March 27, 2021
Judas Iscariot was the disciple known for betraying Jesus Christ. (Matthew 26:14-16, John 13:21-27) How could anyone betray Jesus?! He is the Son of God! The only one to ever walk the earth with no sin. (2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:21-25, Hebrews 4:15) How could Judas turn on Jesus, the Holy Lamb of God?!
When I think of Judas, I think of how evil his heart must have been to betray Jesus. I also think about the fact that Jesus, knowing that Judas would betray Him, still chose Judas to be His disciple. (Mark 3:19, Luke 6:16) Judas walked with Jesus, heard His teachings, and witnessed His miracles for three years. Yet he still betrayed Him!
Even though Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him (Matthew 26:25, John 13:27-30, John 17:11-12, Psalm 41:9, Acts 1:16), Judas had the opportunity to repent and be saved. God so loved the world, (John 3:16) and in 2 Peter 3:9 the Bible says, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Judas showed remorse after his betrayal (Matthew 27:3-5), but he did not humble himself, go to the cross, and trust in Christ. Instead he went into self loathing and guilt. He took matters into his own hands.
May we never forget that we too are all capable of betraying Christ. In fact, we betray Jesus with every sin we commit. If you recall, every disciple fled when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus. (Matthew 26:56) Peter fled and then denied Jesus three times. The difference between Judas and the other disciples was not the betrayal. The difference was that Judas did not go to the cross. The heart of Judas was no more wicked than our hearts. (Jeremiah 17:9-10, Psalm 51:5)
We sometimes-from our human perspective-place sins on different levels of severity or degree. God’s standard is perfection. ALL have sinned and come short of His glory. (Romans 3:23) Romans 3:10-11 “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” We must remember that the ground is level at the cross. None of us are worthy to be forgiven! Yet through Jesus Christ, the Holy Lamb of God, we can receive the gift of salvation. (Ephesians 2:1-6) Octavius Winslow, a Baptist preacher in the 19th century said, “Who delivered up Jesus to die? Not Judas, for money, not the Jews, for envy;- but the Father, for love!” God gave us Jesus. (1 John 4:10)
I’m saddened when I think about Judas Iscariot. Not only for his betrayal of Jesus but for his decision to continue wallowing in self pity. All he had to do was look to Christ! The precious Savior of the world who cleanses us from ALL sin! May we learn from Judas’ mistake. Do not allow pride to blind you into self destruction. Don’t give up! No sin is too great that cannot be forgiven. The blood of Jesus is powerful enough to wash away EVERY sin! No one is too far from the amazing grace of God! He is always ready and waiting to forgive the poor, contrite spirit. Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
Come to the cross!
Scripture For Further Study
Psalm 51:17, Isaiah 57:15, Isaiah 66:2, Mark 1:15, Luke 13:3, Acts 3:18-21, Romans 10:9, 1 John 1:9
In Times Like These 
Very well written for us all – thank you
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