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Today is Saturday of Holy Week, the Sabbath where Jesus’s body lay in the tomb. A day of death and darkness. A day when all hope seems lost.
In yesterday’s reading, we saw how Peter wept bitterly once he realized he denied Jesus. Judas also regretted his actions of betraying Jesus. He even changed his mind according to Matthew 27:3, but his sorrow led him to kill himself.
Author and speaker Leslie Vernick* says there are differences between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow. Her teaching is based on this Scripture where the Apostle Paul is writing to the Christian Corinthians:
2 Corinthians 7:8-13 NLT
8 I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. 9 Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. 10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.
11 Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right. 12 My purpose, then, was not to write about who did the wrong or who was wronged. I wrote to you so that in the sight of God you could see for yourselves how loyal you are to us. 13 We have been greatly encouraged by this.
Peter’s grief and sorrow led him to repentance for denying Jesus. It was a godly sorrow that lead Him back to Christ and to life! He became a new man.
Judas’ grief led him to death because his sorrow was self-centered over the painful consequences of sin. (NIV study Bible c. 1985 Zondervan) An “I can’t believe I did that,” self-hatred, shameful, and destructive worldly sorrow that lead to death.
I have been both Peter and Judas in my life. Many times I can see my sin and instantly regret it, repent, and turn back to God and begin again. Other times, I am overwhelmed with guilt and self-hatred for something I have done, so ashamed that I hide from God and believe there is no hope for me. I sit in needless pain and sorrow because of pride. I’m convinced my sin is too big for God to handle. That Jesus’ death on the cross is just not enough to cover this thing I did. It’s just too big.
Do you have Judas moments in your life? Maybe you are currently in a season where you have a worldly sorrow over something you just can’t let go of. You condemn yourself and can’t seem to take it to God and accept that Jesus’ death on the cross paid the price for that sin. It was just too great.
Friend, Jesus’ blood covers even that one.
In our Judas moments, we must turn back to the God who desperately loves us, the God who is the Father who runs to us, the prodigal child, when we do. He cannot wait to embrace us as we bring our worst to Him so He can make us new.
Father God, thank you for this Saturday of Holy Week. The darkest of days when there seems to be no hope. This day we now know is leading to resurrection and victory over death and darkness. Help us persevere on the Saturdays in our lives when all is lost and we need a resurrection miracle in our hearts. Help us wait with patience for the Sunday that is coming, the day that will restore all things and bring us life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.