Matthew 27:3-5-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.
Matthew 26:75-And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.
Luke 22:60-62-But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!”
Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So Peter went out and wept bitterly.
Remorseful-A feeling of guilt or regret.
He knew that he had sin, he knew that he had done wrong, and even confessed it before men.
Peter on the other hand, deny knowing Jesus, or being associated with Jesus, he’s remorseful, we can come to that conclusion because he begins to wept bitterly.
Acts 1:15-20-And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said,
“Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.”
(Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out.
And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.)
“For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’
I think the difference between Peter and Judas (They had both sinned, both committed a horrendous crime against the Lord) was that Peter did not give up on trying to serve the Lord, at least he was still hanging out with the other disciples, (Remember all of them but John had fled, they had deserted Jesus), Peter was hanging on to the hope that God would forgive him and use him, but I believe Judas never made the connection that God would forgive him and God could use him.
He had no hope!
Even though he had heard Jesus speak about love, forgiveness, mercy…all those things, had even seen Jesus display those things to people…From lepers, to demon-possed people, to a tax-collector, to cripples, to those who were blind, Samaritan woman at a well, and to a prostitute.
It never sank in that God will forgive, and wants to forgive!!
Even though Jesus, is given him time after time to not go down the way or the path that he was going down, ( one of you is a devil?”) and even after he made the commitment, and accepted the money, Jesus is still giving him opportunity to repent.
GRACE-Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.”
“He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me.
Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?”
He said to him, “You have said it.”
If Judas would have poured out his guts to God, instead of on the ground, he would be in a better situation!
I believe the difference between Peter and Judas, was that Peter didn’t give up on God!
He didn’t give up on God to change his situation!!
Peter got to experience the resurrection, but Judas didn’t!
Peter got to sit, eat, and visit with the risen Lord, but Judas didn’t!
Judas thought his only option was to end his life!
I think if we are not careful, we to can give up on God, we can start believing that nothing is going to change, that our situation is going to stay the same, that things we never get any better!
Remember, Jesus was dead for three days, before His followers situation changed!
What I am saying, Don’t give up on God!
Give Him time to work in your situation!!
Don’t ever believe that God can’t use, that God can’t forgive you! Because He can!!
Acts 1:24-25-And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.”
Judas went his own way and because he went his own way, he went to his own place.
Judas went to his own place because he choose to go to his own place.
God was finishing up His plan of redemption…His Son had been born, His Son had lived, His Son had taught, had healed, had forgiven, had set free, had delivered, then had died on cross, having taken upon Himself every sin of mankind!
The best part hadn’t even happen yet, the finish work of God….The Resurrection Of His Son!
Just think of Jesus and how He must have felt, knowing that Judas ended for himself, any chance of accepting God’s redemptive plan!
That’s why Jesus came, so that He could save sinners!
So that no human being would end up, in a place called Hell!
If Judas went to hell it wouldn’t be because he committed suicide, it would be because he did not accept Jesus as his savior!
