If Judas Would Have Waited…
Mattew 27:3-5 – Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
Reading the above text it is easy to deduce two things about Judas: he felt guilty for what he had done to Christ, and he was remorseful for his actions. Guilt and remorse are dealt with differently per individual. That fact is easily seen in the way Peter and Judas responded to their denial and betrayal respectively.
Peter went out and wept bitterly. He expressed his sorrow for denying Christ. He waited with the other disciples in the upper room. He ran to find the tomb empty after hearing what the women had to say about it. Then he saw Jesus. He witnessed Thomas’ breaking free from his doubt. He went fishing; and, again, Peter had an encounter with Jesus. This third encounter was one of spiritual revival for Peter. From then on he served the Lord with the passion he had promised he would prior to the crucifixion.
But Judas…
Judas didn’t wait in the upper room. Judas didn’t run to the empty tomb. Judas didn’t go fishing and have a conversation with Christ by the Sea of Galilee. Judas responded to his emotional guilt and remorse by committing suicide before Christ even died.
What if Judas would have waited?
Judas’ betrayal was a fulfillment of prophecy (Psalm 41:9, Acts 1:16); but his death was not. Judas did not have to die the way that he did. He didn’t have to die guilty and remorseful. His betrayal of Christ was not unforgivable. Jesus died for Judas! But Judas wouldn’t wait.
What if Judas would have waited?
We know he could have had an opportunity to be forgiven. We can’t speculate and add to the narrative of Scripture, but we do know that Jesus would have been willing to show Himself to Judas. If only Judas would have waited…
In conclusion there are two things I want to drive home to you, the reader:
- God is not willing that ANY should perish, but that all should come to repentance – 2 Peter 3:9. If you are dealing with sin and the guilt of that sin in your life, repent and experience His forgiveness right now. He died so you could be free from all sin. Your guilt and remorse is meant to draw you to Him, not to push you away. Respond like Peter did.
- The second point I want to make is this: give God time to work. If Judas would have just waited until Monday instead of making a rash decision, things could have been much different. The hours and days following the betrayal, God was finishing the work that would lead to our salvation, if even behind the scenes. If only Judas would have waited… Whatever the problem, the struggle, the sickness, the pain, etc., give God time to work. Be still and know that He is God. He is working. I promise you that!
Questions and comments can be submitted to Kenneth Crews at [email protected]