Two men, two disciples of Christ, Peter and Judas, both felt remorse

Matthew 26:69-27:14 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a slave woman came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” ⁷⁰ But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” ⁷¹ When he had gone out to the gateway, another slave woman saw him and *said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” ⁷² And again he denied it, with an oath: “I do not know the man.” ⁷³ A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “You really are one of them as well, since even the way you talk gives you away.” ⁷⁴ Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ And Peter remembered the statement that Jesus had made: “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

27 Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death; ² and they bound Him and led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate the governor.

³ Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, ⁴ saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You shall see to it yourself!” ⁵ And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and left; and he went away and hanged himself. ⁶ The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It is not lawful to put them in the temple treasury, since it is money paid for blood.” ⁷ And they conferred together and with the money bought the Potter’s Field as a burial place for strangers. ⁸ For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. ⁹ Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the One whose price had been set by the sons of Israel; ¹⁰ and they gave them for the Potter’s Field, just as the Lord directed me.”

¹¹ Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, “So You are the King of the Jews?” And Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” ¹² And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not offer any answer. ¹³ Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they are testifying against You?” ¹⁴ And still He did not answer him in regard to even a single charge, so the governor was greatly amazed.

Today’s text says: Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a slave woman came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” When he had gone out to the gateway, another slave woman saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it, with an oath: “I do not know the man.” A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “You really are one of them as well, since even the way you talk gives you away.” Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the statement that Jesus had made: “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death; and they bound Him and led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate the governor.  Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You shall see to it yourself!” And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and left; and he went away and hanged himself. 

Two men, two disciples of Christ, Peter and Judas, both felt remorse for what they said and did, but the two had very different reactions. Peter wept bitterly, but returned to Jesus in repentance. He became an outspoken witness for Christ. He spent the rest of his life in service to the one he denied. Still, it was not his works of service that saved him. It was his acceptance of Jesus work on the cross that saved him. Judas also felt remorse. He though turned to those with whom he conspired. Finding no satisfaction from them, he tried to pay for his sin himself. It is true and perhaps no better demonstrated than by Judas and Peter, that what Romans 6:23 says is true: The wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. If we choose our own way like Judas, death will be the result. There is nothing any of us can do to justify ourselves. Romans 3:23 says:  All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.   Instead, like Peter, we need to weep in repentance turning back to the Lord. Then we will receive the gracious gift of eternal life. 1 John 1:9 says:  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The sin of denial of Christ is not unforgivable. Even to betray Jesus could be forgiven. The only sin that is unforgivable, is the sin that we refuse to confess and repent from.  In Mark 3:28-29 Jesus says: “Truly I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons and daughters of men, and whatever blasphemies they commit; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”  To sin against the Holy Spirit it is to reject the conviction of our sins. It is to reject the grace of God which cleanses us from sin. It is choosing our way over God’s way.  

May the words of the psalmist be our declaration and prayer.  Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithfulness; According to the greatness of Your compassion, wipe out my wrongdoings. Wash me thoroughly from my guilt And cleanse me from my sin. For I know my wrongdoings, And my sin is constantly before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge. Behold, I was brought forth in guilt, And in sin my mother conceived me.  Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in secret You will make wisdom known to me. Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; Cleanse me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness, Let the bones You have broken rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins And wipe out all my guilty deeds. Create in me a clean heart, God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And sustain me with a willing spirit.  Amen.