HOLY WEEK: BETRAYAL

            And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

            While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” (Luke 22:39-53 ESV)

            Palm Sunday begins the final week of Jesus in physical ministry. The first day began with shouts of “Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” A few days later Jesus would be in a garden experiencing extreme agony, dying the next day at a place called The Skull.

            If AD 30 was the year when Jesus was crucified, Good Friday would have been April 7^th.  Sometime around 1:00 AM a distrustful figure led a small group of men into an area located in the depths of the Kidron Valley, just below the Temple mound east of Jerusalem and situated near the accent to the Mount of Olives. The garden was actually an orchard of olive trees.

            The 33 year-old Jesus was coming to the end of His earthly assignment. The proclamation of Good News, the life-changing teachings, and the miraculous signs and wonders would continue through His followers after the Holy Spirit came upon them.

            His time in the garden was a crucial period of intercession. Only a brief moment remained of unrestrained freedom. The occasion for His arrest would soon arrive. The betrayer and conspirators were coming. Time was of essence in preparation for dying.

            All four gospels writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, record the momentous time in Gethsemane. Jim Bishop in the book The Day Christ Died described the scene this way: “To them, he seemed to be immeasurably weary, and this was strange because, only a few minutes ago, he had been expounding to them the last lessons of being missionaries. And he had finished the work with vigor. They fell mute and turned their eyes away because they did not think it was right to look upon the face of the Messiah in weakness and fear…. He doubled his hands into fists and held them against His breast. ‘I am plunged in sorrow,’ he said loudly and bitterly, ‘enough to break my heart!’ The three [closest friends] glanced at him sadly. Jesus looked through the branches at the miniature beauty of a thousand other worlds, and then he glanced once more at the temple, so near across the valley…. ‘Stay here and keep awake,’ he said….”

            The gospel writers indicate they did not stay awake, both physically and spiritually. The three in His inner circle, Peter, James, and John, missed the moment when the Son of God began to feel the countless sins of the world pressed upon His soul.

The contents of the cup

            Jesus made a request while praying. “O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me….” What was this cup and what was in it?

            The cup was the world and in the cup were transgressions, every sin of every person past, present and future. The content of the cup was actually the major cause of His grief that night. The violence of today splashed into the cup. The sexual perversions, the incestuous behaviors and the adulterous immoralities of society fell into the cup. Every slanderous word, every wrongful deed, every debauchery ever imagined became part of the concoction in the cup.

            This was His private ordeal, this was His personal mission. By one solitary act of His will Jesus allowed heaven to stoop to earth in mercy while others slept.

            “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) He took upon Himself every sin you have ever done and will ever do.

            An agony of the soul was part of the price Jesus was paying. He began to feel the stress of the innumerable offenses of every man and woman. Occasionally people think how unbearable their stress is but nothing compares to the stress in this garden scene. The salty sweat on His forehead began to change color, growing redder until even the most blasé onlooker realized it was blood.

            Doctors call this unusual physical phenomenon hematidrosis, caused when unreasonable pressures and anxieties mount layer by layer to the point that a highly sensitized person can no longer bear it. The capillaries dilate so broadly when they come into contact with the sweat glands that they burst. Blood is released with sweat. Not only did the cross and nails awaiting Him cause pain and sorrow in the garden, but also a world in rebellion that He took upon Himself.

The arrival of His betrayer

            Across the dark valley was a stream of oil-lit lamps bobbing and weaving down the pathway and the distant sound of clanging armor. Caiaphas had dispatched his secret service. Soldiers led by a betrayer entered the garden.

            Judas Iscariot, a disciple associated with The Twelve, was the betrayer and the only non-Galilean. The prize he gained that night was 30 pieces of silver, the same price wealthy landowners paid for virtually useless, wounded, and dying slaves. Arrogant religious leaders considered Jesus a nuisance, an insignificant bother, only worth a small token.

