“The RoseBouquet”

Judas must have been near enough to watch what was going on. When the chief priests and elders came to the decision to put Jesus to death and took Him to Pilate for the official decision of the Roman government, and the actual deed, Judas was aware of it.

Now he knew things had NOT gone as he had planned. He had hoped to force Jesus’ hand into declaring Himself the King of the Jews, and overthrowing the Romans. He was filled with remorse, but we read nothing of his repentance. No desire for forgiveness.

He went back to the chief priests and confessed he had betrayed innocent blood. They shrugged, “What’s that to us?” So he threw down the money they had given him, and went out to hang himself.

The priests knew it was blood money, so they dare not use it in God’s temple. Instead, they bought the potter’s field for a spare burial ground for foreigners and strangers who died while passing through Jerusalem. It had a lot of clay, not good for anything else.

I think this story could have ended very differently if Judas had cried out to God for forgiveness. But he didn’t. He had remorse - Judas regretted what he had done, but he didn’t move to the next step and repentance, or admitting that he wanted forgiveness.

This still happens all the time. People wish they had never committed certain sins, but they won’t ask for it to be taken away - which can only be done by trusting in that precious blood Jesus shed for each of our wrongs.

PRAYER: Oh Lord God in Heaven, I hope I never stall at just this first stage, remorse. I do not want to end up like Judas! I do believe Your love and mercy is so great that You would have forgiven Judas if he has humbled himself and asked, and trusted in Your sacrificial Lamb. So then - You are willing to forgive the worst I have ever done too, right?

Hallelujah! Thank You, Father-God. Thank You, dear Jesus, my Saviour, My Lord, and My dearest, closest Friend!

+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++

Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen

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