"When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me."
This text tells us that after he "repented himself" (Changed his mind after realizing the error in what he had done.) Judas took the blood money back to the high priest and threw it on the temple floor then went straightway and hanged himself.
Knowing what the children of God are taught about His grace, and knowing how it is freely offered to those who will accept it, we can assume that even Judas is forgiven and lying safe in the Arms of Abraham in Heaven.
Today's lesson tells us again that it was necessary for Judas to betray Jesus in order to fulfill yet another prophesy, "Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me."
I don't believe the "sin" Judas committed is any worse than the "sin" Peter committed when three times he denied ever knowing Jesus. Both actions were taken to demonstrate the horrible weakness in the faith of mankind and to fulfill prophesies that would help to prove that Jesus was indeed the only begotten Son of God.
Those who believe that one must live a perfect life in order to be saved should take this lesson to heart. Even the faith of those closest to Jesus as He walked here on earth wavered from time to time. As we see in this lesson, when our faith is challenged it sometimes grows weak we do horrible and egregious things. However, God the Father through Jesus Christ is always faithful to forgive and pull us back into the safety of the fold. Praise God for that, were it not true, I would have died the spiritual death a million times already.~
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