The “repentance” of Judas

• In the morning the Jewish leaders delivered Jesus to Pontius Pilate… vs. 1
  • The Jewish leaders wanted to kill Jesus – but they lacked the authority…
    • John 18:31 – “The Jews said, ‘It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death…’”
    • Around Jesus birth – Rome took away the Jewish right of Capital Punishment…
    • The leaders could condemn Jesus – but they did not have the right to kill Him…
    • They had to take him to Roman ruler of Judea – Pontius Pilate
    • Pontius Pilate…
      • The Roman Governor of the province of Judea from AD 26-36…
      • Little is know about him outside of the account of him in the Gospels…
      • The lack of evidence outside the Bible – led many to question his existence…
      • Until 1961 – stone tablet found in Caesarea with his inscription proving the Bible
• Judas returned to the chief priests… (2 points) – Matthew 27:3-10 
  • 1^st – Seeing Jesus was condemned (judged) – Judas was remorseful/repentant…
    • Guilt over his betrayal now overwhelmed Judas…
      • He knew he had sinned by betraying an innocent man…
      • He returned to the Jewish leaders – and threw the 30 pieces at their feet…
      • The Jewish leaders had no such remorse – or sympathy for Judas…
      • What was done – was done – they told him to live with his decision!
    • One might assume Judas had a chance of heart – sorry for what he had done…
      • But Judas did not go to Jesus and repent – or to God – for forgiveness…
      • His remorse was sorrow for what had happened – not for what he had done…
      • II Corinthians 7:10–“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
      • It’s easy to be sorry for the consequences of our actions…
      • It would be hard to find even one man in prison who is not sorry – they are there
      • But there are few who are truly sorry for what they have done
      • Being sorry for our consequences is not a change of heart – that worldly sorrow
      • True repentance is realizing we’ve sinned against God – asking for forgiveness
      • True repentance is turning away from sin – and turning towards Jesus!
    • Judas went out and hung himself – suicide…
      • In his final act Judas reveals the selfishness of his heart – he takes his life…
        • Suicide is a completely selfish act – it is the ‘easy way’ out of difficult times
        • Rather than repent – face the consequences of a decision – it’s running away
        • Leaving behind everyone else – loved ones – to suffer through the consequences
      • Can someone who commits suicide go to heaven…
        • The Bible says nothing – it is completely silent on the issue…
        • To someone who has lost a loved one to suicide – I would say…
        • A momentary foolish decision – made in desperation – cannot undo God’s Grace
        • To those who are contemplating this choice – I would say…
        • There is a much better option – repent – humble yourself and fall on Grace…
        • Because the last thing you want is to enter eternity with is a question mark
  • 2^nd – The price of blood…
    • Judas left the Priests with a problem – what to do with those 30 pieces of silver…
      • They could not just put it into the treasury (corban) – it was blood money
      • That would be like selling illegal drugs – but giving the profit to the church
    • So they purchased a Potters field – ‘Aceldama’ (field of blood)
      • They purchased it as a place to bury strangers who died in Jerusalem…
      • The field lies on a narrow level terrace on the south face of the valley of Hinnom…
      • Valley of Hinnom (Topheth – place of fire) – southern valley of Jerusalem
      • The valley where King Manasseh sacrificed children to the God Molech…
      • II Kings 23:10 – “And he (King Josiah – grandson of King Manasseh) defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.”
    • Jesus refers to this valley in the NT – Matthew 10:28
      • Gehenna – used 12 times in the NT– ‘The Valley of Hinnom’ – translated – Hell
      • Jesus uses the Valley of Hinnom as a word picture – for hell – eternal judgment
      • The ‘field’ that was bought with Judas ‘reward’ – was Hell
      • Judas reward for his betrayal of Jesus – was eternal separation from God…
      • Not that Judas was worse than any other sinner – we are no better than Judas!
      • There is no levels of sinners – greater or lesser sinners – we are all just sinners
      • We have all purchased our place in eternity with the ‘reward’ of our sin
      • Our hope – if we will believe – Jesus died for us so that we go instead to heaven!
      • God does not send good people to Hell – there are none!
      • What is amazing is that because of Jesus – God sends sinners to Heaven!

