The story of Judas ends in tragedy. It didn’t have to. Judas thought that what he had done was too bad to be forgiven and that his failure was final. He lost hope and hung himself. When Pastor Bob Russell’s church was under construction, he decided to inspect the partially finished roof. On the roof he saw something that took his breath away. The company that was insulating the church was the Grace, Ice, and Watershield Company. Every sheet of insulation had the company name printed on it in huge letters. As he looked across the unfinished roof, he saw the word “Grace.” The church building was literally covered with grace. The church, our individual lives, and the whole world is covered by grace. There is no one so bad, who cannot experience the amazing grace of Jesus. If Judas had been around at the Resurrection, Jesus would have reached out to him with nail-pierced hands and forgiven him and restored him to life. We are all messy mortals, but nowhere in our messiness does Jesus stop loving us. He doesn’t give up on you. Don’t give up on yourself. During this Holy Week bring any burden or pain you feel to the Cross. Leave it there. Let it go. Take hold of the nail-pierced hands of love and forgiveness of Jesus reaching out to you and live free.
– Dr. Tim Thompson