Matthew 27:3 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, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!”

Have you ever messed up?  You’ve done something that could benefit you, then after doing it realized it went against everything you thought you stood for.  I’ve been there, several times; If I can be honest with you.  I’ve found myself thinking how’d I get here?  This is where we find Judas “Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful.”  He’s so remorseful in fact he attempts to correct his wrong, but to no avail.  Judas did what so many of us do but it is indeed one of the worst things we can do; condemn ourselves.

Judas was one of the original 12 disciples; so, he could not have been that bad of a guy.  He was with Jesus doing good throughout Israel and was well thought of.  Judas, not unlike many of us just  made a huge mistake, but haven’t others made similar mistakes right???  Jesus told the disciples that later that evening Judas would betray him (Matthew 26:21-23).  However, Judas was not the only one who received such a declaration.  Jesus in that same chapter, during that same evening told Peter that he would betray him 3 times (Matthew 26:34).  Was one worst than the other??  Both are disciples of Christ and both would betray Jesus; yet one disciple would take his own life and forever be known as a betrayer while the other one would become the rock in which Christ built His church.  Judas and Peter both spent 3 years with Jesus, living under his teachings and seeing all the miracles he worked.  So how did they respond so differently?

It is ok & normal to feel remorse for a mistake/failure.  Honestly, if you don’t then that’s where there should be real concern.  Both disciples would experience remorse for their actions, however, Judas remained condemned while Peter’s remorse led him to repentance.    Judas was feeling condemned and took actions according to that feeling.  Condemnation is a personal sentencing; it is when you punish yourself by giving yourself a lasting sentence of guilt.  The devil loves and lives in condemnation; it is what he is living in and wants all of God’s children live under the same curse.  The problem with condemnation is that we align our thoughts with Satan and not God.  Jesus died so that we all would have the opportunity to become the righteousness of God in Christ.  Judas acted quickly after feeling condemned taking his own life out of guilt on Friday.  If only he could have been around to experience the resurrection life Jesus would give us all on Sunday.  It is extremely important that we do not take drastic actions immediately after a failure.

Paul makes it clear in Romans “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”  Peter who knew Jesus as “the Son of the Living God” (Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven,) was also feeling condemned.  However, he did not take the same steps Judas did.  I would like to tell you that it was because Peter knew Jesus would forgive him and he believed that Jesus would rise from the grave like the scriptures had predicted.  But the truth is we will never know why, we just know that he did not.  And because he didn’t Peter was able to see Jesus’ resurrected body, rejoice in the fulfillment of scripture and ultimately be forgiven for his betrayal.  Peter would become the center of the Christian Church and one of the most famous apostles even after betraying Jesus.  So why do you think you can never be forgiven??  Maybe all throughout your life many have told you about church or religion and you’ve never had the chance to meet Jesus the Christ.  Well I want to tell you about Jesus.

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

If you fail or make a mistake; Jesus has made it possible for you to be remorseful and forgiven.  Believe in Jesus and the fact that He died for your sins to be forgiven and remember Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…