Peter and Judas
Acts of the the Apostles • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Intro
There is a passage that struck me recently as I was looking at the beginning of the book of Acts. In Acts 1, the disciples are together, Jesus has risen from the dead and has now ascended to heaven, and after watching Jesus ascend, the disciples return to Jerusalem and spend time in constant prayer.
It says Acts 1:15-17
15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”
He quotes the Psalms that another should take his place of leadership, and it then says
21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
As I pictured this scene, the accounts of Peter and Judas and their similarities struck me. And yet here, at the beginning of this great ministry post resurrection, Peter is standing as a leader, and Judas is dead by his own hand and is being replaced.
I want to look at these two disciples side by side. Because there is something so important here about their two stories and the parallels between them, and there’s so much to learn about what it means to truly be a disciple in seeing how both stories play out.
So both Peter and Judas have been a part of Jesus’ ministry. They were both given authority to drive out demons and heal the sick. They were both his messengers. They were both followers of the prophesied Messiah. They both believed Jesus was the messiah. They both loved Jesus. And Jesus loved them both. They witness incredible things.
There’s a verse that gives Judas’s shift away It happens when Mary, sister of Mary and Lazarus, pours the perfume on Jesus feet and washed His feet with her hair.
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
Judas already started compromising. Little things here and there. And I’m sure he had a good reason if you asked him. But the betrayal of Jesus. That doesn’t come out of the blue, it escalates. One small decision at a time. So already, there is a separation of paths between Peter and Judas. Peter also makes mistakes, but we see him repentant. We see him grappling with the desire to rise to the standards Jesus is calling Him to. And he does. Imperfectly, yes. But he keeps learning.
They continue on in ministry. Peter making mistakes and learning, Judas still involved but compromising. Eventually, we get to the last supper in the upper room. Peter and Judas are both there, along with the other apostles.
And here is a big connection between their two stories.
Satan is present
Satan is present
Let’s start with Peter. Before the last supper, we read this in Matthew 16:21-23
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
What a name to be called by Jesus. But this was not purely metaphor. To try and stop the plans of God is Satanic. Now keep in mind what Peter said could be thought of as virtuous. Commendable. But his view was so limited, his worry and concern so far from what God was enacting, his concern was selfish and satanic. Peter didn’t set out to be a stumbling block, But his selfishness put him in that position. However, his heart was open to Jesus. He was open to correction. He repented and learned often. But we don’t see those moments with Judas. In fact, it’s much darker.
1 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. 3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6 He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.
How did Satan enter Judas? He let him in. When Jesus tells the story of the unclean spirit, he puts in this way. Matthew 12:43-45
43 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”
The house was unoccupied. I don’t know the state of Judas’s heart when he started, but every compromise he made pushed God out more and more, until we get to this point in the story, he’s pushed out completely, and Satan is able to enter in. Not just Satan’s demons, but Satan himself.
Satan doesn’t enter in to Peter, because he can’t. Even though Peter has done some things selfishly, right? There’s a difference.
So Satan is at work here. And now we come to the Last Supper. It’s the 12 disciples and of course Leonardo Da Vinci is also there painting the scene. Jesus does something here for both Peter and Judas. He tells them what they’re going to do.
They’re told what they’ll do
They’re told what they’ll do
After Jesus has washed the disciples feet, Jesus tells the disciples he will be betrayed. The book of John records John 13:26-27
26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”
Yet again, Satan enters into him. What a heartbreaking scene. Satan, the accuser, the deceiver. Satan, the one who had at one time been in the presence of creator God. Who had fallen. Judas, one made in the image of God. A disciple who had shared in so much with Jesus, someone who Jesus loved. But had opened his heart and soul to Satan. The two of them coming together at that moment to betray the messiah. Judas leaves and the conversation continues.
There is much Jesus says, but in the midst of it, there is this exchange between Jesus, Peter, and the other disciples.
31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “ ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” 34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” 35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.
