I know of no more poignant contrast between two human destinies than that of Peter and Judas.
Both assumed leadership within the group of Jesus’ disciples.
Both saw and heard wondrous things.
Both went through the same dithery cycle of hope, fear, and disillusionment.
As the stakes increased, both denied their Master.
There, the similarity breaks off. Judas, remorseful but apparently unrepentant, accepted the logical consequences of his deed, took his own life, and went down as the greatest traitor in history. He died unwilling to receive what Jesus had come to offer him. Peter, humiliated but still open to Jesus’ message of grace and forgiveness, went on to lead a revival in Jerusalem and did not stop until he had reached Rome.
–Philip Yancey
And we are all in the same boat as Peter and Judas. We will all go through cycles of hope, fear, and disillusionment. We will all rebel against Jesus. The question will be whether we will remain open to Jesus’ message of grace and forgiveness. Or will we let our shame be used like a dagger twisting into our hearts and consciences to the point that we believe the lie: God could never forgive me for ____________ (fill in the blank with your most difficult sin).
Sin is serious. Sin is tragic. But the greater tragedy is not confessing our sin to Jesus and allowing Him to cleanse us from all of our unrighteousness. Never forget that Peter and Judas were in the same boat, both engaging in the terrible sin of denying Jesus. But Jesus forgave Peter because he came to Him with a repentant heart. And Jesus was willing to forgive Judas. Judas just refused to come to Jesus with a repentant heart. Don’t make the tragic mistake of Judas.