            Upon entering the garden Judas hails Jesus with a kiss, a seal of finality. Jesus had approximately 12 hours of earthly life left. By the time the sun peeked above the horizon Jesus would be interrogated and Judas would enter eternal torment. Jesus would die on a crucifying tree and Judas would die on a hanging tree, both on the same day.

What made Judas a betrayer?

            Authors and scriptwriters have ascribed to Judas noble goals and motives. Some fancied Judas a national zealot. Others imagined he was trying to force Jesus to deliver the nation from Roman oppression. A far more plausible answer is he allowed the tempter to capture his mind. He no longer was doing the bidding of Jesus. Judas was physically with Jesus for three years yet yielded to the temptations of humanity and gave his heart over to Satan.

            People can witness the marvelous things Jesus is doing, be closely associated with His mission, even declare His truths, yet refuse Him complete allegiance and end up totally lost. Whenever you allow spiritual slumber to grip your soul and fail to stay fervently awake in prayer and intercession, the threshold of failure can easily be crossed.

            When serving in youth ministry I assisted as a Teen Bible Quiz judge at a Finals Tournament. The coach of one of the strongest teams in the State was extremely sharp. He demonstrated a brilliant mind.

            In one of the matches his team answered a question incorrectly and he contested the Quiz Master’s ruling. The coach approached the Judges’ table to make his appeal. Even with the correct answer in front of the officials, he almost convinced us to give the team the points.

            Ten years later I was invited to speak at a church in the area. Before speaking in the Worship service, I led a Bible discussion in an Adult Sunday School class. A man came into the room wearing old tattered clothes. He seemed unfamiliar to me. I assumed he may have been part of the congregation. He quietly sat with his head down, never looking up.

            The pastor mentioned he was a visitor and asked if he would introduce himself. In his reply he sadly said, “I used to go to church, I even coached a Bible Quiz team, but I left. I am here today because I just felt like visiting a church.”

            At that moment I recognized him. He was the brilliant coach. Afterwards we talked privately. I informed him that I remembered him and asked what happened?  After a long pause he replied, “I don’t know, I just don’t know.”

            We actually do know what happened. The tempter captured his mind at a vulnerable moment.

            While providing leadership at a Bible College I watched students, seemingly surrounded in a spiritual cocoon, become disenchanted with the things of God. Tragically this often happens, yet never without reason.

            Why do such things occur? The answer is partly discovered by examining Judas. He only saw Jesus through prejudicial and prideful eyes.

            Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world. Judas wanted the kingdom to be on earth right away.

            Jesus said He came to bring eternal salvation. Judas wanted Jesus to bring emancipation on earth.

            Jesus said He came to give His life as a ransom. Judas wanted Jesus to live His life as a ruler.

            Judas possibly thought he was doing the right thing, no one knows. This is known: It is very prideful for a person to think they know better than Jesus how to establish God’s kingdom.

            If someone attempts to be a manipulator of Jesus, instead of a follower of Jesus, they are revealing the heart of a Judas. If someone is more enamored with the notoriety of being a member of an elite crowd than walking in absolute obedience to God’s plan, they are in danger of losing their very soul.

            The Good News is about grace and forgiveness on account of Golgotha, but it is reserved only for those who place faith in God and have complete trust in Him.

Deceived

            Deception is usually gradual. That is what killed Judas. He slowly got away from Jesus. He became mesmerized by the trimmings and blinded of the true mission.

            When a person refuses to recognize the suffering Jesus, the journey into deception gains momentum, first an inch than a foot, next a yard and finally a mile. Deception has the terrible ability of causing blindness. Deceived people do not see the lethal punch coming. All deception needs is a small chance and it will take on a nature of its own.

            Are there modern-day examples? Those consuming alcoholic beverages never intend to become a drunk. A drug user never anticipates becoming a dope-head. People deceive themselves into believing they can handle every deadly vice. Deception blinds them from seeing the addictive nature of numerous practices.

            Many look at Judas and think, “That will never happen to me. You won’t find me doing anything so hideous.” If you take your eyes off of Jesus and attribute to Him a lesser mission then betrayal will follow close behind.

