17/05/2026
Sunday 17th May 2026
Swadlincote Corps
Theme: Judas’ Remorse
Bible Reading – Matthew 27vv1-10
History condemns Judas forever as the one who betrayed Jesus, but what do we know about him?
The authoritative Encyclopaedia Britannica tells us that the surname Iscariot was not in this case a family name, but a reference to the Sicarii Jewish group, described as “violent extremists” – sicarii means murderer or assassin; we’ll return to that point shortly.
We also know he was the treasurer in the group (rather than tax collector Matthew) although the reference in John to him helping himself to the money may be an unfounded slur, written as it was after the betrayal, rather than a matter of fact; an attempt to highlight how rotten he was perhaps.
Other than this, he is always listed last in the order of the 12 and is always described as the one who would betray Him.
The references are therefore prejudiced against him, in that they were written after the events, so it is really hard to get a sense of what he was really like.
Surely when Jesus called him to follow Him, there was no sign of the treachery that was to come?
Did Jesus know from the outset that Judas was the one who would betray Him, or was it only at the Last Supper, when we are told “Satan entered Judas” and Jesus said to him “what you must do, do quickly”?
If the former, how hard would it have been for Jesus, as truly human, to spend so much time with him?
Some of the images of Judas, as I was looking for representation for our screens today, portray him as almost demonic in appearance, and yet the reality is he was an ordinary man, just as the other disciples were, who chose to take a path which was to lead to his eternal damnation.
The jibe about Judas helping himself to money, might lead us to assume he was motivated by money, when he offers to hand Jesus over to the authorities.
30 pieces of silver, thought to be Tyrian Shekel’s, which were used as Temple currency, would have been the equivalent of about 4 months wages, so a tempting amount without it being in the realms of a big lottery win, and potentially a motivator.
A little-known fact about the amount, is it was the usual price of a slave, so there is an element of insult towards Jesus’ person, trading his much-loved Master as if a commodity.
Let’s return to his membership of the Sicarii group; this zealous, extremist group, were actively working to oust the occupying Roman forces. Their Jewish roots being affronted by the tenacity of the Gentile (unclean) Romans ruling their country.
Judas had obviously set aside this cause when he decided to follow Jesus, but as he got to know Jesus, and saw His power, he may have become convinced that Jesus was the One who could finally overthrow the Roman army.
The long-awaited Messiah had for centuries been described as the One to bring salvation to Israel, and whilst we know the salvation being offered was for our sins, we can see how Judas’ extremist thinking, leads him to conclude that Jesus could help their cause.
The betrayal with a kiss is particularly offensive, when we know that ordinarily it would be the natural greeting for a disciple with his rabbi; that was the sign Judas had agreed with the temple guards, to identify the one he was handing over to them. The symbol of friendship became a token of treachery.
Judas may have thought he would force Jesus’ hand and for a thrilling few moments he may have thought he was successful, when impetus Peter draws a sword and cuts off the ear of one of the soldiers.
Rather than escalate the violence to break free, Jesus rebukes Peter and heals the man involved and rather than strike them all dead, He makes the observation that He had been in public many times, available for arrest, yet here they have come armed to the teeth, in the dark, to spirit Him away.
Our reading joins Judas at the point when he realises he has made a terrible, terrible mistake. Despite Jesus’ repeated warnings to the disciples that He would be arrested, tried and put to death, none of them, and maybe especially Judas, had understood or taken it in at the time.
He wasn’t expecting Jesus to meekly submit to the kangaroo court and false accusations, he thought Jesus would miraculously overpower them all and when he realises how wrong he has been, he is distraught.
He tries to return the money, but predictably and horrifyingly, those who agreed the plan with him, are completely uninterested and uncaring about how he now feels about matters. “I betrayed innocent blood” cries Judas in desperate remorse, but to no avail. His torment is such that he takes his own life.
Unlike Peter, who has the opportunity to seek forgiveness, Judas doesn’t wait to learn that Jesus was risen, in his panic-stricken state, he was never going to recall the promise to ultimately overcome death.
Would Jesus have forgiven him if they had met post-resurrection? Almost certainly, but the opportunity was never going to be his, leading some to portray him as a tragic figure in the historical accounts of Jesus Christ’s time on earth.
Will Jesus forgive murderers, paedophiles, and the like? Crimes which are abhorrent to ordinary, law-abiding people and seemingly unforgivable, yet true repentance, always leads to total forgiveness, whether we like the thought or not!
Regret and remorse are words that are often used interchangeably, but regret can be related to the consequences; regretting the outcome that ensues, whereas remorse recognises the cause of the regret to be what is amiss.
Some people are sorry they were caught, but not really sorry for what they did, or they are so focused on damage limitation to themselves, they have no real regard for the pain and suffering caused by their actions.
The message of the Gospel is to repent to receive Salvation and true repentance is not just regret or remorse or even apology, but the transformation of attitude and action. Literally turning away from your old ways and changing them permanently and for the better.
Prayer
Father God, thank you for Your gift of Salvation, through Your Son Jesus, which enables us to receive Your forgiveness in full measure. Help us to be sincere in our repentance of our own sins, and merciful in our dealings with those who wrong us. We need Your Spirit’s help to be strong enough to forgive others, the way You forgive us, but we know we must, in order to have the full and empowering relationship with You. Help us each I pray. Amen.
Sarah-Jane Pennell
