Betrayal and Repentance

             Within a few short hours on that Friday morning, Jesus was betrayed by each of the twelve men He had done life with for the past three years.  They had been His constant companions, watching His miracles, hearing His teaching, and spending countless intimate hours trying to understand His message.  Yet, when everything seemed to be spinning out of control, they each, in their own way, betrayed Him.

            Betrayal has consequences, not just for the one who is betrayed, but for the betrayer as well.  We see those consequences played out in different ways with the disciples.

            Although Judas’ betrayal began sometime before that fateful night when he first conspired to deliver Christ to the Pharisees, it culminated in the infamous “kiss”.  The “kiss” was no surprise to Christ.  He even prompted Judas to “do what you came for” (Matt. 26: 50).  Judas was the one who was surprised!  If he was expecting a revolution, he was most likely shocked when Jesus ordered Peter to put down the sword.  That would not have been the reaction that he expected.  As he followed the events of the evening and saw that Christ was being condemned to death, the Scripture tells us that he was “seized with remorse” (Matt. 27:3).  He didn’t seek forgiveness.  He didn’t try to right the wrong that he had done.  He ended his suffering by taking his life.

            Judas wasn’t the only betrayer that fateful night.  After Christ was taken into custody, the Scripture tells us that “all the disciples deserted Him and fled” (Matt. 26: 56).  Just a few short hours earlier, they had all questioned whether any one of them could ever deny Jesus but when things seemed to be going from bad to worse, they took the easy way out.  They fled.

            And then there was Peter.  Peter was the one who boldly stated, “Even if all fall away, I will not” (Mark 14: 29).  He even vowed to die rather than deny Christ. Within hours after making those statements, his attitude changed as he began to fear being connected with Jesus.  Just as Jesus had predicted, before the rooster crowed, he denied Christ three times. When the rubber met the road, he betrayed Christ just as Judas and the other disciples had done. 

            What’s the difference between all these betrayals?  Judas showed remorse but apparently, it was more for the fact that his planned revolt had failed, so he took the coward’s way out. The desertion of the other disciples is not addressed in Scripture.  We know that after His resurrection, Jesus told the women that He encountered to go tell the disciples that He had risen.  We know that He reunited with them and commissioned them to take the Good News to the world, so it is obvious that He did not hold their momentary lapse in loyalty against them.

            Peter was always the bull in the China shop.  He refused to let Jesus wash His feet and then, hearing Jesus’ explanation, he asked Him to wash his whole body.  He was the one who immediately attacked with the sword at Jesus’ arrest.  He was also the one who loudly proclaimed that he would never deny Jesus.  He was the one who “wept bitterly” when he realized the magnitude of his betrayal.

            We’ve all betrayed Jesus at some point.  It may have been when we tried to run away from a ministry moment that Christ put before us.  It may have been those moments when we stood in the background, afraid to stand up and defend our faith.  It may have been our denial and refusal to obey those promptings of the Holy Spirit.  It may have been those times of disobedience.

            The good news is that Jesus is merciful and forgiving.  When we repent and turn back to Him, He forgives us.  Remorse and repentance are not necessarily the same thing.  Judas showed remorse but there is no indication that he showed repentance.  The disciples’ repentance, while not spelled out in Scripture, is certainly implied by their actions and by Jesus’ acceptance of them.  Peter was filled with both remorse and repentance.  Jesus knew his heart and when they met on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus gave him the same command three times: “Feed my sheep”.  With these words, He reassured Peter that all was forgiven.

            Whatever your betrayal, it’s not too late.  Jesus is waiting with open arms.  You just need to repent and ask for forgiveness.  He won’t turn His back on you.  He is a merciful and gracious God!      

I John 1: 9