What Is The Difference Between Peter And Judas?
Luke 22: The setting:
Jesus has been taken to the courthouse of the high priest and is undergoing the trial which will end in his being condemned to death. Peter, one of his disciples, followed along and sat among the onlookers. Three times someone identified him as being one of Jesus's disciples, and each time Peter denied it. At the third time, Jesus turned around and looked at Peter, and he suddenly remembered that Jesus had told him he would deny him three times before the rooster crowed.
"Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying,
'Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.'
But Peter said, 'Man, I do not know what you are saying!'
Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.
Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him,
'Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.'
So Peter went out and wept bitterly."
Luke 22:55
What is the difference between Peter and Judas? Judas, also one of the twelve disciples, had gone to the authorities and betrayed Jesus to them. So both were guilty of denying the Lord. They both sinned the same sin. So what's the difference?
Here's the difference. When Peter realized he had denied the Lord, he went out "and wept bitterly." He realized his sin and was sorry to the very heart, engulfed with shame and regret. Judas, on the other hand, went out and committed suicide. The Scriptures show that Peter was forgiven, but that Judas died and went to hell.
Maybe you've done something that you think is unforgivable. Maybe your whole life up to this point has been a life of evil. Maybe you've hurt others deeply. You have to know that there IS forgiveness in Christ. You CAN be forgiven. In fact, that's exactly why Jesus was crucified - he was crucified IN YOUR PLACE. He has taken your judgment upon himself. So you have a choice: either give up entirely and lose your life and go to hell as Judas did, or repent as Peter did and come humbly to the Lord with bitter tears asking for his forgiveness. If you do, you will be received. The blood of Jesus will cleanse you from ALL unrighteousness.
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,
and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
1 John 1:8-9
Pray like this:
Father God, I am so covered with sin that I've thought you could never forgive me. There has been a lot of evil in my life, but now I'm hearing that it's possible to obtain forgiveness from you. I'm hearing that the judgment upon my sins has already been taken - by Jesus himself who bore my guilt and carried my sins to the Cross. I pray and ask you to forgive me. I receive your Word which says you will cleanse me from ALL unrighteousness. I bow before you this day and ask you to become my Savior and my Lord. From this day on, my life is yours. I give over to you all that I am, and all that I will be, you are the Lord of my life. Even if I don't understand it completely, I thank you for the Crucifixion of your Son and the atonement he provided for me. Receive me Lord Jesus, I believe.
More About Salvation:
Born Again - What Does That Mean, Really?