The Difference Between Judas and Peter

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

2 Corinthians 7:10

While Peter was standing outside the house of the high priest, someone identified him as a follower of Jesus. Peter must have been terrified that he would also be arrested and tortured.

He denied Jesus three times, and then “he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, ‘I do not know the man’” (Mat. 26:74). Then Peter went out and wept bitterly.

On the day that Jesus died, there were two men surrounded by darkness—Judas who betrayed Him, and Peter who denied Him. But there was a great difference between them. Judas was filled with remorse, while Peter was filled with repentance.

Remorse looks inside and says, “I wasted my life.” Repentance looks to Christ and says, “I give You my life.” Judas was sorry, but he was not repentant. Repentance is more than being sorry. It is more than wishing you could go and undo what you did.

Repentance is turning to Jesus Christ. “Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret” (2 Cor. 7:10). Peter repented, and two days later Jesus rose from the dead. He was reconciled with Jesus. Judas despaired, and he took his own life. He was only two days away from hope, but he never lived to see it.

If you want to avoid a plunge to disaster, never give up hope. Maybe that’s your battle right now. You feel surrounded by darkness. You’re loaded down with failure and guilt. You cannot see any way out of the situation you’re in.

Are you going to be like Peter or like Judas? They were two days away from the miracle of the resurrection. Two days! No matter how great the darkness, there is always hope in Jesus Christ.

If you believe there is even a spark of hope for you, don’t panic. Ask God to help you do what Peter did.