chathamumc.net In Matthew 26:33, Jesus tells Peter that he will betray Him. At this point, Peter has grown through his relationship with Jesus, but still is not the apostle and leader that we think of him as today. Peters says that he would never deny Jesus, but that very night he does so (Matthew 26:69-75) as he gives in to fear. He is so dejected that, as Matthew recounts, he "wept bitterly" (Matthew 26:75). Peter immediately realized what he had done. But that is not the end of his story. He grows and becomes one of the church's most passionate leaders. Fear will affect everyone. But it is what you do afterwards that determines what that effect is. Judas also betrayed Jesus (Matthew 26:47-49). He betrayed his friends. Yes, he did it for money, but I think he was also afraid, like Peter. Judas knew that the chief priests wanted to be rid of Jesus and everything-- and everyone-- associated with Him. So Judas succumbed to fear and chased after what he thought was the winning side, rather than seeking out the Truth. Judas, too, was ridden with guilt after he committed this betrayal. Rather than returning like Peter, coming back from the fear, Judas hung himself (Matthew 27:5). Judas did not live to witness the Resurrection. Can you imagine how different his life would have been if he could have accepted forgiveness and used his past to grow, rather than letting his past kill any hope for a future? But, this is what Jesus's love, ultimate sacrifice, and forgiveness mean for you and me. It means that even in our weakness, we can still experience God's grace in salvation through Jesus Christ, and thrive in our future. Over 2000 years ago, Jesus died for humanity. He was beaten and humiliated and brutally murdered for telling us about His kingdom, His love, grace, salvation, and, yes, forgiveness. I believe that Jesus forgave Judas. Not because that was God's plan and Jesus knew all along that Judas would betray Him. Not out of some reluctant feeling of obligation. I believe that Jesus forgave Judas because He loved him. And Judas died without that reassurance. I believe that Judas died thinking that he had betrayed one of his closest friends and that there was no redeeming himself. Judas was right... partially. He had no way to redeem himself. We do not have any way to redeem ourselves from our past, our failures, or our mistakes. But Jesus can. I believe with all my heart that Jesus can redeem us all from our pasts. We no longer have to live in fear and guilt. Jesus died on the cross as a sacrifice for all of our sins. Romans 6:23 says that the penalty for sin is death. The only way to get rid of the stain of sin is through death. But God loves us so much that He was willing to send Jesus to die for all of humanity-- past, present, and future. Jesus, who is God and free of sin, came to Earth and died for you and me, in order to clear our debt. Jesus's death on the cross forgave the sin of the world. What other king do you know of who came to His people, died for them, and saved them for all eternity, without asking for anything in return? I'd say that puts the "good" in Good Friday, wouldn't you?
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