February 8, 2010
Matthew 27
Pastor Wil Mouer
Living Free from Guilt
Imagine the horrible guilt that Judas must have felt after betraying Jesus. We know that he was guilt-stricken because of what we read in Matthew 27:3; “When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders.”
I have always had a lot of questions about Judas. Why didn’t he just go find Jesus and ask for forgiveness? Did he not know when he betrayed him that Jesus would actually be killed? He was obviously very distraught by what he had done, and was trying to reverse time. Of course, we know the tragic end to Judas’ life, when he committed suicide by hanging himself.
What do we do with the burden of guilt? Some people try to cover it up, which never works. Others live in misery and self-hatred.
Yet Jesus came to free us of our wrongs, a free gift of grace that we receive by faith alone. This can seem like we are not doing enough to pay for what we’ve done. Yet we should live with an understanding that the feeling of guilt is not from God. The Holy Spirit brings conviction so that we can come back to the Lord and confess our sins. This practice puts us in position to receive God’s unending grace and mercy.
Aren’t you glad that you don’t have to continue living under a burden of guilt?
Moline, Illinois native Wil Mouer is in his fourth year on the Grace Covenant pastoral staff.
