Weeping and remorse...

Matthew 27:3,4
Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.”
Mark 14:72
And immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said the statement to him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And throwing himself down, he began to cry.

While Mark’s gospel tends to be more succinct than the others, we know that other events were taking place while Jesus was suffering on the via crucis, the way to the cross.

For example, Mark does not provide much detail about Judas’ remorse and suicide. Only Matthew and Luke (Acts 1:18-19) recount Judas’ struggle with the consequences of his decision to betray Jesus. Judas’ motives were not entirely clear. But John, who like Matthew knew Judas, attributed his actions to greed: “He was a thief and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it” (John 12:6). Whatever Judas’ initial thinking, by sunset on Good Friday Jesus was dead and he believed it was his fault. He knew he could never face the disciples again. He almost certainly felt deep anguish because of his actions. It was more than he could endure.

Sometime before dawn on Good Friday in the High Priest's courtyard, Peter realized that he had been so concerned about his honor and saving his own neck that he had denied Jesus, just as the Lord had said he would. In Luke’s account the disciple made eye contact with Jesus: “The Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter remembered the word of the Lord how he had told him ‘Before the cock crows today you will deny Me three times’” (Luke 22:61). Peter threw himself to the ground and wept bitterly.

After His resurrection, Peter was lovingly but pointedly held accountable by the Lord with three admonitions to put the flock of God above His own honor and reputation (John 21:15-17). The disciple was left with the knowledge that God can redeem anything. Peter was also left with a lifelong appreciation for the importance of humility. He wrote, “You younger men… clothe yourselves with humility toward one another for God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves before the mighty hand of God that He might exalt you at the right time, casting all your anxiety upon Him for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:5-7). 

Peter’s denial of Jesus occurs in all four gospels. In humility, Peter made sure that what he had said and done was on the record. 

We all make mistakes. In a country and culture founded on individualism and capitalism, without even realizing it we can prioritize personal financial gain or our own agendas above following Jesus. We can prioritize personal honor, reputation, and social standing above Him. And while we know (and love to quote) that all things work together for our good (Romans 8:28), we also know that mistakes have consequences.

May we humbly cast our cares and the burden of our own failings upon Him who cares for us.