The betrayal....

Judas. He betrayed Jesus even though he had been His close friend, His disciple. He began to find fault with the things Jesus said and did. He complained to Jesus and, when Jesus gently rebuked him, Judas was incensed.

Luke 22:3-6 tells what happened next:

Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. Then he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absense of the multitude.

Not even Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem as King of Israel could dissuade Judas from his course. Judas had convinced himself that Jesus was a false Messiah and that He had to pay for His deception.

So Judas betrayed Jesus, who was arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced to die -— just as He had foretold. With the prophecies fulfilled before his eyes, Judas Iscariot saw how He had misunderstood all along.

Matthew 27:3-5 says:

Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? You see to it!" Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.

But it was too late. All the remorse in the world could not undo the damage he had caused. He had condemned the Savior of the world, the King of kings, to a cruel, shameful, painful death by crucifixion.

Good Friday. Jesus agonized on the cross for three hours while the sun was darkened. With a loud cry, Jesus gave up his spirit. There was an earthquake and tombs broke open.

The centurion on guard at the site of the crucifixion declared, "Truly this was God's Son!"