Our reactions are our teacher” a mentor of mine would often say. We do bad things … but what comes next tells the story of who we are … and who’s… excellent post!
Well written. I enjoyed it! This comparison between Peter and Judas is a sobering and sacred reminder that the heart of the Gospel is not merely about the presence of sin, but the response to grace and the predestined role we are called to serve. Both men walked closely with Yeshua. Both witnessed His miracles, heard His teachings, and were entrusted with His friendship. Yet when the hour of testing came, both failed—one with a kiss of betrayal built into the prophecies, the other with a denial of knowing Him, a reaction to fear. The difference was not in the gravity of their sin, but in the direction they turned afterward. Judas turned inward, collapsing under the weight of guilt without seeking the mercy of the One he betrayed. Peter, though broken and ashamed, turned back toward Yeshua—his tears became the doorway to restoration.
This contrast reveals that the essence of repentance is under sovereignty. Judas experienced remorse, but not repentance, because it was not within him. Peter, however, allowed his sorrow to lead him to the feet of the risen Messiah. There, he found not only forgiveness, but a renewed calling. Yeshua didn’t just pardon Peter—He recommissioned him. This is the Gospel: that no failure is final when brought to the Redeemer. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 7:10 (ESV), “Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” The invitation remains open to us all—when we fall, will we run from grace, or run to it? The cross stands as the eternal answer to every failure, and the empty tomb as the promise of restoration.
Likewise, the Antichrist and the False Prophet will be men; they will not be offered the opportunity to repent and be saved. We scholars call it the "Judas Complex." While we don't understand why God appoints people to do evil, like Judas, we must embrace His sovereignty all the more. Everything is based on Yeshua's choices and supremacy.
You as well, Sir. Look forward to more intellectual conversations. I spend many hours each day studying and find it fascinating, enriching, and very gratifying at my age. I have shared some of myself in the About section of my Substack site. Wish I had found Jesus Christ long ago. Needed to die first, I guess. But here I am.
That’s beautifully said, and I’m genuinely honored to walk alongside you in this season of discovery and depth. The fact that you spend hours studying and still find it enriching speaks volumes about the hunger God has placed in you—and how He’s redeeming every moment, even now. I’ll definitely take time to read your “About” section on Substack; I’m sure it carries the weight of a life well wrestled and well lived.
As for finding Yeshua “late”—I hear that ache, but I also see the glory in your words: “But here I am.” That’s the miracle. Resurrection always follows death, and sometimes we have to come to the end of ourselves before we can truly begin. You’re not behind—you’re right on time in His story. I look forward to many more conversations that stir the mind and awaken the spirit.
Our reactions are our teacher” a mentor of mine would often say. We do bad things … but what comes next tells the story of who we are … and who’s… excellent post!
Well written. I enjoyed it! This comparison between Peter and Judas is a sobering and sacred reminder that the heart of the Gospel is not merely about the presence of sin, but the response to grace and the predestined role we are called to serve. Both men walked closely with Yeshua. Both witnessed His miracles, heard His teachings, and were entrusted with His friendship. Yet when the hour of testing came, both failed—one with a kiss of betrayal built into the prophecies, the other with a denial of knowing Him, a reaction to fear. The difference was not in the gravity of their sin, but in the direction they turned afterward. Judas turned inward, collapsing under the weight of guilt without seeking the mercy of the One he betrayed. Peter, though broken and ashamed, turned back toward Yeshua—his tears became the doorway to restoration.
This contrast reveals that the essence of repentance is under sovereignty. Judas experienced remorse, but not repentance, because it was not within him. Peter, however, allowed his sorrow to lead him to the feet of the risen Messiah. There, he found not only forgiveness, but a renewed calling. Yeshua didn’t just pardon Peter—He recommissioned him. This is the Gospel: that no failure is final when brought to the Redeemer. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 7:10 (ESV), “Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” The invitation remains open to us all—when we fall, will we run from grace, or run to it? The cross stands as the eternal answer to every failure, and the empty tomb as the promise of restoration.
Likewise, the Antichrist and the False Prophet will be men; they will not be offered the opportunity to repent and be saved. We scholars call it the "Judas Complex." While we don't understand why God appoints people to do evil, like Judas, we must embrace His sovereignty all the more. Everything is based on Yeshua's choices and supremacy.
Well done, my friend. What is your name?
Thank you! Mark
Good to meet you, Mark.
You as well, Sir. Look forward to more intellectual conversations. I spend many hours each day studying and find it fascinating, enriching, and very gratifying at my age. I have shared some of myself in the About section of my Substack site. Wish I had found Jesus Christ long ago. Needed to die first, I guess. But here I am.
That’s beautifully said, and I’m genuinely honored to walk alongside you in this season of discovery and depth. The fact that you spend hours studying and still find it enriching speaks volumes about the hunger God has placed in you—and how He’s redeeming every moment, even now. I’ll definitely take time to read your “About” section on Substack; I’m sure it carries the weight of a life well wrestled and well lived.
As for finding Yeshua “late”—I hear that ache, but I also see the glory in your words: “But here I am.” That’s the miracle. Resurrection always follows death, and sometimes we have to come to the end of ourselves before we can truly begin. You’re not behind—you’re right on time in His story. I look forward to many more conversations that stir the mind and awaken the spirit.