A NAIL IN A SURE PLACE

In Memory of Melvin Drews

Intended for his memorial service, snowed-in at the Dallas airport instead!

Isaiah 22:22-23 (KJV) – “And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.  And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house.

            I first met Mel Drews when I came from Marshall, Minnesota to provide oversight at the Assemblies of God church in Spearfish, South Dakota. He was the owner and operator of the KOA Campground in Lead/Deadwood.

             I left Spearfish three years later to serve as Executive Vice President of Trinity Bible College, providing hands-on leadership to the school while the President, Evangelist Lowell Lundstrom, extensively promoted the school to his national audience and gave a clear and concise vision for the campus.

            Part of my responsibilities involved creating the spiritual formation calendar every school year, something I normally did during the summer months. Besides the daily chapel schedule I incorporated a Spiritual Emphasis week in the fall and a Week of Prayer in the winter. The spring included College Days and Graduation Ceremonies.

            In my last year on campus I was praying about whom to invite as a Spiritual Emphasis Week guest speaker and sensed a strong nudging to invite Charles Greenaway. I knew Charles as a successful African missionary and a great Missions speaker but never considered him for spiritual emphasis. Nevertheless the divine prompting would not subside so I extended an invitation and Charles graciously accepted.

            Charles was Irish. He was as tough as nails, a critical component for serving on the African continent during the early years of missions. He had strong convictions, could sometimes be stubborn, and occasionally came across harshly toward others. Yet if you looked deep enough, looked carefully at his heart, you discovered a sensitive man, extremely compassionate.

            When the faculty returned to campus I took a few moments during their orientation to talk about the Bible theme for the academic year and the chapel schedule, including the Spiritual Emphasis week. I mentioned Charles would be speaking. A couple of faculty members knew him very well and privately spoke to me about a concern. They were not sure he was up to the task. I assured them this was an act of obedience on my part to the Holy Spirit. The students ended up benefiting from him in a variety of ways, both in chapel and on campus.

            Charles came and was true to his calling, and character. His messages were powerfully delivered, rich in content and life-changing. The altars were full of young people crying out to God in every service. Those concerned faculty members were amazed.

            Yet occasionally Charles spoke harshly, especially to sound technicians and musicians. If they failed to meet his expectations the reaction was an immediate public rebuke. His occasional gruff demeanor and bluntness was confusing to students, some were hurt and offended. He was not perfect, yet heavenly results were clearly witnessed throughout the week.

            In the final service he read the text from Isaiah quoted above. He told a story about a young missionary who was deathly ill, lying in a small hut at a remote African village. As an Area Director for the continent he immediately set out to find him. Searching and arriving at the village lying deep in the wilds, he located the hut and discovered a young emaciated body lying on a mat. His heart broke for the dying man and wept silently.

            Charles vigilantly stayed with the missionary, consoling him, praying for him, comforting him, loving him. Shortly before dying he looked at Charles and asked, “Do you think I did enough?” Charles assured him that he had. The young missionary left his earthly vessel of clay and entered the loving arms of Jesus.

            Charles looked at the students in the Chapel and said, “He was a nail in a sure place.” There was not dry eye at the altar that evening.

            From the Black Hills of South Dakota and beyond Melvin Drews has left an indelible mark. He was a nail in a sure place.

Dependable

            When we moved to Spearfish the church facility was in need of several repairs and updates. The place had been used extensively for children ministry, showing extensive wear and tear. Classroom walls had cracks and holes, doors did not work properly or close correctly, a few rooms were constructed poorly or left unfinished. Bathrooms and nurseries needed updating and better equipment. I never had to worry about carrying a key for the building. The front doors could easily be jimmied. During the high transits season of the summer months I often wondered who to expect in the building when arriving each morning. I talked with church leaders about the numerous items needing attention. We began to prioritize projects and pray for answers.

