Shame killed Judas long before the rope ever did. When he saw the weight of what he’d done—selling out innocent blood for a handful of silver—his heart cracked open under the unbearable weight of regret. But unlike Peter, who also betrayed Jesus and wept bitterly, Judas let shame drive him to silence, isolation, and death. He returned the silver, but not to find forgiveness. He confessed to the priests, but not to the one who could absolve him. Shame blinded him to the truth: that Jesus had already chosen to die for the very sin Judas couldn’t forgive in himself.

If he had waited three days—just three—he would’ve seen resurrection. He would’ve seen eyes full of mercy looking back at him, calling him by name like Jesus did with Thomas, like He did with Peter. He would’ve heard “Peace be with you,” and maybe even “Come, follow me.” But shame screams louder than grace when we think our failure is final. Judas couldn’t see that the cross wasn’t just for Peter’s denial or Barabbas’ freedom. It was for him too. The tragedy of Judas isn’t just betrayal—it’s that he gave up before redemption could find him.