This is excellent! Thank you for this illuminating emphasis on the difference between remorse and repentance - it speaks directly to a situation and people for whom I am praying.
In regard to Judas killing himself: do we have any idea what prompted such a drastic decision? According to Matthew’s gospel, his death occurs long before Jesus is sentenced to death by crucifixion. I’ve always puzzled over Judas’ decision to commit suicide
Not that I’m aware of. The usual answer is grief. Some think that Judas’ isn’t betraying Jesus so much as trying to force his hand, and when it goes horribly wrong, he hangs himself because he can’t face the reality of what he’s done.
That’s an explanation I’ve never heard — and it makes sense that he would try to force Jesus to become the conquering hero the Jews longed for to overthrown the oppressive Roman government. Judas obviously didn’t understand the mission of Jesus — so much did he misunderstand the character of Christ that he didn’t recognize he could have been forgiven for his treachery
I am wondering about the literal raising of these “saints” and their appearances to those in the town. Do we have writings in Josephus or any other historian that corroborates this event? Not that I don’t believe it, I just would think news of such a phenomenal event would have spread orally across the area. I can’t even imagine what that must’ve been like!!
This is excellent! Thank you for this illuminating emphasis on the difference between remorse and repentance - it speaks directly to a situation and people for whom I am praying.
In regard to Judas killing himself: do we have any idea what prompted such a drastic decision? According to Matthew’s gospel, his death occurs long before Jesus is sentenced to death by crucifixion. I’ve always puzzled over Judas’ decision to commit suicide
Not that I’m aware of. The usual answer is grief. Some think that Judas’ isn’t betraying Jesus so much as trying to force his hand, and when it goes horribly wrong, he hangs himself because he can’t face the reality of what he’s done.
That’s an explanation I’ve never heard — and it makes sense that he would try to force Jesus to become the conquering hero the Jews longed for to overthrown the oppressive Roman government. Judas obviously didn’t understand the mission of Jesus — so much did he misunderstand the character of Christ that he didn’t recognize he could have been forgiven for his treachery
I am wondering about the literal raising of these “saints” and their appearances to those in the town. Do we have writings in Josephus or any other historian that corroborates this event? Not that I don’t believe it, I just would think news of such a phenomenal event would have spread orally across the area. I can’t even imagine what that must’ve been like!!