Betrayal – the fate of two disciples

Have you ever wondered how similar events can happen in people's lives but have totally different outcomes? I want to focus on two of Jesus’s disciples, Peter and Judas.

On the surface, Peter and Judas had the same experience; both betrayed Jesus before his death and both recognised their own guilt and felt remorse, but we have dramatically different endings to their respective stories.

Let’s look first at Judas. He sold Jesus out for 30 pieces of silver (the price of a slave). But betraying Jesus wasn't the worst thing that Judas did; as despicable as that act was, it did not in itself lead to Judas' tragic demise. His downfall was that he lost hope. He either did not believe in forgiveness, or he did not trust that this forgiveness would be given him; or he decided that he could not, or would not, forgive himself, in which case he betrayed himself and gave himself up to hopelessness and despair.

Now compare Peter and Judas. Peter denied that he even knew Jesus after vowing to stick with him even to the death. While this was not as dramatic and premeditated as Judas’ act, it was still a betrayal. After he betrayed Jesus, Peter may have also wished to die, just like Judas. For a moment it may have seemed the only way out of his guilt.

The difference, however, was that Peter chose hope while Judas gave in to despair. Peter went on to become a leader and the foundation (rock) of the early church while Judas hung himself. Judas' sin receives more attention because it seems more awful and premeditated than Peter’s but it wasn’t unforgivable. Judas turned away from that forgiveness which he also could have received.  He wasn’t beyond forgiveness and had he repented and asked for forgiveness Jesus would not have refused. 

The forgiveness that Peter received is there for us too, and so much more. You can read all about this in God’s book – the Bible.