A Guilty Conscience
Scripture: Matthew 27:3-5
"When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.” “What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.” 5 Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself."
Observations:
After realizing that he had betrayed an innocent man to death, Judas, one of Jesus' closest followers, began to experience the guilt and regret for his actions and attempted to return the money he had been given in exchange for his betrayal in hopes of easing his conscience. However, no degree of restitution on his part could ever make right what He had done. Unfortunately, as a result of his failed attempt to fix things himself, Judas, lonely and depressed, forfeited God's forgiveness and sealed his own fate by committing suicide falling on his own sword.
Application:
The fact that Judas felt guilty about what he had done to Jesus did not have to turn out the way that it did. The fact that we feel guilty about our sins is God's mercy to us letting us know that we are in fact guilty and that we are in need of forgiveness. Unfortunately, like Judas, a lot of times instead of turning to God and allowing Him to deal with our sins, we try and fix it ourselves by doing what we think is right simply to appease our conscience. But God's Word reminds us today that "our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean..." (Hebrews 10:22) and that there's nothing we can do apart from that cleansing that can ever make things right. Whatever it is that you still feel guilty about and makes you question whether God could or ever should forgive you, take time and talk to God today and allow the blood of His Son to wash away the guilt and make things right again. If you need forgiveness today remember His promise, "if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." (1 John 1:9). There's no sin He can't forgive and no conscience to stained that can't be cleansed by the blood of Christ.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the blood of Jesus that was spilled on our behalf to cleanse us from all of the things we have done and all of the guilt and shame they have brought into our lives. We ask for your cleansing to wash away our sins and forgive us as we turn again to you and trust in Your grace and mercy. We accept that Your grace is enough to forgive us and accept that we are forgiven and free because we have received Your cleansing today. Amen.
"When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.” “What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.” 5 Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself."
Observations:
After realizing that he had betrayed an innocent man to death, Judas, one of Jesus' closest followers, began to experience the guilt and regret for his actions and attempted to return the money he had been given in exchange for his betrayal in hopes of easing his conscience. However, no degree of restitution on his part could ever make right what He had done. Unfortunately, as a result of his failed attempt to fix things himself, Judas, lonely and depressed, forfeited God's forgiveness and sealed his own fate by committing suicide falling on his own sword.
Application:
The fact that Judas felt guilty about what he had done to Jesus did not have to turn out the way that it did. The fact that we feel guilty about our sins is God's mercy to us letting us know that we are in fact guilty and that we are in need of forgiveness. Unfortunately, like Judas, a lot of times instead of turning to God and allowing Him to deal with our sins, we try and fix it ourselves by doing what we think is right simply to appease our conscience. But God's Word reminds us today that "our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean..." (Hebrews 10:22) and that there's nothing we can do apart from that cleansing that can ever make things right. Whatever it is that you still feel guilty about and makes you question whether God could or ever should forgive you, take time and talk to God today and allow the blood of His Son to wash away the guilt and make things right again. If you need forgiveness today remember His promise, "if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." (1 John 1:9). There's no sin He can't forgive and no conscience to stained that can't be cleansed by the blood of Christ.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the blood of Jesus that was spilled on our behalf to cleanse us from all of the things we have done and all of the guilt and shame they have brought into our lives. We ask for your cleansing to wash away our sins and forgive us as we turn again to you and trust in Your grace and mercy. We accept that Your grace is enough to forgive us and accept that we are forgiven and free because we have received Your cleansing today. Amen.
Here again, I have problems believing that Judas acted on his own. God was in control of the entire situation to fulfill the prophecies spoken in the "Old Testement". He directed Judas (a pawn in God's plan) to be the traitor, and then revealed to him what he (Judas) had done. And Judas (man)tried to right the wrong (return the money; as if to buy back Jesus' freedom), and could not. He committed suicide when he realized he had no control of his actions and could not change what would be the outcome of those actions. More proof of this is in the fact that Jesus was known to everyone because he preached there everyday. So why would he need to be "kissed" before the guards would know who it was they were to arrest. This entire senario was quided by God to fulfill the prophecies.
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