Dig Deeper:
I'M SORRY DOESN'T CUT IT: We read in v3 that as soon as Judas saw the condemned Jesus, 'he was seized with remorse.' He changed his mind. He confessed his sin to the uncaring chief priests and returned their money. The big question, though, is do you think that Judas repented?
He felt contrition & remorse
He confessed his sin
He returned what his sin had gained him
What's missing?
John Calvin puts it this way:
True repentance is displeasure at sin, arising out of fear and reverence for God, and producing, at the same time, a love and desire of righteousness.
All the remorse and confession in the world is insufficient for true repentance unless those actions are done out of respect and reverence for God. We don't see Judas even acknowledge God - the one who is the most wronged in any sin, but especially this one. When you confess and repent of your sins, make sure you are doing so for the right reason: because you know you've sinned against God alone and you wish to be made right with Him.
NAME BUDDIES? The fact that Jesus Christ and Jesus Barabbas have the same first name is not all that unique; not any more than finding two men in our society named John. It's the rest of their names that are so intriguing: Bar-abbas means 'son of the father.' That means the people traded Jesus the son of the father for Jesus the Son of the Father - the Son of God!
NO MORE BARRIER: There are some fascinating facts listed in v51-53: earthquakes, rocks splitting open, even the bodies of dead people coming to life. But the most consequential of these events is the first one listed: the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. Physically this is an impressive phenomenon; this curtain was made from tightly woven ropes. Think of the force it would take to rip a burlap sack that was several inches thick. The most significant thing, however, is what the curtain was for: it separated God's holy presence from His sinful people. Since Christ atoned (paid for) the sin of His people, we are no longer separated from God!
AAA Prayer Tips:
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Surely Jesus Christ is the Son of God! (v54)
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Just as Jesus humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death- even death on a cross (v8).
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
