Devotionals

Just Like Judas

When reading God's word, it's easy for us to shake our heads at Judas, who betrayed Jesus for money. Peter also betrayed Jesus, denying that he knew him three times before morning the next day.

These two men were disciples of Jesus. They had been with him through many things, heard all His sermons, and were explained in depth the meaning of those sermons, saw the miracles that He had performed, and were good friends of Jesus. Yet, they still betrayed Him.

So, let's talk about Judas first. Judas approached the chief priests (who were seeking to kill Jesus) and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?" (Matthew 26:14-15 NKJV) They decided that 30 pieces of silver should be enough-and offered it to Judas. Afterward, it is said in verse 16 that "from that time he sought opportunity to betray [Jesus]." After betraying Jesus into the hands of the chief priests, Judas was remorseful, as we're told in Matthew 27: 3-5 (NKJV).

3. "Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

4. Saying, 'I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.' And they said, 'What is that to us? You see to it!'

5. Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself."

Then, Peter betrays Jesus, after being told at the last supper, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times" (Matthew 26:34 NKJV). Peter told Jesus at the last supper that he would not betray him.

We see later that Peter's word has nothing on Jesus', though, as he goes on to deny knowing Jesus three times that night. Once the rooster crowed after Peter's third denial, he remembered the words of Jesus and went and cried bitterly by the end of the 26th chapter of Matthew.

Two men, both avid followers of Christ up until these points toward the death of Jesus, betrayed their savior. It's easy to think of them poorly for doing so, but consider this: how many times have you betrayed Jesus?

Have you denied knowing Him under pressure? Pushed aside the thought of Him and watched porn instead? Decided that Jesus takes a backseat to pleasure and that it's okay to curse, even just once? Caved into doing things that you're not proud of? We all have.

Think of it this way. We're just like Judas. We take the temptations of this world and trade them for our Savior. We're just like Peter. We take our lust, hate, blasphemies, and other sins and deny them, only to find ourselves doing exactly what we said we wouldn't do.

There is a way, though, to escape the madness and be avid followers of Christ who won't betray our savior for sin. Jesus tells us in Matthew 26:41 (NKJV), "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Pray about your temptations! God is willing to accept your prayer. He will listen to you! You can get through without giving in. If you confess your sins, He is just and will forgive you. Repentance takes work (as in, not just apologizing, but turning away from your sin), but it is possible.

Think you're unforgivable? That your sin is too great to be forgiven and taken care of, covered under the blood of Christ?

Take this verse into consideration: Matthew 12:31 (NKJV) says, "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men."

There will be more on the unforgivable sin in the next devotional. Stay tuned!

SUMMARY

We're just like the biblical betrayers of Jesus: Judas and Peter. We do the same things in our own lives! Through prayer, we can strengthen our spirits and be avid followers of Christ. Through repentance and confession, God will forgive us our debts and cover us under the blood of Christ. You can get through without giving in!

Need help or to talk? Reach out to us @FlourishMinistries or to me personally, @NBNiar. We don't have all the answers, but we'd be glad to talk with you!

NBNiar