Published by Deborah Negron
October 10, 2013
He repented himself … He regretted what he had done … he was sorry … he felt and knew the weight of his sin …
Mathew 27. Judas the Man who wasted guilt.
1 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: 2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. 3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
Ever recognize your wrong doing? Ever feel gulty for some poor decision made? Ever find yourself regreting whatyou said and what you did? Ever feel the sorrow of shame?
Judas had betrayed Jesus. He had done the worst thing. He had even kissed him as a sign to the enemies of Jesus, the religious leaders of the day. He had acknowledged his sin and the error of his ways. Yet if we consider his fate…suicide in essence is self murder. It is to ends ones life. To basically tell God you are not in charge, I am.
Judas went out and hung himself. Would there have been redemption for him? Could there have been a change of heart and forgiveness from the Master Jesus, Himself, for if he
had just surrendered and turned his eyes towards heaven and said, forgive me Lord?
Let’s think about it. Peter had also failed the Lord. After the arrest of Jesus Peter was trying to hide himslef from being caught as one of Jesusm followers. Of all things, Peter was impulsive, then a coward. He had hidden among common folks as to not be discovered by those he thought would be searching for Jesus’ disciples. He who had cut off the ear of a roman soldier was now rying to be unseen. He who had seen as had Judas, the many miracles was no overwhelmed by his fear. Yet what was different?
The two men committed sins. One betrayed him and the other denied him. In essence their sin was comparable. But where is the difference?
Peter denied Christ. Judas turned him in.
Peter cursed three times saying he did not even know him. He did this out of fear, not premeditating his reaction. On the other hand,
Judas even went ahead to plan and execute the betrayal. Peter wept bitterly. Scripture confirms that Judas went as far as to confront the reliiigious leaders and tell them he had sinned. He acknowledged his sin clearly.
Peter, wept and recognized his sinned. As well.
Where do the feelings of remorse take a differing turn for these two me?
Peter not only acknowledged his sin, he did not only feel sorry, but then he wentto be with other followers of Christ and confessed and became accountable for hsi sin by true repentance. He turned from sin and did not go away in shame. He attained forgiveness.
Judas felt shame and guilt as did Peter yet Judas gave up. He simply thought that for him there was no hope. He probably thought, I have gone too far. There is no redemption for me.
I wonder what could have happened if he would have sought the Master…I wonder if the look Jesus had given Peter when the rooster crowed would have been the same. I wonder if Christ would have overlooked his sin and considered his heart and noted true repentance…
We will never know. Judas did not give God and opportunity in his life. He thought the weight of his sin deaamed eternal punishment. He killed himself. He did not even belief he was have the worth to live. H committed suicide. Taking the very opportunity to be restored and casting it away.
Are we this way sometimes. We feel regret and shame and feel the aching of the error of our ways yet we spiral further down by thinking there is no hope forus?
Christ died for the whosoever. It is my belief that all who come to Him in humility and sorrow and ask for forgiveness will be forgiven.
You have not gone so far that the arm of the Lord cannnot reach you. You have not sinne so much that the love of God cannot bring you reddemption. You have not turned your back so many times that God will nothear you id you cry out nd confess your sin and ask for his forgivenss.
If your eyes are reading this then know that there is true hope for you. If you can undertsand this written word that you have an opportunity today to run to Jesus. Ask him to please forgive you.
Peter did just that. His heart sought true forgiveness and he attained mercy.
Judas considered himslef worthless, and folloishly took his own life.
Live and live freely, Christ is faithful and just to forgive your sines when you not only confess them but turn from them and follow him.
Come and join Peter. Come and be restored. The alternative is death and eternal damnation. Christ Jesus says come.
Life and Faith By Deb 
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