Sorry, Not Sorry - A Tale of Two Repentances
Texts: 2 Corinthians 7:9-12, Matthew 26:14-16
9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
12 Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you. —2 Corinthians 7:9-12 (KJV - King James Version)9 Now I’m glad—not that you were upset, but that you were jarred into turning things around. You let the distress bring you to God, not drive you from him. The result was all gain, no loss.
10 Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain. But those who let distress drive them away from God are full of regrets, end up on a deathbed of regrets.
11 And now, isn’t it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You’re more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible. —The Message - 2 Cor. 7:9-1114 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him. —Matthew 26:14-16 (KJV - King James Version)60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. —Luke 22:60-62 (KJV - King James Version)
Each of the twelve disciples, hand-picked by Jesus, followed Him in life.
Two of the best-known of these disciples, most believers would say, are very different: Judas and Simon Peter.
One betrayed Jesus, the other would go on to be one of the most passionate apostles.
Judas had a position of trust. Peter was the one who kept losing his temper.
Judas failed to understand who Jesus really was, even to the end.
Peter had divine insight about the true nature of Jesus.
On the night of Jesus’ trials, Judas betrayed, but Peter denied.
When we look at these two men, we see a picture painted of two types of sinners, those who come to Jesus and those who do not.
Sorry, Not Sorry!
JUDAS
Little can be affirmatively known about the early life of Judas Iscariot.
The Gospel of John asserts that he was the son of a man named Simon Iscariot.
There is even some debate among scholars as to what Iscariot refers - a region, a Jewish sect, or even a term for liar.
In all four Gospels, Judas is mentioned by name as one of the twelve hand-picked apostles.
He went out with the others in Mark 6 - also recorded in Matthew - to spread the news of Jesus Christ:
“So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them” (Mark 6:12-13).
Judas was a potential traitor from the beginning.
Circumstances eventually converted him into an actual traitor.
A Personality Profile
If we were going to take a personality profile of Judas on the basis of the biblical record, it would probably look something like this:
Positive Negative
Careful Deceitful
Loyal Mean-spirited
A good organizer Shallow
A team player Greedy
Apparently trustworthy A big talker
Persuasive Slick
Before his betrayal of Jesus, he looked as good as any of the rest, and in fact he probably looked better than most.
John reveals in his Gospel the extent of Judas’ love of money.
After Mary Magdalene anoints Jesus with precious perfume, “ But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, ‘Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?’ He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it” (John 12:4-6).
Beyond embezzlement, Judas betrayed Jesus for
Given how much the religious leaders wanted to arrest Jesus, he probably could have asked for land or political favors.
He asked for what he truly wanted - financial gain.
PETER
Born Simon son of Judah and renamed Peter by the Lord Jesus, this apostle began life as a fisherman in Capernaum.
Though it is not known who she was, Peter did have a wife.
In Matthew, Mark and Luke’s gospels it mentions that Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law.
His brother Andrew was also an apostle, and they worked with the Sons of Zebedee, who were also apostles.
Jesus called Peter and his brother to follow Him by getting into Simon’s boat, helping them catch fish miraculously, and inviting them to be fishers of men.
The Gospels show that Simon Peter had early insight into who Jesus Christ is, stating, “But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.’” (Luke 5:8)
“Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’
And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah!
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it’” (Matthew 16:16-18).
Peter was truly dedicated to Jesus, following Him.
Like Judas, Peter performed those same miracles when sent out, as recounted in Mark 6.
While Judas struggled with greed, Simon Peter exhibits pride and a quick temper.
There are several moments in the Gospels where Peter boldly claimed He would go to war for Jesus, that He would always do whatever it took for His Lord.
That arrogance was so strong that even when Jesus predicted his denial, Peter failed to change his heart.
In Matthew it says, “Peter answered him, ‘Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.’ Peter said to him, ‘Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!’’ And all the disciples said the same” (Matthew 26:33-35).
He denied His Lord three times while Jesus was on trial.
Though he did not hand Jesus over to the religious leaders like Judas, it was no less a betrayal.
Peter disowned his Savior to save himself pain and struggle.
Peter’s walk as a believer was one of growth, facing his sins, repenting and growing.
He put his faith in the right place, in his savior Jesus Christ, and grew close in character to Jesus.
Sorry Not Sorry - A Tale of Two Repentances
THE RESPONSES (Repentances) OF THESE TWO MEN
Judas’ ultimate motive for the betrayal.
Was it pure greed?
Was he disappointed that Jesus did not launch a military revolt against Rome, as many hoped the prophesied Messiah would?
