You Need Jesus' Wounds

Matthew 26:24-25 “The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” 25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.”
 
JESUS pronounced judgment over Judas, who is about to betray him, “It would be better for him if he had not been born.” It is difficult to imagine the Savior speaking so severely to this man chosen to be his disciple. But we must see this as evidence of the harsh judgment that comes to all people who betray Jesus' truth. “Woe (despair, anguish) to that man who betrays the Son of Man!”
   Peter’s denial and Judas’ betrayal are tools in God's eternal plan to save you. From long before this day the prophets foretold the events of Jesus’ death. Hear, for example, from Psalms 55:12-14 “If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him.13 But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, 14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God.” These words prophesy a close companion who walked and worshiped with Jesus would betray his Lord.
   Read, too, the prophecy of what that death would be like: Isaiah 53:5 “But He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our sins; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
   Mankind chose sin and decided to betray God’s will, his commands to live a blessed and abundant life in his presence. Without Jesus, it would be better if one had not been born. Jesus knew you needed him to be wounded, so you would be healed.
           Confess your sins. Confess the Christ. Be born anew into his eternal kingdom.