Opportunity

Opportunity

Matthew 26:16, NIV

From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

Luke 22:6, NIV

He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

Setting the Scene

Luke tells us that Judas “consented” to participate in betraying Jesus. He accepted money to use his position of trust to violate that trust and put Jesus’ life in jeopardy.

Luke also tells us that Judas was instructed to choose a time for the betrayal “when no crowd was present” to complicate or interrupt the arrest. By this point in the week, Jesus and the disciples may have established a routine. Each day was spent in Jerusalem with an evening stop in the garden of Gethsemane on the way out to Bethany, where they spent the nights. Judas’s betrayal was premeditated. The disciples’ running away when the armed group came for Jesus was an impulsive expression of surprise and fear. Peter’s denial was an expression of fear of exposure compounded by shame. Some have suggested that Judas may have been disillusioned over Jesus’ talk of death rather than taking advantage of his popularity to set up the Kingdom. He might have been trying to force Jesus’ hand by creating the confrontation. But if this was the case, why betray Jesus when he was practically alone? Judas was doing what he had consented and been paid to do.

Because he had time to plan and to consider when would be the ideal time to betray Jesus, Judas also had time to feel the first twinges of regret. Matthew 27:3 tells us Judas didn’t exhibit remorse until after Jesus was condemned by the Jewish court and turned over to Pilate. Sometimes, realizing we’ve made a terrible mistake and expressing remorse over that mistake will not undo the damage we have set in motion. Judas didn’t live to see the tragedy or the triumph created out of his actions.

Getting Personal

What is the difference between regret (or remorse) and repentance?

When have you felt stuck at feeling very bad about something without actually repenting? How has that been resolved in your life?

We can confuse regret with repentance. But feeling bad that we got caught or disliking the consequences that flow from wrongdoing is clearly not the same as taking responsibility for the wrongdoing and turning away from it.

Talking to God

Don’t miss the hopeful aspect of repentance. In turning away from your sin, you are turning toward the comfort and joy of the Lord. Ask him to be near you, comforting you as you turn away from sin and submit more and more of your life to him. Thank him for his promise that he is “faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, NIV).