Jesus before Pilate… (3 points) vs. 2-13 

• 1^st – The 2^nd Trial… vs. 2-5
  • Jesus (God Almighty) was brought – bound – to be judged before Pilate
  • For the 2^nd time the Chief priests made accusations against Him (3 accusations)…
  • 1^st – They accused Jesus of forbidding others to pay Roman taxes – Luke 23:2
    • The Jewish leaders had asked Jesus about paying taxes to Caesar – Mark 12:16-17
    • But Jesus’ answer had been to take a Roman coin – with Caesars image on it…
    • Give to Caesar the things that are his – but give to God the things that are God’s…
    • So there was no truth to the first accusation…
    • When we choose to stand for the Lord – live for Jesus – do what is right
    • Expect men will seek to discredit us before others – make us look foolish – because…
    • John 15:19– “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
  • 2^nd – They accused Jesus of making Himself King – Luke 23:2
    • This was a very serious accusation – it was punishable by death…
    • Pilate asked Jesus – ‘Are you the King of the Jews’ / Jesus answered – ‘You said it…’
    • John 18:36–“My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
    • Jesus had not come to conquer Rome – He came to conquer sin!
    • When people seek to discredit you – belittle you – make you look foolish
    • Remember – that is why Jesus came to give His life – to save sinners – to save them
    • Don’t be angry – don’t be frustrated – instead have compassions – they need the Lord
  • 3^rd – They accused Him of claimed to be the Son of God – John 19:7
    • This accusation that was true – He did not claim to be God – He was God!
    • When Pilate heard this he became fearful – for good reason!
    • Pilate was not sitting in judgment of Jesus – Pilate was sitting before his judge!
    • People need Jesus –cause one day they will all stand before Him – Philippians 2:10-11
    • The very people who accuse you – mock you – make fun of you for following Jesus…
    • Will one day be judged for their every word –action – and thought…
    • Unless they confess – repent – and accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord

• While being accused by the Chief priests – Jesus answered nothing…
  • Pilate asked – do you not hear what they are saying against you…
  • Yet Jesus answered nothing – not even one word – Pilate marveled!
  • Jesus gives us the best solution when others say things about us…
  • When others attack us – attempt to discredit us – we have only 2 options
  • We can step up to defend ourselves – or we can choose to let God be our defense
  • When we let God be our defense – the world will watch and be amazed!
    

• 2^nd – Giving a choice… vs. 6-10
  • Pilate had a custom of releasing a prisoner for the Passover festival…
    • In an act of good will – and celebration – he would release one man from prison…
    • He offered to the crowd a choice – Jesus Christ King of the Jews or Jesus Barabbas …
    • Barabbas was a rebel/robber/and murderer – Luke 23:19 / John 18:40
    • He was guilty of everything they accused Jesus of – and more!
  • Pilate’s choice of prisoner was meant to prove a point…
    • He knew the Jews had arrested Jesus out of envy – He was very popular with the people
      • Pilate was able to see right through the jealousy of the religious leaders…
      • He was not fooled by their false accusations – he saw Jesus was innocent…
      • More often than not – the reason why people mock is out of jealousy
      • They are jealous of how God has blessed us – or of the hope/purpose they see in us
      • But they rarely fool those around us – people know they attack out of that jealousy
    • By giving such an obvious choice – a VERY guilty man / or VERY innocent man
      • Pilate hoped it would reveal the heart and intentions of the Jewish leaders…
      • This is the same choice every one must make – what do we do with Jesus…
      • Do we choose to follow Jesus – or do we choose to follow the crowds…
        
• 3^rd – Rejecting Jesus… vs. 11-14
  • The Chief priests stirred up (like an earthquake) the people to ask for Barabbas…
    • When Pilate asked whom do you want – they said – Barabbas!
    • When asked what to do with the King of the Jews – the said – let Him be crucified!
    • The crowd whom only days earlier had cried out – Hosanna – now wanted Jesus dead…
    • Friends – even family – can be easily swayed by the opinions of the crowd…
    • If we are depending on – looking to them – it will be hard to stand for Jesus…
    • We will have a tendency to do what they say/do – rather than what Jesus says!
  • Pilate questions – what evil has He done…
    • Pilate was convinced of Jesus’ innocence – further he had been warned by his wife…
    • She had a dream – have nothing to do with that righteous man – Matthew 27:19
    • The crowd’s answer – they kept crying out even louder – CRUCIFY!
    • John 19:15 – “Pilate said to them, ‘Shall I crucify your King?’ The chief priests answered, ‘We have no king but Caesar!’”
    • The world cannot give a good reason why they don’t want Jesus – the Bible – Church
    • Because they don’t want to admit the real reason – they want their sin – John 3:19
    • If we seek to please the world – follow the crowd – go with the flow…
    • We are chose this world rather than Jesus – It means we reject Jesus – James 4:4
  • Let his blood be us and on our children – Matthew 27:25
    • This is a phrase that has caused many problems for thousands of years
    • For millennia the church has blamed the Jews for the death of Jesus
    • 1^st – If Jesus had not died – then there would be no forgiveness  
    • 2^nd – If was not the Jews or Pilate that put Jesus on the cross – it was our sin
    • 3^rd – Children are not responsible for the sins of their parents – Ezekiel 18:20
  • Pilate washed his hands – Matthew 27:24
    • In an expression of his innocence – Pilate washed his hands of Jesus innocent blood
    • Symbolic – but not true – Pilate was accountable for his actions…
    • He chose to please the crowds – rather than do what he knew was right…
    • There is no difference – the ones who reject Jesus – the ones who stand and do nothing
    • There is no middle ground – you either stand for Jesus – or stand for this world…
    • Are we swayed by the crowds – do we have a hard time standing for the Lord
    • Are we – like Pilate – just trying not to get involved – 1 foot in Jesus – 1 in the world
    • Or do we stand for Christ – shining the light of Jesus to a world that needs Him!
  • Pilate released Barabbas – and delivered Jesus to be crucified