“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. (Isaiah 1:18 NIV)
Caught Red-Handed
The most amazing thing about Jesus is how He treated all the people who came to Him. If the power of God was on Him to heal, our Savior healed everyone. There was no “threshold of goodness” a sick person had to pass in order to experience Jesus loving touch. He healed both good and evil people alike.
Jesus could look at a human being and know all their hidden sins and evil thoughts.
Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? (Mark 2:8 NIV)
45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:45 NIV)
Judas Iscariot
Perhaps Jesus knew who His betrayer would be, when He chose Judas as one of His twelve disciples. Certainly over time, our Savior must have seen the darkness growing in this follower’s heart.
Yet when the Lord sent his apostles out to preach, Judas Iscariot received authority to heal people and cast out demons (Mark 6:7-13). Judas saw Jesus walk on water and calm a storm with a few words. He even watched Jesus raise a woman’s dead son back to life. (Luke 7:12-16). When the Lord multiplied the loaves and fishes, Judas helped serve dinner and collected a basket full of “leftovers.”
Strangest of all, Jesus allowed Judas to be in charge of the money, knowing he had a temptation to steal.
Perhaps Jesus grieved over Judas’ bad choices and ultimate fate. I know He died for this disciple’s sins too, even after his personal betrayal.
The words of Isaiah 1:18 could have applied to Judas Iscariot as well as to us: “Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow…”
The image of the two red hands came from Pixabay.com.
