Cut the Guy Some Slack

Ok first - a disclaimer:  Where have I been - no blog in a week.  Well some of it is just life.  Yes I missed blogging.  I still kept my appointment with the Lord but I had ZERO time to journal.  That's why this is a challenge; because it's hard.  There were a few days the things I was thinking about were not for public consumption also.  What ev!  I'm back baby - at least for today.

Today's reading is Matthew 27.  Judas regrets what he has done.  You know the drill, see below for the scripture. (Taken from the Message)

Judas is a guy I don't get.  Oddly I think he is most like modern Christians.  He took care of the money, challenged the team when it seemed like there were better ways to serve the community and I think he truly thought he was doing the right thing.

It's possible he wanted to force Jesus to reveal himself as the Messiah.  It's probable even that he thought he even had PERMISSION to go and do what he planned.  (read the last supper)

Yeah but things don't go like we plan.

When Judas "realized that Jesus was doomed" he tried to take it back.

Sarah tried to force a miracle from God and when she finally understood that Hagar would have a child and there would be more than her own family, she tried to take it back.

Moses tried to force revolution by beating a slave owner.  That didn't work out so well for him either.

How easy it is to try and force God.  To work it up ourselves through our plans and activities and think we are doing the right thing.  Then when it gets hard or complicated or REALLY MESSY we quit.

Suicide isn't something done lightly - it takes real mental illness to overcome our instinct for self preservation.  Judas must have loved Jesus as much as everyone else and it broke him to realize what he'd done.  How his scheming would wreak havoc over those he loved.

I've messed up a few times.  Ok more than a few.  Unintentionally, just trying to do the right thing . . . . . doesn't change the fact that good people have been hurt.  Lent is about repentance and looking honestly at who you really are.  And the truth is, I'm Judas too.

Great God, forgive me for trying to force your hand.  For trying to work things up through my brilliance and not through your plans.  Help me, be kind to me in those moment I realize just how badly I've screwed up.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.

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3-4 Judas, the one who betrayed him, realized that Jesus was doomed. Overcome with remorse, he gave back the thirty silver coins to the high priests, saying, “I’ve sinned. I’ve betrayed an innocent man.”

They said, “What do we care? That’s your problem!”

5 Judas threw the silver coins into the Temple and left. Then he went out and hung himself.