The Bible tells us that Judas betrayed Jesus, turning him over to armed soldiers in the middle of the night, for 30 pieces of silver. Of course, we also know that he famously betrayed Jesus with a kiss. This helped the soldiers identify who Jesus was, but it was also the ultimate way to betray someone, because a kiss, in that culture, was often a sign of friendship, loyalty and respect.
Matthew 27 tells us that when Judas discovered that Jesus would be condemned to die, he was filled with horror and remorse. He returned to the priests who had payed him for the betrayal and tossed the money on the ground, refusing to keep it. He then ran out and hung himself. His guilt was so great that he committed suicide. This was a pretty horrible end for someone who had spent three years walking, talking and learning from Jesus.
How could this happen? How could a disciple who saw Jesus do the things that he did ever decide to betray him? We don't really have the answers to that question, although it's hinted at in the Bible that it was because he was consumed with greed.
JUDAS WAS GUILTY, BUT THOUGHT HE COULDN'T BE FORGIVEN!
Judas definitely sinned. He was directly involved in the murder of an innocent man for money...but that innocent man also happened to be the Son of God! There are some people who think that Judas could never have been forgiven for what he did, but I tend to disagree.
As a Star Wars fan, I love a good redemption story. Darth Vader was someone who did unspeakable evil (even killing little children), and most people (including Obi-Wan and Yoda) felt that he was beyond redemption-- that he had done just too much evil. But, of course, at the end of Return of the Jedi, we see Vader make the right choice and return to the "light side of the force".
That's just a movie, it's something that happens in real life all of the time. There are people who are in prison for horrendous things, but have experienced God's love and forgiveness. That doesn't mean they get a "get out of jail free" card. Justice still has to be served. But those people can still have their hearts made right with God despite what they've done.
1 John 1:9 says, "But if we confess our sins to God, HE CAN ALWAYS BE TRUSTED to forgive us and take our sins away".
No matter what we do, no matter how badly we sin, no matter how much we hate ourselves for what we've done, Jesus loves us and offers us forgiveness, despite what we deserve. Peter's story is a lot like Judas'. Peter betrayed Jesus, he was filled with horror and remorse, but then he continued to be a disciple, even having a conversation where Jesus offered him love, forgiveness and a new start!
If you've sinned. If you've made choices that God wouldn't be proud of. If you are full of self-loathing and hatred for messing up, Jesus still loves you. The Bible reminds us that you can never be beyond redemption. If you're sorry, if you want a fresh start, all you have to do is tell that to Him. How can you not love someone who offers that kind of insane love and grace to each of us?
DISCUSSION
1. Take a few minutes to read 1 John 1:9 together with your teen. Ask them what it means to "confess our sins". Ask them to explain in their own words what the awesome promise is in this verse. Take some time to thank God for the crazy, hard-to-fathom, love he has for us. We're never beyond the reach of his love and grace!
2. Think of a friend or family member who seems incredibly far from God. Have you given up praying for them? Have you given up believing that God can do a miracle and draw them to himself? Take some time to pray for that person!
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