Dear Christian friends:

The story which happened on Wednesday of Holy Week you all know. It is the story of how Judas made plans to betray Jesus. Since that time people blame Judas and we think and sometimes say, "I will never do like Judas." We think we are better than Judas, but really we are not. We have the same sinful heart and nature as Judas.

So we need to give attention to Judas and see what his real mistake was. His real mistake was not that he betrayed Jesus. Judas' sin was not worse than Peter's. Peter denied Jesus. What was Judas' real mistake?

Judas sin was not any worse than Peters or the other disciples. And Judas sin was not any worse than our sins.

We also betray Jesus. Can you say that you do not betray Jesus? When you hate someone you are betraying Jesus, because Jesus loves everyone, even His enemies. When you tell a lie, you betray Jesus, because Jesus always tells the truth. When you cheat on your income tax or in anyway, you betray Jesus who is always honest. When we do any sin we betray Jesus, because He is holy. When we love money or any other earthly thing or person as we should love God we betray Jesus.

We are all like Judas. Don't deny it! But in one way we can be different from Judas.

Judas' real mistake was not that He betrayed Jesus. No! His real mistake was that He despaired when he realized his sin. He thought that Jesus would not forgive him. He forgot what Jesus had been teaching the disciples for three years. So Judas went out in the dark night and hanged himself. Satan had taken control over Judas and led him into unbelief and despair. Judas did not go to hell because of his sin. He went to hell because of doubt, unbelief and despair.

God loved even Judas. Jesus died on the cross also for Judas. Twice Jesus tried to help Judas realize his wrong and be sorry, and change. At the table, "One of you will betray Me" and "Do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" Judas could have forgiveness of his sins, but he doubted and despaired. Believe that God loves you and forgives you. Jesus crucified is proof of that. No sin is too great! Jesus by His holy death and by His glorious resurrection has wonderful and free forgiveness of all sins, also yours and mine. Believe it and rejoice. Jesus established the Holy Supper to help you believe and rejoice.

Don't doubt and despair, like Judas, but believe and repent, like Peter.

Amen.