misunderstood his teaching as if He were promoting cannibalism. The passage says "They walked away in unbelief."

In vs. 64, Jesus pressed His followers to make a commitment. The same call to commitment is for us. We are to remain committed followers of Christ. Answers to the following two questions will reveal evidence that you don’t want to leave Christ?

1. Are you in His word? vs. 58
2. Are you committed to Christ? Many follow him out of nostalgia.

The following are clear indications that a person has become hardened against Christ:

• There is a polarization of the truth
• There is a perversion of truth
• Pretender of the truth

What does a true follower of Jesus look like? Consider the disciple Peter. He made a contemplative, heartfelt allegiance to God. vs. 69

Pastor Rob and Maryann

From Matthew 2:1-6, we know that the prophesied ruler is Christ. The people. The people of Israel expected that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem. John 7:42

What is interesting here is that Israel’s political concerns are much like ours today. In those days, the ruler was weak and was unable (or unwilling) to deal with "border security." Zedekiah, the ruler in those days, was a weak ruler overall. Micah 5:2

Micah promises that there will be a stark contrast to the future ruler’s political power. Micah uses a strong (adversative) conjunction, "but" in Micah 5:2 to contrast between the insignificant and the significant.

1) There is a contrast between the insignificant, small tribe of Benjamin and the most significant  significant ruler to come from her. Benjamin was the smallest tribe in Israel. Jesus Christ, the Messiah of all Israel came from Benjamin. Why is it that God uses one who is vastly great to come from something little?

In Micah 5:2 are some significant words: "out of you will come for me…" God chose what is low and despised so no one would boast in himself. 1 Corinthians 1:29

2) There is a contrast between the way Zedekiah ruled and the way Christ will rule his people. Micah 5:4

• He is standing
• He will feed us
• He will rule in the strength of the Lord
• He shall be great to the ends of the earth. Our security will not be threatened by alien forces.
• He came not so that we would be glorious but that we would see His glory

No one comes to Jesus unless the Father draws Him.

1) The Father draws you to Him. Your willingness to come to the Son only came after the Father began to actively draw you. John 12:32 denotes an active moving.

2) When God drew you, He made Himself attractive to you.

3) All the Father draws will certainly come. He changed your heart. When God chose to draw you, you were with absolute certainty going to come to Him. What God begins, He will finish. His grace changes us.

What does this mean to us?

1) We need to spread the gospel to ALL because we don’t know who was given. “There are other sheep.”

2) You are preserved forever. God drew you and thus keeps you.

3) Your life drawn to Christ is all-satisfying.