As I mentioned yesterday, this is Holy Week; a week that many people in all faiths prepare their hearts. In the Jewish faith the preparation is for the Feast of Passover, in the Christian Faith we will soon celebrate the Resurrection of Christ, on Easter Sunday. But prior to the Easter, I am focusing on the Cross. The preparations of Jesus and His sufferings. As I read through the Gospels, I find that they really don't paint a vivid picture for us 21st Century folk, because we aren't at all familiar with the brutality of crucifixion. I so appreciate Mel Gibson's movie The Passion for giving us the visual that we needed to help us understand more clearly that which the people in Jesus' day understood; for it was a common occurrence to witness the excruciating pain and humiliation of crucifixion.
As I was reading today in Matthews Gospel, the word Remorse stood out to me in relation to Judas. As you know, Judas was one of the 12 Apostles, a follower of Jesus, who betrayed Jesus for what amounted to be a little more than 20 bucks. Thirty silver pieces. He sold out his friend for $20! The Bible says, "When Judas, His betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, with remorse he took back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests, saying I have sinned in betraying innocent blood." ( Mat 27:3-4) They basically told him "that's your problem--go deal with it". The story says that Judas left the priests and went off and hanged himself.
Remorse is not the same as Repentance. Remorse is from the Latin word mordere', which means "to bite", thereby making the word remordere' or " to bite again". Remorse is the act of biting again. Meaning that it is a gnawing at your mind for something that you have done wrong. It is basically a nagging or annoyance of the mind. It stems from our conscience; which is our internal bell that lets us know we have done or are about to do something wrong. It is a gift that God put in the heart of all mankind. And we can ignore it, if we choose, thereby searing our conscience, and eventually rendering it useless.
It is interesting to me, that Judas, who was one of the 12 Apostles, chosen by Jesus, walking and talking with Jesus, following Him, seeing first hand all the miracles, getting a "behind the scenes", up close and personal view of everything Jesus--did not think to ask for forgiveness. Could it be possible that He did not really believe in Him. Could it be possible that he did not know the One whom he followed. Are WE like him? Having remorse but not repenting? Destroying the very thing that God put in us (our conscience) for our own safety.
The difference between remorse and repentance is found in the story as well. Judas died--he killed himself; he died in sin and guilt. He silenced the biting of his mind, the nagging voice that told him over and over that he screwed up--he made that stop, but he died. Repentance on the other hand brings life. It means " to turn" . To Re-pent means to Re-turn. To turn from sin and return to God. It means to seek forgiveness, and reform one's life. To feel sorry and turn your life around--not returning to the thing that you feel sorry for. Repentance is an ongoing action verb! And it produces another verb--to live. The Bible says "the wages (the paycheck) for sin is death". But to those who repent, theirs is the kingdom of God.
Acts 3:19 So Repent, change your mind and purpose; turn around and return to God, that your sins may be erased, blotted out, wiped clean, that times of refreshing (fresh air, breath) may come from the presence of the Lord..." Life requires air. Jesus supplies life.
My prayer today and everyday is for those who may not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior to read this blog and understand the tremendous love and wealth of life and blessing found in Him for this life and for eternity. I pray too, that those who do know Christ would be encouraged and walk in the forgiveness that his death provided for us. No shame; because he bore, not only our sin, but all our shame as well, on the Cross.
Father, I repent of my sins, I ask you to forgive me. I ask you to remove all the shame. I ask You to come into to my heart and take over by your Holy Spirit, secure my place in Your kingdom for all eternity. I believe in You and ask you to be Lord of my life. I thank you now for your grace and count myself as one of your children, blameless in your sight, because of the blood Jesus shed for me on the Cross. Thank you Lord. Amen
If you prayed this prayer, please leave a comment, I would like to encourage you and pray with you further.
No comments:
Post a Comment