March 24, 2010

” Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over. 12 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus' disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?" 13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, 'The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' 15 He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there." 16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. 17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me--one who is eating with me." 19 They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, "Surely not I?" 20 "It is one of the Twelve," he replied, "one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 21 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born." Mark 14: 10-21

Judas. What does that name bring to your mind? It’s one thing to sin and every sin is a betrayal, but Judas wasn’t just a part of the crowd, he was Jesus friend. To be betrayed by a friend is a deep, deep wound, perhaps a bit like the infidelity of your spouse. The seriousness of this is seen at the end of verse 21. It is not only terrible for Jesus and the other disciples but it is terrible for the betrayer. How does one live with that?

Obviously not well. Judas hanged himself. He just couldn’t live with the pain of his betrayal. Is Judas in heaven now? The scriptures indicate that he is not (vs 21, John 6:70, 17:12). Why not since his despair and regret were obvious?

Scripture teaches that anyone who “gets into heaven” gets there by the grace of God –literally. Only Grace. There is nothing in me or you that deserves it. Yet Jesus died 2,000 years ago on the cross to save every single person on the planet and reserve a place for him or her in the new creation. When was I saved? 2,000 years ago on the cross. Yet I must choose to accept it. I must say to God, Thy will be done.

Judas chose to live in remorse. He didn’t return to God and ask forgiveness. There’s a big difference between remorse and repentance. Remorse leaves us in our sin. Repentance means we’ve turn around, gone back to where we went wrong , got things right with God and others and then go a new direction. Judas chose the former.

He has much to teach us.