Judas Vs Peter

I received a great question this past week after the conclusion of my sermon series, "Taster Taster or the Real Deal?" In my sermon I compared Judas Iscariot with Peter. Judas was a taste tester and Peter was the real deal. We know this because the Scriptures record the facts that Peter repented of his betrayal whereas Judas, although sorry, did not truly repent, was filled with evil and ultimately took his own life.

The danger of identifying Judas as an example of a "taste tester" is that we know what happened to him and history (as well as the church) has labeled him as the ultimate villian. What we must consider is that Judas ministered with Jesus for 3 years. He was by his side, preaching the Good News, casting out demons, maybe even healing people. From the outside, Judas was a full disciple of Christ. Maybe this is why upon Jesus' announcement at the Last Supper that one of his own would betray him, the disciples looked around in confusion. Judas wasn't wearing an evil grin and laughing in Jesus' face. No, Judas seemed like he was the real deal.

Ultimately, Judas did not truly repent and put Jesus to open shame by rejecting the Gospel. If Judas had repented as Peter did in John 21, the end of the story might have been just the beginning for Judas.

So what do we learn from all of this? If you claim to follow Jesus Christ, you must truly repent of sin, rely on the finished work of Jesus Christ, Stay in the Word, and test your calling so that you may be mature and complete. Keep on persevering.