Yeah right Jesus. They both had a choice. Both Peter and Judas. Judas could have said, even at that moment, I won’t do this. The plans of God would have still come to pass. But he goes out anyway, while Peter is planning on proving Jesus wrong. Jesus warns Peter Luke 22:31-32
31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Simon. Satan is coming after you. But again the difference, Satan is coming after the disciples, whereas he was actually able to enter in to Judas.
After supper, they go to the garden of Getshemene where Jesus is going to pray. A while into it, Peter and Judas’s paths collide. Judas betrays Jesus by greeting him with a kiss, the planned way to identify Him to the crowd. The crowd comes to arrest Jesus. Peter steps forward with a sword, ready to die with Jesus. He strikes the servant of the High Priest, cutting off his ear. Jesus cries out “no more of this!” He reaches out and restores the man’s ear. His final healing miracle.
Peter relents. As Jesus is led away, everyone leaves. Judas has done what Jesus said he would do. Peter is still trying to prove Jesus wrong.
Peter follows Jesus at a distance to watch what is happening. He’s reeling. He probably barely remembers the conversation they had in the upper room. He saw Judas betray Jesus. He’s watching Jesus get beat. He’s probably frustrated with Jesus for being so careless and allowing Himself to be taken. He’s scared he’s going to end up standing next to him. Remember, Peter is also married. He has his wife to think of.
And so someone recognizes him. Hey, you’re with him, right? I don’t know what you’re talking about. He moves along. Someone else sees him. “Hey, this guy was with Jesus.” “Woman, I don’t know him.” A while later a third person, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, recognized him. Hey, you were the guy in the garden with him. Scripture tells us he called down curses, and swore to them, or took an oath, something like “I swear on my life” I don’t know Him.
Immediately the rooster crowed, and Jesus turns and looks straight at Peter in that moment, and he remembered what Jesus had said. He broke down and wept bitterly. This is the last we read of Peter before Jesus resurrection.
What’s the last we see of Judas? He was probably not too far from Peter.
3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” 5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
Judas didn’t see how it all played out. Jesus is exchanged for the murderer Barabbas. He’s tortured. He’s crucified. He’s placed in a tomb.
He lives again. 3 days later, he rises.
Now the point here isn’t who did what and which thing was worse? They both sinned. They both betrayed Jesus. The both felt overwhelming remorse. And neither of them knew how it would play out.
Because that’s the reality of our lives. We all do things that are shameful. We all sin and fall short of the glory of God. We all have regret. We all feel like we have failed and the truth is…we have.
But Judas gave up.
Judas Gave Up
Judas Gave Up
Judas took his own life. He thought he knew how the story ended.
Peter, I’m sure, gave up to a certain extent, but something miraculous happened for Peter.
Jesus Showed Up
Jesus Showed Up
After He rises from the dead, He appears to the disciples and others.
The gospel of John records the third time Jesus appears to the disciples. Jesus is having a conversation with Peter after Jesus gives Peter and several other disciples a miraculous catch of fish, just as He did in the beginning of their ministry together.
Here, Jesus asks Peter 3 separate times, “Do you love me?” Each time he answered “yes, you know that I love you.” Jesus would tell him “feed my sheep.” How many times did Peter deny Jesus? How many times did he have to answer the question? Jesus then tells him, yet again, follow me. He is reinstated.
I wonder what would have happened had Judas survived. What could have been? Would there have been forgiveness? I think so. But the difference between the two of them was not the severity of their sin, or the depth of their regret and remorse, it was the repentance of their hearts, the turning away from sin.
Peter Repented
Peter Repented
That doesn’t mean it wasn’t almost impossible for Peter. That doesn’t mean there weren’t other bad days. Judas felt remorse but did not repent. Had true repentance occured, he would have been there to see the resurrection. Peter repented and trusted Jesus
Peter trusted Jesus
Peter trusted Jesus
And that brings us back to the beginning of Acts. Peter stands as a leader, and Judas is being replaced.
We will mess up. But the plans of the living God cannot be thwarted. The advancement of the Kingdom of Heaven cannot be stopped. And whatever you have done in your life God wants you to be a part of that. Let Him use you. Let Him reinstate you. Repent of those things and turn from them, and learn to trust Jesus. And see the plans that He has for you.
PRAY
