Hope at the Cross – Forgiveness Until the End

The sermon presents three magnificent hopes that only Jesus Christ can give to those who believe in Him through the cross: forgiveness, redemption, and resurrection. No philosophy or religion in the world can provide these hopes. Today's sermon focuses on the hope of God's forgiveness until the very end, divided into three main parts: Christ's warning to the disciples, the contrast between a relationship like Judas Iscariot's or like Mary's, and God's forgiveness until the final moment.

The first section explores Jesus' warning about the betrayal that would occur during the Last Passover meal. Jesus speaks ambiguously, saying "one of you will betray Me" rather than pointing directly to Judas Iscariot. The reason for this ambiguity is so that each disciple, including us today, must look deep into their heart and motives. The line between good and evil runs through the middle of each person's heart, not between nations or religions. The sermon points out that betrayal is a sin of motive: when following Christ is profitable, a person will believe and follow, but when following Christ becomes costly and no longer beneficial, they will sell Christ. Even the disciples chosen and called by Christ, who witnessed miracles and heard Jesus' teachings directly for three years, were not certain they would not betray Him. This is why Paul teaches: "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." We need to rely on the Holy Spirit and help from one another in Christ to stand firm.

The second section contrasts two different motives in following Christ, illustrated through the story of Judas Iscariot and Mary (or the sinful woman at Simon's house). Both did similar things: anointing Jesus with expensive fragrant oil, but their motives were completely different. Judas saw Jesus Christ as useful and followed Him for personal gain, but Mary saw Jesus Christ as beautiful and loved Him out of gratitude for the forgiveness and redemption He had given her. When circumstances changed and following Christ no longer brought profit, Judas sold Christ. The sermon explains the difference between religion and the Gospel: religion teaches "I obey so I receive blessings," but the Gospel teaches "I am forgiven by grace alone, so out of gratitude I obey." Each of us has a part of Judas Iscariot and a part of Mary within our hearts, and these two parts change over time and circumstances. Some believers have their Judas-part grow stronger until they decide to abandon Christ, but others have their Mary-part grow stronger and continue faithfully serving even as circumstances change.

The third section explores Christ's forgiveness and repentance. Although Christ knew with certainty that Judas would betray Him, Christ still warned, reminded, and gave opportunity. Even in the Garden of Gethsemane when Judas identified Christ with a kiss, Christ still called him "friend." But Christ also did not expose Judas publicly because Christ loved Judas to the end and wanted him to repent. The crucial difference between Judas and the other disciples is this: Judas rejected forgiveness and was lost forever, but disciples like Peter and Paul received forgiveness and were restored to become apostles and establish the first church. The value and significance of the hope of forgiveness corresponds to one's consciousness of the degree of sin committed. The sinful woman in Luke 7 loved Christ more because she was aware of her great sin and was forgiven completely, so forgiveness had immense value to her. Jesus Christ balanced justice with mercy, grace with righteousness: Christ loved, so He warned; but He also did not shame or expose Judas' evil before the disciples.