Two Friends, Two Fates

Many years ago, in a land far, far away, there were two friends. They worked at the same job with a handful of other friends. They bought into the mission statement and approached their job with a single focus. Because the work was so intense, they became very close – brothers in spirit.

At a critical point, both of them made two of the worst choices since the beginning of time. That’s when their paths diverged. One became the founder of the Church and now identifies those who get to spend eternity in the rapturous light of heaven. The other became known as the most evil, despicable traitor in the history of man.

Yes, Peter and Judas. Two comrades who, within a few hours of each other, turned their backs on Jesus. Their subsequent actions resulted in the greatest divergence of destinies since God said, “Let there be light.” One was broken by his betrayal. The other destroyed. Their two very different fates is a great irony of human history.

Jesus knew both of his friends would fail him. He said as much during the Last Supper. But while Judas had thought out his betrayal, none of the Bible accounts focus on his motivation – citing only financial motives and that “Satan entered into him.” In the absence of certainty, possibilities arise. Maybe Judas hoped the Jewish leaders would be more accommodating after His trial. It’s possible he disagreed with the direction the ministry had turned. Judas may have feared their success could spark a Jewish revolt that would lead to a bloody Roman repression.

Peter is much easier to understand. His impulsiveness is well documented throughout Scripture – jumping out of boats, telling Jesus to avoid Jerusalem, cutting off a slave’s ear – so denying Jesus in a knee-jerk reaction of self-preservation was not out of character for him.

Both men traveled with Jesus for three years, worked with Him, lived with Him, and listened to Him preach and teach. They experienced His unconditional love. They saw acceptance and understanding. They witnessed Jesus reveal the value and the dignity of every human being no matter how dirty and diseased in body and spirit they were.

As the magnitude of their denials sunk in, both became despondent and wracked with guilt. But Peter understood the significance of Jesus’ ministry. Judas missed it. Thus, the two brother-apostles took opposite paths to remedy their betrayals.

Whether pride, arrogance, shame, guilt, or some other reason, Judas turned his back on Jesus and his brother apostles. All he had to do was say “I’m sorry” and ask for forgiveness. Instead, he became the definitive example of deceit, treachery and betrayal. Peter’s path of repentance, by contrast, led him to become the ultimate example of Jesus’ unconditional love and infinite forgiveness – a fate that could have belonged to Judas.

Two brothers in Jesus. Near identical transgressions. Separated for eternity by the words, “I’m sorry.” Granted, they are words that can be excruciatingly hard to say. But words with life and death consequences. Two simple words worth contemplating when we, too, fall short.