Judas

I sort of wondered why Judas was still punished for something that was previously ordained by God. Jesus said, "The Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!"

Then I realized today that it was the intent of Judas' heart that condemned him. It wasn't that he caused Jesus to be crucified. Jesus was in complete control and willingly laid down his life. No one could kill Jesus, he had to lay down his life on his own. Judas considered a little bit of money of more value than the precious gift of God. That, my friend, is unbelief at it's worst. But what really condemned Judas was his refusal of grace after his sin. Peter denied he even knew his Jesus! There is no sin God's love cannot wipe away! The only thing God cannot wipe away is refusal of his love. Judas sinned and then, in his self-righteousness, tried to be the hero of the story by sacrificing himself. He refused to be humbled that he might be exalted.

The hardest thing in the world is letting someone you love, leave you. But love allows that. The love of the prodigal son's father allowed the son take everything he owned and blow it on booze and hookers. That is love at its most vulnerable. It says, "do what you will to me, I will still love you." You know it hurt his father for the son who left him for a life of carelessness. You can imagine his heart ached because he missed him. Not to mention the worry he must have felt. But love would have allowed his son to rape him of his livelihood and leave him with nothing. It was probably in an effort to get his son to love him. The father wanted his love for his son to cause the son to desire him.

Judas said in his actions, "I will not be the beggar! I will not trust in a handout of grace! It's too easy! I will suffer the consequences of my actions! I sinned and I will pay for it!" And so he did.