“One of you will betray me.”
We would never betray you, Master.”
“Lord, is it I?” Every man asked the question. No one was sure.
They were worried one of them had it in them to betray their Lord.
When the Gospels record Judas’ questioning, there is an important distinction: “Judas, who would betray him, answered, ‘Is it I, Rabbi?’
He said to him, ‘You have said so’” (Matthew 26:25).
When John and the other apostles, including Simon Peter, were faced with the possibility of betraying Jesus, they called Him “
To Judas, Jesus was just a
At that cryptic comment: “The one to whom I give the sop, he is the one who will betray me.”
Still they did not understand. Jesus took the bread, dipped it in the wine sauce and gave it to Judas with the words, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” (John 13:27)
Commentators tell us that in the Passover symbolism, the wine sauce represented the fruit of the Promised Land.
When Jesus gave Judas the bread, he was not merely identifying him as the betrayer, Jesus was making one last appeal for Judas to change his mind.
“Judas, I know what is in your heart. The moment for decision has come.
You can betray me or you can follow me. But you must decide now.
Whatever you are going to do…
This difference in belief about who Jesus was is the crucial difference between Judas and Peter.
Peter and Judas both struggled with sin throughout their time with Jesus during His earthly ministry - one with pride and one with greed.
They both sat at His feet, witnessed His miracles, and learned about the Kingdom of Heaven.
On the night of Passover, both chose to
Judas handed the Rabbi over to the religious leaders for financial gain; Peter denied his affiliation with the man He called Lord.
Both betrayed their Lord, but only one TRULY repented.
It is important to understand from the life of Judas that it is not enough to see Jesus as a wise man who had nice ideas about loving your neighbor and doing the right thing.
Jesus made bold claims about Himself – ones that were supported before the crucifixion with miracles of healing, feeding the hungry, and resurrecting the dead.
Judas saw all of these first-hand, but could not call Jesus “Lord.”
Today, the written record of the Bible testifies not only to these miracles, but to His resurrection.
Judas could not bring himself to put His faith in Jesus Christ, which ultimately led to his downfall.
While Judas appeared to be the same as the other apostles, on the inside, he never had faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord.
Peter put his faith in His Lord, though on the outset he appeared to struggle with outward sins, and Jesus asserted that Peter did not always understand His teachings.
He understood what God revealed to him, and followed his Lord.
Even after he betrayed Jesus by denying Him, and not standing up for Him at the trial, he came back.
He repented and did better moving forward.
Peter’s example is the one we need to follow today.
Answer the call from God to follow Him, and then go to Him during the good times and the hard times.
We all have sinned and mistakes will happen, but God is ready to forgive.
2 Corinthians 7:10 King James Version
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Whatever You Do, Do Quickly!
Is Judas alive today? No, but his spirit still lives.
It lives in all those who play the religious game.
It lives in those who come to church for what they can get out of it.
It lives in all those who are pretending a commitment to Jesus Christ that isn’t real in their hearts.
It lives in all those who just go through the Christian motions.
It lives in those who come to church, give their money, follow the rules and yet don’t love the Lord Jesus.
The Price Of A Slave
One of the ironic parts of this story is that Judas didn’t get much for his money. In those days, 30 pieces of silver was the price of a slave. Think of it. He betrayed the Son of God for the price of a slave. To put it another way, Judas went to hell and the cost of his ticket was 30 pieces of silver.
Some Probing Questions
What would it take for you to sell out Jesus?
Would you betray him for money?
Would you betray him for a better job?
Would you betray him to keep the job you have?
Would you betray him to save your own skin?
Would you betray him because he didn’t live up to your expectations?
Would you betray him because you thought he let you down?
Would you betray him if you thought you could win the favor of important people?
Judas does us a favor if his story causes us to rethink our total commitment to Jesus Christ.
You call yourself a Christian. But are you a true follower or are you just going through the motions?
Are you a pretender or a true believer? Have you truly turned from your sins and allowed Jesus Christ to be your Savior?
The one main lesson from Judas’ life is lost unless we at least ask ourselves the questions.
After all, if one can be an “disciple” of Christ who performed miracles at His command, live with Jesus day in and day out for 3 and a half years and still be lost, what about you and what about me?
Let’s close out with this…
One apostle was lost, that none should presume.
*Eleven were saved, that none should despair. *
Or another word play…
“Lord, is it I?” Still as of old, Man by himself is priced.
For 30 pieces Judas sold Himself, not Christ.