A Stone for Judas — Holy Week Betrayal and Forgiveness

"One of you will betray me." ~Matthew 26:21

Holy Week Betrayal and Forgiveness

Most of us have someone in our lives we find very hard to forgive. We know we should let it go, but there's something almost satisfying about holding on to the anger. Holy Week has a version of that person for many Christians — and his name is Judas Iscariot.

It's understandable. Judas handed Jesus over for thirty pieces of silver, setting the crucifixion in motion. But before we spend this week nursing our contempt for him, there's something worth sitting with: Judas wasn't the only one who failed Jesus that night. Matthew 26:56 tells us plainly that when Jesus was arrested, "all the disciples deserted him and fled."

Every last one of them. Peter, who had just hours earlier sworn he'd die before denying Jesus, denied Him three times before sunrise (Matthew 26:75).

And if we're being honest — so have we.

Understanding Holy Week Betrayal and Forgiveness

Romans 3:23 reminds us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." That's not a comfortable verse during Holy Week. It means the reason Jesus went to the cross wasn't only Judas. It was you. It was me. Our sin put Him there just as surely as any betrayal in the garden.

That's a heavy thing to acknowledge. But here's where the Holy Week betrayal and forgiveness changes everything: Jesus knew all of this before He went to the cross, and He went anyway. Isaiah 53:5 says "He was pierced for our transgressions." Not surprised by them — pierced for them. On purpose. For us.

The difference between Judas and Peter isn't that one failed and the other didn't. They both did. The difference is that Peter came back. He let his grief lead him to repentance rather than despair. Judas let his guilt become the final word.

Don't let your guilt become the final word either.

This Holy Week, resist the urge to make Judas the villain so you can feel like the bystander. You're in the story too. And the good news — the Easter news — is that Jesus died for every person in that story, including you.

Daily Practice: At some point today, find a quiet moment and pray a simple, honest prayer. Acknowledge one specific way you've fallen short — something you've done or left undone — and ask Jesus to forgive you for it. Don't rush past the weight of it, but don't wallow in it either. Then remind yourself: Sunday is coming. The cross is not the end of the story, and neither is your sin.