“Three More Days”

Sunday, February 09, 2020

Three More Days…

by Jeff Curtis

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn't worth living. (As defined by the Mayo Clinic).

More than just a bout of the blues, depression isn't a weakness and you can't simply "snap out" of it. Depression may require long-term treatment. But don't get discouraged. Most people with depression feel better with medication, psychotherapy or both. (ibid).

When we think of depression, we should understand that we can all be susceptible to being affected by it. It can affect our lives from a variety of things taking place around us. The world we live in may cause us to become depressed, especially if peer pressure becomes too great. People can be extremely cruel, and sometimes they may be in our closest circle of acquaintances.

They may think they have the “best” of intentions, but we should realize that not everyone takes criticism as well as others. When criticism is offered, we look at it and call it “constructive”, but it is still criticism.

I often think about Judas. You know, the disciple that betrayed Jesus? I wondered what he may have thought about his betrayal of our Lord. The Gospels all give an account of Jesus calling the twelve, and each account mentions Judas as, “the one who betray Him” (Matt. 10:4; Mark 3:9; Luke 6:16; John 6:71). Have you ever considered why Judas was the one who held the money for the twelve and for Christ? I mean, Matthew was the “accountant” of the group, why was he not entrusted with the money?

This may have caused the others to question not only Jesus, and His decision, but also Judas. After all, Judas would question the use of oils and aromas used on Jesus’ feet, (John 12:3). The others may have had suspicions about Judas.

Do you think Judas may have picked up on these “feelings?” Do you suppose this could been the opportunity the devil was looking for? To cause Judas to become so depressed that he would take opportunity to do something so drastic as to betray our Lord?

We know the end result of Judas and betrayal of Christ. In Matthew 27:3, Judas makes an attempt to make things right by returning the silver back the chief priests and elders, making this statement; “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” It almost sounds as though he had just realized how desperate he had become, and now he knew he had made a mistake.

He may become depressed from what he may have thought the other disciples were saying or thinking about him. He may have thought he had no other option. And the only thing he could was to betray the Lord. Then…, he felt he was in too deep, and the only thing left for him was drastic measures. They wouldn’t take the silver back, what would everyone else think?

If Judas could only have waited three more days. Because in three days his Lord and Savior would have raised from the tomb. Proving there is a resurrection. Proving there was forgiveness. Some may say that he couldn’t be forgiven, but with Jesus anything was possible.

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