What is Hell like?
For many people, images of “fire and brimstone” come to mind.
But in his epic poem, the Divine Comedy, the 14th-century poet, Dante, pictured Satan frozen in ice.
At the most intense level of Hell, Dante described a 3-faced Satan forever chewing on three famous traitors-the worst sinners of all. His eternal meal consisting of Brutus and Cassius, the betrayers of Julius Caesar, and Judas Iscariot the betrayer of Jesus.
But shouldn’t there be a fourth person? Where is Saint Peter? Saint Peter betrayed Jesus, too. The rooster crowed after Saint Peter denied Jesus three times. Saint Peter ran away in fear when Jesus was arrested. So, why is Saint Peter not considered a traitor?
My guess is that Jesus forgave both of them.
But, Judas Iscariot is in Hell, and Saint Peter is in Heaven.
But, why?
After learning that Jesus was condemned to death, Judas Iscariot repented and returned his reward of thirty pieces of silver.
After the rooster crowed, Saint Peter repented and found a corner somewhere and had a good cry.
So, what’s the difference? Why is one guilty, and the other not?
Maybe the answer is really quite simple. Saint Peter forgave himself. Judas Iscariot did not.
Once the stain of our sin is removed, it is gone for good. Forgotten. Never to be divinely remembered again. No need for us to remember, re-remember, and re-re-remember something that has already been erased.
Jesus has forgiven you.
Now be a saint, and forgive you, too.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank-you for the stain-removing power of the sacrifice of Jesus. Thank-you for Your divine forgiveness. Thank-you for allowing me to repent and helping me to forgive myself, too. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Wikipedia: Saint Peter, Denial of Peter, Restoration of Peter, Judas Iscariot, Kiss of Judas, Dante Alighieri, Divine Comedy, Inferno (Dante), Marcus Junius Brutus the Younger, Gaius Cassius Longinus, Julius Caesar, Assassination of Julius Caesar
Look-It Up:
The Denial of Jesus by Saint Peter is told here:
Jesus predicts Peter’s Denial in Matthew 26:31-35, Mark 14:27-31, Luke 22:31-34, and John 13:36-38.
Peter disowns Jesus in Matthew 26:69-75, Mark 14:66-72, Luke 22:54-60, John 18:15-18, and John 18:25-27.
Jesus restores Peter in John 21:15-19.
The story of the Betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot is told here:
Judas Iscariot agrees to betray Jesus in Matthew 26:14-16, Mark 14:10-11, Luke 22:1-6, and John 13:2.
Jesus predicts his betrayal by Judas Iscariot in Matthew 26:20-25, Mark 14:17-21, Luke 22:20-23, and John 13:18-30.
Judas Iscariot betrays Jesus in Matthew 26:47-50, Mark 14:43-50, Luke 22:47-53, and John 18:1-11.
Judas Iscariot repents, but still hangs himself in Matthew 27:1-10.
Free Bonus:
Peter wasn’t the only one that forgave himself. So did Paul the Apostle. Before he began his career as a minister, missionary and author, he was better known a Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee of Pharisees. Before his conversion, part of his official duties as a Pharisee included the persecution and execution of early Christians.
Website Links:
- Pray 4 Self-Forgiveness
- http://www.pray440.com/pray-4-self-forgiveness/
- The Pray 4·40 List
- http://www.pray440.com/the-pray-440-list/
- Zondervan
- http://www.zondervan.com/
- Saint Peter
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peter
- Denial of Peter
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denial_of_Peter
- Restoration of Peter
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restoration_of_Peter
- Judas Iscariot
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judas_Iscariot
- Kiss of Judas
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiss_of_Judas
- Dante Alighieri
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dante_Alighieri
- Divine Comedy
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_Comedy
- Inferno (Dante)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inferno_(Dante)
- Marcus Junius Brutus the Younger
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Junius_Brutus_the_Younger
- Gaius Cassius Longinus
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_Cassius_Longinus
- Julius Caesar
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Caesar
- Assassination of Julius Caesar
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Julius_Caesar
- Matthew 26:31-35
- http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:Matt.26.21-Matt.26.25
- Mark 14:27-31
- http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:Mark.14.27-Mark.14.31
- Luke 22:31-31
- http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:Luke.22.31-Luke.22.34
- John 13:36-38
- http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:John.13.36-John.13.38
- Matthew 26:69-75
- http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:Matt.26.69-Matt.26.75
- Mark 14:66-72
- http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:Mark.14.66-Mark.14.72
- Luke 22:54-60
- http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:Luke.22.54-Luke.22.60
- John 18:15-18
- http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:John.18.15-John.18.18
- John 21:15-19
- http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:John.21.15-John.21.19
- Matthew 26:14-16
- http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:Matt.26.14-Matt.26.16
- Mark 14:10-11
- http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:Mark.14.10-Mark.14.11
- Luke 22:1-6
- http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:Luke.22.1-Luke.22.6
- John 13:2
- http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:John.13.2
- Matthew 26:20-25
- http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:Matt.26.20-Matt.26.25
- Mark 14:17-21
- http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:Mark.14.17-Mark.14.21
- Luke 22:20-23
- http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:Luke.22.20-Luke.22.23
- John 13:18-30
- http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:John.13.18-John.13.30
- Matthew 26-47-50
- http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:Matt.26.47-Matt.26.50
- Mark 14:43-50
- http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:Mark.14.43-Mark.14.50
- Luke 22:47-53
- http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:Luke.22.47-Luke.22.53
- John 18:1-11
- http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:John.18.1-John.18.11
- Matthew 27:1-10
- http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:Matt.27.1-Matt.27.10
- Paul the Apostle
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_the_Apostle
- Pharisees
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharisees
Copyright Information:
Copyright © 2015 by Reece B. Morrel, Jr. All rights reserved worldwide.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Notes on Pray 4 Self-Forgiveness: