The kiss of remorse

"One of you will betray Me.” (Matthew 26:21)

Scripture must be fulfilled. Jesus knew the path. He couldn’t waiver from it. The course of history could not be changed.

Betrayal … a turning against, a lack of trust and belief. It never comes from outside the ranks, but from within.  

The hour is at hand.

“… See, he who betrays Me is at hand.” (Matthew 26:46)

Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, whom Jesus selected. For 30 pieces of silver, counted, Jesus was delivered unto death.

Judgment was executed because of God’s love for mankind. Mankind was doomed, wickedness abounded everywhere. It was this wickedness, this evil of the world, in the world, that nailed Christ to the cross. It had to be.

Judas …

he brings a multitude … chief priests and elders and others with swords and clubs… he comes to Jesus and says, “ ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kisses Him. (Matthew 26:49) Jesus knows why he has come, yet he asks of him, “ ‘Friend, why have you come?’ (Matthew 26:50a)

The kiss of death. The kiss of comdemnation.

“Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.” (Matthew 26:50)

“… all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death.
And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.” (Matthew 27:1-2)

The kiss of remorse.

Judas, the betrayer, was filled with guilt, great sadness, extreme remorse. For Jesus, His teacher, the One whom He did not believe nor follow, the One whom He delivered unto death at Calvary for a mere pittance realizes the error of his ways.

“Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
saying, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’ And they said, ‘What is that to us? You see to it!
Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.” (Matthew 27: 3-5)

Jesus, from the cross, forgave all of mankind.

Was Judas forgiven at the moment he realized what he had done?

Men can be saved from damnation at the last moment before death. Is Judas among those counted?