When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death.

2 They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor.

3 When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus a was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 He said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent b blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5 Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself.

Matthew 27:1-5

 

Only Matthew records this incident.

Response:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I feel sorry for Judas, Lord.

 

All right, he chose what he was going to do, he decided… and did it,

 

but was he so much worse than any of the others, Lord?

 

“Judas the traitor,” they said; but they were glad of a scapegoat:

it made them feel less guilty.

 

Yes, I know, he betrayed them too,

 

But you could have forgiven him, couldn’t you, Lord?

 

You were ready to forgive anyone, if only, like Peter, they would accept your forgiveness.

 

By the same mercy that held Peter you could have forgiven Judas … couldn’t you, Lord?

 

No one was more remorseful than he was but…

oh, that’s the saddest thing, isn’t it? he didn’t understand you well enough, didn’t know you well enough, despaired of your love, thought he was beyond forgiveness.

 

Let me never despair of your love.

 

Help me to know you well enough to know that there is nothing, nothing that is beyond your forgiving.

 

Response:

 

 

• Saved: Church, Lent