Betrayal and Denial
We are coming into the passage of the Gospel of John where Jesus predicts the betrayal of Judas Iscariot and Simon Peter’s three denials. Both of these disciples were tempted by Satan and failed to do the right thing. Though, only one truly had the heart and passion to repent.
As I was thinking about these two disciples today, I came to realize how it relates to us being tempted and tried by Satan. That in order to know if Jesus is the cornerstone of our lives, we have to go through trials and sorrows. We know that Satan wanted to sift both Judas Iscariot and Peter like wheat (Luke 22:31). Though, only Peter passed the test and grew stronger from it. Judas failed to show that he had made Jesus his Lord and never truly repented from his sin.
What can we take from Judas’ actions?
Judas did all he did in secret and his god was money. He couldn’t see beyond the money bag and could not see Jesus for who he really was or what He came to do. We may never know all the motivations behind what led Judas to do what he did or why he followed Jesus for as long as he did. We do read that He never argued with Jesus or tried to defend his actions at the supper, but only left to go and do what he had planned to do. He still had a chance to repent and turn back, but was not able to do so.
Peter, on the other hand, wanted to be the leader and wanted to be right in all that He did. He believed that He would be the last person to ever leave the side of Jesus or to deny Him. Yet, Jesus was pointing out that there was something still there, that Peter was clouded in his actions and thoughts. Only a true trial would reveal it, but Satan wanted to use this to turn Peter away from Jesus for good. Instead, once the denials happened, Peter had true sorrow that led to repentance. Judas’ sorrow did not.
The conclusion is this. Everyone may claim to be a Christian, though, if Jesus is truly the center of our lives, the trials will show this. Either we will fall away and blame God for all that is wrong in this world and our lives, or we will rely on Jesus more than ever before. When our lives crumble around us, what remains is what you have built your house on.
So, have you built your house on Jesus or on the shifting sand?
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”Luke 6:46-49