And Judas Iscariot: Together with other evangelistic addressesChapman, J. Wilbur (John Wilbur)
Religion
And Judas Iscariot: Together with other evangelistic addresses
Chapman, J. Wilbur (John Wilbur)
Evangelistic sermons; Presbyterian Church -- Sermons; Sermons, American
There is something about the name of this miserable man which commands
our attention at once. There is a sort of fascination about his
wickedness, and when we read his story it is difficult to give it up
until we have come to its awful end. It is rather significant, it
would seem to me, that his name should come last in the list of the
Apostles, and the text, "And Judas Iscariot," would suggest to me not
only that his name was last, but that it was there for some special
reason, as I am sure we shall find out that it was. It is also
significant that the first name mentioned in the list of the Apostles
in this third chapter of Mark was Simon, who was surnamed Peter.
The first mentioned Apostle denied Jesus with an oath, the one last
referred to sold him for thirty pieces of silver and has gone into
eternity with the awful sin of murder charged against him. The
difference between the two is this: their sins were almost equally
great, but the first repented and the grace of God had its perfect work
in him and he was the object of Christ's forgiveness; the second was
filled with remorse without repentance and grace was rejected. The
first became one of the mightiest preachers in the world's history; the
second fills us with horror whenever we read the story of his awful
crime.
Different names affect us differently. One could not well think of
John without being impressed with the power of love; nor could one
consider Paul without being impressed first of all with his zeal and
then with his learning. Certainly one could not study Peter without
saying that his strongest characteristic was his enthusiasm. It is
helpful to know that the Spirit of God working with one who was a giant
intellectually and with one who was profane and ignorant accomplished
practically the same results, making them both, Paul and Peter, mighty
men whose ministry has made the world richer and better in every way.
But to think of Judas is always to shudder.
There is a kindred text in this same Gospel of Mark, but the emotions
it stirs are entirely different. The second text is, "And Peter." The
crucifixion is over, the Savior is in the tomb, poor Peter, a
broken-hearted man, is wandering through the streets of the City of the
King. He is at last driven to the company of the disciples, when
suddenly there rushes in upon them the woman who had been at the tomb,
and she exclaims, "He is risen, has gone over into Galilee and wants
his disciples to meet him." This was the angel's message to her. All
the disciples must have hurried to the door that they might hasten to
see their risen Lord--all save Peter. And then came the pathetic and
thrilling text, for the woman gave the message as Jesus gave it to the
angels and they to her, "Go tell his disciples--_and Peter_."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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