The story of Judas is one of the most tragic stories in human history. The name Judas is synonymous with being a traitor, a quisling, a turncoat. At the worst he has been portrayed as the most evil of villains or at the least as in “Jesus Christ Superstar” has been portrayed as a misguided loyal idealist with pure intentions trying to force Jesus’ hand in overthrowing the Romans.

In Matthew’s gospel we see a pretty grim picture of this man, this disciple of Jesus, who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Judas hit rock bottom, and tried to undo what he had done.

Have you ever tried to undo something that you have done? Some years ago my brother and I engaged ourselves in one of our best pillow fights ever. We were both in high school and I am proud to tell you that in that pillow fight I conducted one of the finest pillow-fight maneuvers of all-time. We were in our shared bedroom. As we were swinging our pillows at each other, I came across his mid-section doubling him over. I spun around with a solid hit on the top of his head driving him rear-end into our bedroom door. I rejoiced in this marvelous maneuver for all of 2 seconds. Our bedroom door was installed in the 1920s, back when bedroom doors were bedroom doors and not just a slab of wood. It was a fancy door with an inlaid panel surrounded by various levels of woodwork and thickness. When my brother’s posterior end, driven by the force of my mighty hand, made contact with that inlaid panel, it wasn’t inlaid anymore. Being the astute carpenters that we were we quickly found some wood glue, put all the pieces back together, and in a pure stroke of genius even rubbed dirt into the seams to make it look more natural and hide the damage. Needless to say, it wasn’t hidden for long.

That bedroom door stands to this day as a monumental reminder that you cannot undo what you have already done! Have you ever tried to put toothpaste back into the tube? Can’t be done. What is done is done and what is said is said and it is too late to undo it.

Either Judas didn’t care what he was doing or he thought he knew what he was doing and it backfired on him. In any case how do you handle it when you’ve done a Judas thing? Ignore it and hope it will go away? Get all defensive-like and try to justify it? One thing about Judas that I have always appreciated was his response and honesty in his betrayal. His plan backfired in his face and he owned up to it and confessed it. Look again at vs 4, “He went to the chief priests and confessed, ‘I have sinned for I have betrayed innocent blood.’” Notice that Judas called it for what it was—not a mistake, or misunderstanding, nor even a miscommunication. He called it a sin. He didn’t ignore it, cover it up, or play mind-games. “I have sinned.”

Look at the response of the religious leaders, those who were the shepherds of God’s people, “What is that to us? That’s your responsibility.” Sin is never a private or personal matter. It is always a social thing begins our personal and private sins affect other people—always. John Donne wrote true when he penned, “No man is an island; no man stands alone.” While sin is social, it is ultimately our personal responsibility. We can’t blame someone else—what they did or didn’t do. We can’t excuse ourselves nor justify ourselves. As understandable as that sin might be—sin is sin.

When you do the Judas thing, handling it like he did is the first thing. He acknowledged the error of his ways and confessed it. However, I would not recommend Judas’ second step in which he hanged himself. This is definitely not a part of God’s plan for salvation nor for the abundant life. The tragic part is that Judas did not know or understand that forgiveness was available and that forgiveness could wipe away the guilt, shame and remorse of his sin. He couldn’t undo what he had done, but he could be forgiven for what he had done.

Alexander Maclaren, the great Scottish preacher, declared, “I do no suppose Judas was lost because he betrayed Jesus, but because, having betrayed Jesus, he never asked for forgiveness.” That the second step—asking for forgiveness—from both God and the one or ones we have sinned against, as well as being able to forgive ourselves. Please know that there is NO sin too great for God’s forgiveness. Jesus died on Calvary’s cross for ALL sin. There is no sin but that God’s grace and forgiveness is greater still.

The Apostle John in his letter admonished us not to sin, but then added that if we do sin and if we confess those sins, then Jesus will forgive those sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If Judas died without hope and pardon it was not because forgiveness was not available. It was because forgiveness had never been asked for. Hear David’s words from Psalm 32, “Blessed is he who transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit there is no deceit…. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’ and You forgave the guilt of my sin.”

God’s forgiveness is one of the greatest experiences and treasures we have. Your willingness to forgive others for their offenses is one of the most powerful forces in our world today.

Let me invite you this morning to partake of the Lord’s Supper using the words of Isaiah, “Come, let us reason together, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”

Thank You for Taking The Time to Read This Message.
May God Use These Words to Help You and Strengthen You.