MATTHEW 26 (selected verses)

[26:1] When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples,

[2] “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”

[3] Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,

[4] and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.

[5] But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.

[14] Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests

[15] and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.

[16] And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.

[20] When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve.

[21] And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”

[22] And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?”

[23] He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me.

[24] The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

[25] Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”

[45] Then (Jesus) came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

[46] Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

[47] While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people.

[48] Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.”

[49] And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him.

[50] Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.

We live in a do over society. You miss a putt.  You get a do over.  You fail a test.   You get a do over.  You get arrested for drunk driving.  No problem. Based upon what you read in the newspapers you get a do over.  The judge gives you a slap on the wrist and tells you not to do it again. 

Of course, that’s what you want when you make a big mistake.  You want a do over.  There are lots of times, however, where you won’t get a do over.  You make a mistake and it stays with you for the rest of your life.  Believe me. I speak from experience.  Last fall I was asked to serve as the chaplain for the Merrimack Valley Guild of Organists.  When I said “yes” they asked me for a picture that they could use in their newsletter.  I told them that there were lots of pictures of me on the church’s website that they were welcome to use one of them for their newsletter.  Big mistake! Image my horror and embarrassment when I got their next newsletter and saw a picture of myself wearing this hat. From now on I’m going to be known as the ridiculous reverend who wears that silly lobster hat!

Sometimes you don’t get a do over.  You make a mistake and it stays with you for the rest of your life. That’s what happened to Steve Lyons. In his book, In the Eye of the Storm, Max Lucado tells the story of a baseball player by the name of Steve Lyons.  Max Lucado is a wonderful Christian author and speaker and in his book he points out that “Steve Lyons…could be remembered as an outstanding infielder ... as the player who played every position for the Chicago White Sox... as a favorite of the fans who high fived the guy who caught the foul ball in the bleachers. He could be remembered as an above-average player who made it with an average ability. But he won't. He'll be remembered as the player who dropped his pants on July 16, 1990.

“The White Sox were playing the Tigers in Detroit. Lyons bunted and raced down the first-base line. He knew it was going to be tight, so he dove at the bag. Safe! The Tiger's pitcher disagreed. He and the umpire got into a shouting match, and Lyons stepped in to voice his opinion. Absorbed in the game and the debate, Lyons felt dirt trickling down the inside of his pants. Without missing a beat he dropped his britches, wiped away the dirt, and ... uh oh ...twenty thousand jaws hit the bleachers' floor.

“And, as you can imagine, the jokes began. Women behind the White Sox dugout waved dollar bills when he came onto the field…Within twenty-four hours of the ‘exposure,’ he received more exposure than he'd gotten his entire career; seven live television and approximately twenty radio interviews.”

“Fortunately, for Steve, he was wearing sliding pants under his baseball pants. Otherwise the game would be rated "R" instead of "PG-13."    (pp.247-248)

Contrary to what some people want you to believe we do not live in a world where everything is a do over. Sometimes a single solitary stumble stays with you for the rest of your life.  Steve Lyons will always be remembered as the baseball player who dropped his pants. Jimmy Swaggart had a multimillion dollar television ministry but he will always be remembered for getting caught in that hotel room with that prostitute.  Pee Wee Hermann was a genius when it came to comedy but he will always be remembered for getting arrested in that movie theater.  Bernie Madoff was a power broker on Wall Street but he will always be remembered for that shameful ponzi scheme.

Here’s one more for you.  Judas!  Jesus chose Judas to be one of the 12 disciples but  Judas made a mistake.  Judas made a massive-mega-monumental-mistake! Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver and that mistake stained his reputation for eternity.  After all, look at it this way.  How many parents name their kids Judas?  If someone calls you a Judas it’s not a compliment is it?

One single solitary stumble and it can stay with you for the rest of your life.  You don’t get a do over.  What’s done is done.  Once again look at Judas.  He tried to make up for his mistake.  He tried to give the money back.  When the high priest refused to accept the 30 silver coins Judas threw them on the Temple floor and what did he do after that?  We’re told later on in Matthew’s Gospel that he went out and hung himself.

Sometimes you don’t get a do over which means you better get it right the first time and the best way to get it right the first time is to follow Jesus.

After all Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.”  So when you follow Jesus it increases your chances of getting it right the first time.  That’s because you understand that he was right when he said “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”  (Acts 20:35)  You understand that he was right when he said, “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven…” Luke 6:37) You understand that he was right when he said, ““No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”  (Matthew 6:24)  He was right when he said, “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” (Matthew 7:12)

When you follow Jesus it increases the chances that you’ll get it right the first time. It doesn’t work though if you’re just a casual disciple.  When it comes to being a disciples you have to be committed.  You can’t just be involved.  Many years ago Martina Navratilova, the tennis player was asked how important the game of tennis was to her.  She replied that she wasn’t just involved in the game of tennis she was committed to the game of tennis.  When the person asked her what the difference was between being involved and committee she replied, “It’s like ham and eggs.  When it comes to ham and eggs the chicken is involved.  The pig is committed.”

When you are committed to following Jesus it greatly increases the chances that you’ll get it right the first time.  In his book, I Almost Missed The Sunset, Bill Gaither, the Christian singer and songwriter says that he and his wife Gloria were looking for some land so they could build a house.   This was in Alexandria, Indiana.  One day Bill went to see a retired banker by the name of Mr. Yule.  He went to inquire about some land south of town.  Mr. Yule’s answer was short and sweet.  “Not selling,” he said, “Promised it to a farmer for grazing.”  “I know,” Bill said, but we teach school here and thought maybe you’d be interested in selling it to someone planning to settle in the area.”  Mr. Yule pursed his lips and stared at me. “What’d you say your name was?”  “Gaither.  Bill Gaither.”  “Hmmm.  Any relation to Grover Gaither?”  “Yes sir,” Bill replied.  “He was my granddad.”  Mr. Yule thought about it for a moment.  “Grover Gaither was the best worker I ever had on my farm.  Full day’s work for a day’s pay.”  He then told Gaither that he’d think about it.  When, Bill Gaither went back to see him a week later Mr. Yule said, “How does $3,800 sound?”  If that was per acre it meant that Bill Gaither would have had to come up $60,000; much more than he could afford.  That’s why he was surprised and relieved when Mr. Yule said, “Yup, fifteen acres for $3,800.”   Nearly three decades later Bill Gaither was walking through that lush beautiful land with his son.  “Benjy,” he said, “You’ve had this wonderful place to grow up through nothing that you’ve done, but because of the good name of a great-granddad you never met.”

When you follow Jesus you don’t have to worry about do over’s.  That’s because you’ll get it right the first time and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that long after you’re gone people will smile with approval whenever your name is mentioned.  Amen.

Rev. Dr. Richard A. Hughes

February 24, 2013