I’m amazed that Judas, after living three years with Jesus, sold Jesus out to people opposed to Jesus, people who straightaway had Jesus executed as a criminal. I hope I will never do anything like that, but, I suppose every time I sin, I sell out Jesus in a similar manner. What hope would I have if my betrayal had such enormous consequences that Jesus was condemned to death before my very eyes? I often thought about this. If I were Judas, the only hope I would have, is to admit I was wrong and ask for forgiveness.
Suppose Judas did this. No matter what motivation Judas had in betraying Jesus, Judas soon realized that the High Priest did not want Jesus to question him but to have Jesus brought to trial as a blasphemer and executed. Judas witnessed this. The enormity of what he did, even if he was mistaken about the outcome, the enormity caused him to commit suicide. He obviously knew he had done wrong, but he committed suicide.
What if he, as soon as he realized he had done wrong, admitted he had done wrong and tried to undo it and ask for forgiveness? He did throw the pieces of silver at the High Priest and said: “I have sinned by betraying an innocent man to death!” It took some courage to confront these people who did not hesitate to have Jesus killed. What if his courage enticed him to try to rescue Jesus; try to stop the execution? He would have failed, of course, they would have killed Judas outright. But look at the example he would have set.
He was a sinner but not that much worse than me. I have often betrayed Jesus by my sins. Judas could have been a repented sinner who tried to undo his sin and, hopefully, would have asked to be forgiven. This is what Jesus entered the world for: to encourage sinners to repent and ask for forgiveness. Those in authority who hated Jesus would probably have killed Judas if he interfered with the trail, but Judas would then have been the first martyr. He could also have been an outstanding example for me and could have been a consolation for Jesus who would have seen him become repented and martyred for it right in front of Jesus’ eyes.
Maurice A. Williams
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