Mathew 27: 1 – 10
Nothing is quite as hurtful as betrayal, both sides of the betrayal are usually devastated by it.
I know the pain of being thrown under the bus, and, if I am to remain truthful, I unfortunately know the guilt of throwing someone under the bus.
The reasons we do these things varies from things like jealousy, to fear, money, etc.
Mathew writes in his account of the betrayal of Jesus by Judas, that the guilt we can feel can be paralyzing. Judas could no longer go on. He saw no other option of relieving his guilt other than to take his own life.
1 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death.
2 They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.
3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders.
4 "I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied. "That’s your responsibility."
5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
When we make choices to betray each other, we feel the guilt, but we move on with our lives and act as if we really did do it, eventually we begin to believe that lie and we hide our actions from ourselves.
When we make choices that betray Jesus, eventually our lives become filled with sorrow. Even well-intentioned followers find that their desire to love and serve Him is frequently on a collision course with the lure of cash or other seductions. But the things we have gained at His expense ultimately and inevitably become clanging symbols of sorrow and regret.
How on earth can we reconcile our guilt over this?
On earth there is no answer, or reconciliation. There is only the forgiveness and salvation offered by Jesus himself. Thankfully we can go to him and admit our wrongs and have that guilt washed away. And, the cool thing is he offers that freedom with no strings attached. He will not only offer forgiveness for our sins against him, but for our sins against each other.
(which is really sinning against God anyway)
Nothing is quite as hurtful as betrayal, both sides of the betrayal are usually devastated by it.
I know the pain of being thrown under the bus, and, if I am to remain truthful, I unfortunately know the guilt of throwing someone under the bus.
The reasons we do these things varies from things like jealousy, to fear, money, etc.
Mathew writes in his account of the betrayal of Jesus by Judas, that the guilt we can feel can be paralyzing. Judas could no longer go on. He saw no other option of relieving his guilt other than to take his own life.
1 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death.
2 They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.
3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders.
4 "I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied. "That’s your responsibility."
5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
When we make choices to betray each other, we feel the guilt, but we move on with our lives and act as if we really did do it, eventually we begin to believe that lie and we hide our actions from ourselves.
When we make choices that betray Jesus, eventually our lives become filled with sorrow. Even well-intentioned followers find that their desire to love and serve Him is frequently on a collision course with the lure of cash or other seductions. But the things we have gained at His expense ultimately and inevitably become clanging symbols of sorrow and regret.
How on earth can we reconcile our guilt over this?
On earth there is no answer, or reconciliation. There is only the forgiveness and salvation offered by Jesus himself. Thankfully we can go to him and admit our wrongs and have that guilt washed away. And, the cool thing is he offers that freedom with no strings attached. He will not only offer forgiveness for our sins against him, but for our sins against each other.
(which is really sinning against God anyway)
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