There Is Hope

When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. [Matthew 27.3]

There is a reason God wants our full attention. There is a reason God desires that our eyes see and our ears hear and that our hearts are full of understanding. That reason is our own salvation - that reason is for our own good.

Judas, who we understand from the Gospels, was the one who kept up with the group's money. In fact, it was also commonly known that Judas was 'skimming off the top' - taking money for himself.

Judas was an integral part of Jesus' ministry. We have every reason to believe that Judas participated in healings and preaching the Good News. He was, after all, "one of them." He was "sent" just like the rest of them.

The passage above however reveals a critical error on Judas' part: he wasn't paying very good attention. Although all the other disciples didn't necessarily like it, or perhaps even understand it, they had paid enough attention to know Jesus had said He was going to die. Judas, instead, was focused on the money and failed to even ponder what Jesus' prediction of His death could mean.

It could be argued here that all the other disciples had not effectively 'digested' Jesus' prediction of His death either. Peter comes to mind in his blatant denial of even knowing Jesus. What made Judas really any different from Peter? They both betrayed Jesus.

Wow. The fact is, both Peter and Judas betrayed Jesus: Judas for money, and Peter for fear.

Here is where I am going to give my opinion. So, what I am saying here should only be taken for what an opinion is worth...

If the chronological arrangement of the One Year Chronological Bible is even somewhat accurate, Judas and Peter both were present at Jesus' trial long enough to know that He was condemned to die. Peter's denial is then described including his departure and remorse, and then Judas' departure is described, including his remorse. So far, there is not a whole lot of difference seen between the betrayers Peter and Judas.

We can only imagine what Peter did after he left broken-hearted following his denial of Jesus - as we are not told. However, I am going to suggest that Peter went out and thought about it and found a thread of hope, albeit ever so small, in remembering that Jesus said He would rise from the dead. Peter had paid enough attention to find hope and forgiveness in Jesus' resurrection.

Judas, on the other hand, obviously had not paid attention and had no recollection of any resurrection talk and consequently found himself in a dark place of utter and hopeless despair. Judas had no anticipation of Jesus' resurrection and subsequent forgiveness and so he killed himself.

No matter what circumstances we find ourselves in - no matter how we fail in living with Jesus on earth - IF WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION, there remains a resurrection... Jesus' resurrection establishes hope - something Peter held on to and something Judas had failed to see in his distraction with material things.

How might Judas' situation have ended had he grasped the hope of Jesus rising from the dead so that he could repent and be restored?

Perhaps I am simply pandering to emotion today. I think it prudent though, in the midst of our trials and tribulations, our shortcomings and failures, and our confusion of the facts, that we not lose sight of Jesus' resurrection - Jesus' glorious, redeeming, restoring, resurrection. No matter how hard our lives are, Jesus' resurrection stands as a beacon of hope - even if we can see no other light anywhere else (and particularly in ourselves). It all starts with Jesus' resurrection. It all hinges on Jesus' resurrection. It all depends on Jesus' resurrection... And, our resurrection with Him. 

Betrayer Judas didn't hang around to see - but betrayer Peter did. Peter was gloriously restored. Judas, well...

Are we paying attention? Are we paying attention to Jesus' resurrection? Are we paying attention to His Second Coming? He did say He was coming back! We have this life to enjoy Jesus' resurrection from physical death and we have hope in His Second Coming that we might enjoy His resurrection from sin through all eternity with Him. THERE IS HOPE! THERE IS REASON TO HANG AROUND TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!

There is also great reason to make every effort to ignore materialism. Materialism blinded Judas. Money truly is the root of all evil.

Father, I have hope in You today. Jesus' resurrection still gives hope today. Jesus' return still gives hope today. I just want to know Jesus more and the world less so that hope remains! Yes.