            I would occasionally go to the KOA campgrounds and visit with Mel about what would make the facility more presentable and welcoming to guest. Simple repairs got immediate attention. He taught me how to effectively repair holes and cracks in walls, making them disappear. He fixed and adjusted doors. He drew up plans, determined the material costs, and projected the amount of work for larger projects. When funds were available and major jobs became approved he sacrificially gave valuable time for labor, along with his son Alan. He was someone you could count on, a nail in a sure place.

            My father, a railroad engineer, died while my family and I lived in Spearfish. Mel, a collector of railroad memorabilia and models, compassionately came alongside and lovingly provided fatherly advice, when needed.

            After serving at TBC I moved to Chicago. The church in a northwest suburb started doing construction trips to Central and South America. I contacted Mel and asked if he would join us. He personally covered all his expenses, including the additional flight to and from Chicago, and became the team foreman. He even got personal friends and churches to financially donate toward building materials.

            I told other team members I would get them into and out of the country, but at the work site Mel was in charge. Before leaving he gathered information on what equipment we should bring. Upon arrival he talked with the missionary, learned the status of the project, determined what could be accomplished in a week’s time, and oversaw the work. The missionary got maximum performance from the crew. Time was well spent and much work was done under his leadership.

Skillful

            Mel knew the value of a carefully placed nail. He knew how to effectively use a nail for framing, shaping, securing, and strengthening. He was a craftsman, a worker with tools, a designer. He could take a block of wood and turn it into a piece of art.

            Go to a church in southern California and you will see his expert skills. Churches in the Northern Black Hills give testimony of his handiwork. At the Spearfish church the front overhang leading to the sidewalk from the building was designed and built by him with the help of his son. He prepared the framework for new industrial-grade commercial glass doors, securing the facility. The last time I walked into the Lead church I noticed the door trim entering the auditorium and said to myself, “Mel was here!” The mark of excellence is found at entranceways and altars in various places.

            Some may not have known Mel before he had a stroke, years ago. He was as tough as nails, had strong convictions, could occasionally be stubborn, and sometimes appeared harsh. Like all of us he was not perfect.

            He was a man with a low tolerance for mediocrity. The word mediocrity was not even in his vocabulary. He could not and would not settle for inferior workmanship. If it was not going to be done right, if he was not given the freedom to fully apply his expertise, he did not hesitate to emphatically voice his disappointment or not get involved. Some became confused and possibly offended, but if they took time to listen and looked deep inside his heart, they would quickly recognize a sensitive man, desiring to honor God with his very best.

Nail scared hands

            Jesus is the nail in a sure place, paying the price and providing salvation for people bound by sin. Mel loved the Lord very deeply. In some ways he may have better understood the Savior trained as a carpenter. He knew how painful nails can be when puncturing skin. He understood the potential agony caused when nails pierced hands and feet.

            Mel embraced all the promises given by Christ and fully understood what was meant when Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you….” Jesus, the Supreme Construction Manager, has designed and built a place beyond comparison to anything someone can presently comprehend. And with confidence Mel is at that place. (The word confident is the combination of two Latin words cum fide, meaning with faith.) Mel was a man with sincere faith and now abides in a custom-designed, perfectly built, heavenly place.

            Nothing would make Mel happier than for people to take time and affirm their faith in God. If you are a follower of Jesus then celebrate God’s goodness and grace in providing peace, joy and love, as well as an eternal dwelling place.

            If you do not know Jesus, and you know who you are, it is obvious to you, your life does not demonstrate love for God and you are not living the Jesus way – then place faith in God. More than simply convert, become a disciple. More than an impromptu decision, enter a lifelong journey. Genuinely follow Jesus.

            You have an opportunity right now to commit your life to Christ. No one can live a perfect life, yet everyone can live a forgiven life. Instead of walking further away from God, do an about-face and come to Christ. Ask for forgiveness and willfully turnaround. Experience firsthand the fullness and best of abundant life.

            Include yourself in the promise of an eternal dwelling place. According to God’s word a spectacular spot in His presence awaits everyone loving the Lord. Many who personally know you are already abiding in a heavenly home and want to see you there, including Mel. Make the right decision. Talk to God!