Rewind — the teaching platform built on your church’s own preaching

The big idea

Follow Jesus, not the Jesus you want.

Jesus offers us Himself as the Savior who serves and sacrifices, even for His enemies. When we quietly reshape Him into a Savior who exists to give us success or destroy our enemies instead, we set ourselves up to walk away from Him, just as Judas did.

Point 1 of 5

Judas didn't start out evil — he wanted a Messiah who would bring success

Pastor Hunter sets the scene at the Passover meal in Matthew 26, explaining how the disciples grew up under brutal Roman oppression and were longing for God to send another deliverer like He did in Exodus. Many Jewish people, including Judas, expected the Messiah to establish a literal, physical kingdom that would overthrow Rome and make God's people prosper, and Judas believed Jesus was that king.

Judas didn't start out with the wrong intentions

— Pastor Hunter Jones

Point 2 of 5

Jesus responds to betrayal with a broken heart, not rage

When Jesus announces that one of the Twelve will betray Him, each disciple, trusting Judas as much as each other, asks, Am I the one, Lord? Pastor Hunter points out that even though Jesus knew Judas's tragic end, He didn't meet betrayal with anger but with sorrow, and shares his own story of being betrayed by a mentor who did his premarital counseling to show how differently Jesus responds.

There is nothing that ignites human anger or rage like betrayal

— Pastor Hunter Jones

A story from life

A mentor who counseled Pastor Hunter through premarital preparation was later revealed to have been unfaithful to his own wife

Point 3 of 5

Judas wanted success, but Jesus brings service

Judas expected that closeness to a triumphant Messiah would be good for him personally, but Jesus said He came not to be served but to serve and lay down His life. Pastor Hunter warns against the bless this mess mindset, telling a story about a woman named Carol at his old church, and says God cares more about His mission than our mansions.

God cares far more about his mission than your mansion

— Pastor Hunter Jones

Illustration

A woman named Carol at the preacher's home church used 'Lord, bless this mess' as a cover for ongoing sin, illustrating misplaced expectations of God

Point 4 of 5

Judas wanted a savior to slay his enemies, but Jesus brings sacrifice for them

Jesus is not a savior who slays His enemies but one who was slain for His enemies, including the Romans Judas hated. Pastor Hunter uses a story about getting cut off in traffic and wishing judgment on the driver, plus an example of Christians on both sides of an election insisting Jesus is on their side, to show how easily we remake Jesus into an ally against the people we dislike rather than a Savior who died for them too.

Related passage

he's a savior who was slain for his enemies

— Pastor Hunter Jones

A story from life

Pastor Hunter was cut off in traffic while praying on the way to work and caught himself wanting the other driver judged

Illustration

Pre-election Facebook scrolling revealed that Christian friends on both sides were certain Jesus agreed with their political position

Point 5 of 5

Jesus gives one final clear picture of who He is at the table

Right before Judas leaves to betray Him, Jesus takes the bread and the cup and tells the disciples plainly that His body and blood are being given and poured out for the forgiveness of many. Pastor Hunter frames this as Jesus's last clear self-portrait as the God who serves and sacrifices, offered even to the one about to betray Him.

Judas didn't betray Jesus at the last supper. He betrayed Jesus with his life

— Pastor Hunter Jones

Take it into your week

Pastor Hunter's charge is to stop asking Jesus to fit our expectations and instead let Him ask us, Am I the one who will betray You with my life?

Application

Check what your prayers are really asking for
Listen to whether your prayers ask more for personal success than for God to use you in purposeful service, and more for your enemies' failure than for God to make your life a sacrifice.
Jump into serving
Rock Point asks people to serve, even in small ways like children's ministry, because the mission of pointing people to Jesus matters more than personal comfort or blessing.
Give toward the mission
Consider giving to the church, since every dollar is meant to fund reaching the lost rather than simply asking God for personal financial blessing.
Forgive and love your enemies
Choose to release hatred and resentment toward those who have hurt you, not by returning to unsafe relationships, but by forgiving people Christ died for just as much as He died for you.
Have an honest conversation with Jesus
Admit where you've been angry or frustrated that Jesus didn't meet your expectations, apologize as Pastor Hunter did with his wife, and tell Jesus you want Him, not the version of Him you wanted.

Keep going

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