Overcome Depression 3 - HOPE VS DESPAIR

 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38-39).
The rose pedals must be crushed before it gives forth fragrance. Gold is refined by fire. Somethings are better after they are broken. In Mark 14: 3-11, Jesus is a guest in the home of Simon the Leper. A lady brought am alabaster jar of very expensive perfume but until she broke the jar did it release the pleasant aroma. “A broken soul is not the absence of beauty, but a cracked and torn soul reeks of the sweet incense it contains.”― C. JoyBell C.

More so, at the last supper in Matthew 26:17-30, Jesus could only share the bread to His disciples after He had broken it. It is symbolic to understand that through the virgin conception, a body was prepared for Jesus, and he entered this world fully man but still fully God. Yet that body had to be broken. Salvation comes through Christ and the sacrifice of His physical body on the cross.

According to Corban Addison - “Life is a broken thing. It's what we do with the pieces that defines us.” Judas walked away from the love of Christ unbroken. Judas was also disgusted over the lady who broke the alabaster jar on the feet of Christ. Judas called it a waste. He said she could have sold it and given the money to the poor. His selfish ambition drove him to betray Jesus and commit suicide. When Judas betrayed Jesus, he was remorseful but he killed himself because he could not forgive himself. Many persons are depressed because they cannot forgive themselves.

Although Judas was chosen to be one of the Twelve (John 6:64), all scriptural evidence points to the fact that he never believed Jesus to be God. He even may not have been convinced that Jesus was the Messiah (as Judas understood it). Unlike the other disciples that called Jesus “Lord,” Judas never used this title for Jesus and instead called him “Rabbi,” which acknowledged Jesus as nothing more than a teacher. While other disciples at times made great professions of faith and loyalty (John 6:68; 11:16), Judas never did so and appears to have remained silent. This lack of faith in Jesus is the foundation for all other considerations listed below. The same holds true for us. If we fail to recognize Jesus as God incarnate, and therefore the only One who can provide forgiveness for our sins—and the eternal salvation that comes with it—we will be subject to numerous other problems that stem from a wrong view of God. 

Furthermore, when the synoptic gospels list the Twelve, they are always listed in the same general order with slight variations (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-16). Judas name comes last on the list. This may imply Judas also had no personal relationship with Christ. The Lord longs for a relationship with us, the book of Genesis in verse 3:8 states God visits the Garden of Eden to meet with Adam and Eve. He created us to fellowship with Him. When it seems all is lost turn to your Father and Creator, His arms are always open to weep your tears and comfort you. The true character of God is love, be reminded in the story of the lady caught in adultery, the men where all standing, ready to stone her for her offense but Jesus, the express image of God stooped. The King of glory left His Heavenly throne to be with you. God is Jesus stooping to save mankind.

Judas was not the only disciple who betrayed Jesus, Peter did too. Peter was given the leadership mantle to lead the disciples. He is also called 'ROCK' upon which Christ said he will build the Church but he denied Christ too but when we examine Peter's character, Peter’s sincerity and determination to loyally follow Jesus is very apparent. Even though Jesus rebuked him at one point for allowing himself to be used by Satan to tempt Him (Mk 8:33), it was most likely what Peter mistakenly felt to be best for Jesus at the time. Peter also felt unworthy to have Jesus wash his feet, and he stubbornly resisted the effort at first (Jn 13:6). And when Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him, Peter insisted that he was willing to follow Jesus even to prison or death (Lk. 22:33). 

Peter denied Christ three times. Superficially, Peter and Judas have the same fate. Both betrayed Our Lord, both recognized their own guilt and felt remorse, but the parallel lines between Judas and Peter is Peter trusted in God’s mercy - Judas did not. Betraying Jesus wasn’t the worst that Judas did. His downfall was that he had lost hope. Hopelessness leads to depression. God loves you and He is always ready to forgive, 1 John 1:9 states; "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness".

Self-pitying sorrow is not desired by Jesus. If you cannot forgive yourself it simply means that you prefer your wounded pride over His suffering Love. Peter choose hope while Judas choose despair. His fate was not sealed by a kiss, but by his pride. The other disciples also left Jesus during his tribulation, so Judas was not the only guilty one but only Judas preferred his guilt over redemption. Its never too late to start afresh. If you could just trust God, He will replace all the years that the canter-worm has eaten (Joel 2:25). He will replace all you lost.
 

How often do we wallow in self-pity and think we are really humble. Self-pity has nothing to do with humility, nor with repentance. Humility is always truth, and the truth is: 'I took a wrong turn and am sorry'. Nothing is a surprise to God, Jehovah told Jeremiah "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations" (Jeremiah 1:5). Beloved in Christ, when you fail, do not lost hope, go to the Father and He will redirect you.

Shalom!