What To Remember When Remorse Seizes You Preview

Then when Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he felt remorse. He brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders and said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? That’s your problem.” (Matthew 27:3–4)

Judas had a problem. He was greedy and money hungry. For three years he had followed Jesus. On multiple occasions he heard Jesus prophecy that he would go to Jerusalem and die. Judas knew what would happen to Jesus when he betrayed him. yet Judas was so hungry for money that he was willing to betray his rabbi for thirty pieces of silver.

However, moments after Jesus was sentenced to death, the guilt and the remorse set in for Judas. How could he have betrayed the one who had taught him about the kingdom of God? How could he have betrayed the only person who truly did no wrong? How could he have done such a wicked thing and sinned against God?

Unfortunately, Judas thought that the only solution to this guilt and grief was to return the money and hang himself. He did this because he had allowed Satan to walk into his heart and make a home there. He allowed the devil to entice him to take his life rather than turn to the one whom he had betrayed for forgiveness.

While we never want to compare ourselves to Judas or admit to the level of evil that Judas stooped to, we have to admit that there are times when we know something is wrong and sinful, but we are so determined to do it or have it, that we don’t always consider the outcome, or who we are hurting. We go to great lengths to fulfill our desires and accomplish our plans.

But when we have completed our quest for evil, we realize the outcome and we ask ourselves “how could we have?” How could we have hurt so many people and sinned against God in such a way, so deliberately? And the guilt and the remorse seize us. When this happens, may we remember the reason for which Jesus was betrayed and sentenced to death. May we do what Judas failed to do, and turn to our savior for the full forgiveness of our sins. Jesus allowed himself to be betrayed by Judas so that all sin, including ours, could be (and would be) forgiven, taken away from us. That is the compassion that our God has had for us. Amen.

The song for today is “Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted” by Fernando Ortega

Fernando Ortega, "Stricken, Smitten And Afflicted" (Lyric Video)