Letting Jesus Take Your Sin and Shame

By Samantha Rodriguez

“Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor. 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. ‘I have sinned,’ he said, ‘for I have betrayed innocent blood.’ ‘What is that to us?’ they replied. ‘That’s your responsibility.’ So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.”—Matthew 27:1–5 (NIV)

Have you ever done something wrong and later on felt intense guilt about it? I think this happens to us because, in our sinful nature, we can easily find sinful behavior pleasurable or fun. Paul himself admitted this when he wrote, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do” (Romans 7:15 NIV). The guilt may not always come immediately, but when it does, it weighs on us with great pain and shame. This is what Judas was experiencing a little while after betraying Jesus.

Today’s passage starts by describing Jesus being taken away to the governor after He was arrested and taken to the Sanhedrin for questioning. The Sanhedrin was the council of Jewish officials the High Priest led. They were not associated directly with the Roman Empire so Jesus would have to go before Roman and Jewish officials.

At this point of transition, Judas realizes what he had done to Jesus. Scripture says he was “seized with remorse.” Other translations mention him changing his mind. He changed what he thought about his actions. He recognized it was wrong and sinful. His statement is clear, “I have sinned for I have betrayed innocent blood.” Yet what do his actions afterward tell us about this guilt? Judas taking his own life is a sign that he couldn't bear to live with himself after committing this act. He didn’t believe in the power of Jesus to redeem and forgive him like he had seen all the years he walked with Jesus. Sadly, the acknowledgment of his sin still didn’t lead him to surrender at the feet of Jesus.

What Paul writes about godly versus worldly sorrow to the Corinthian church can help us put Judas’ story into perspective. He wrote, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death” (2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV). This is what we see in Judas.

I don’t want us to miss the greater point here, though. If we’re completely honest with ourselves, we’ve all betrayed Jesus as well. We’re all like Judas! We can be selfish, greedy, prideful, and jealous. When we put something on a pedestal above the place of Christ our Savior and Lord, we betray His Kingship and authority. Every time we take His grace and forgiveness for granted by living foolishly and ignorantly, we take His sacrifice for granted. We, too, have all betrayed Jesus.

So, how can we respond differently? By acknowledging our sin and giving it up to God. When we come before Him in repentance, instead of trying to live with ourselves and our brokenness, He can mend and heal us. He forgives us, washes us with His mercy and grace, and walks with us in new life! He’s a redeemer and will always use our weaknesses and failures to bring Him glory!

Will you trust Jesus this way today? Don’t live in your shame, it leads to death. Live in the grace and love of Christ, it leads to freedom and life!

Pause: Are you feeling guilt and shame for a sin you struggle with? Is there any area in your life where guilt is holding you back from coming to God?

Practice: Read what Paul writes in Romans 7:24–8:4. After recognizing the struggle of sin in himself, he remembers the truth of the gospel. Today, write down whatever it is you’re allowing to keep you in bondage and shame. Give it to God and claim the truth of His Word over your life.

Pray: Father God, thank You so much for Your grace. I’m in awe of how good and kind You are to me even when I fall short time and again. Thank You that I can be conscious and repentant of my sin in a way that brings me to a purposeful and hopeful life because of Your salvation! I don’t want to look at my brokenness as something I need to fix on my own because that would leave me more isolated from You, others, and redemption. I want to bring You all my brokenness and invite You to take Your proper place as King of my life! Amen.