Recent news items have focused on the Swiss charity Dignitas which assists people in ending their lives. Perhaps you have read about the rugby player aged 23 who went there to end his life after a serious spinal injury on the rugby field, or the conductor Sir Edward Downes (85) who decided to end his life there alongside his terminally ill wife.
Clearly these people felt that their lives were such that they would be “better off dead”.
In South Wales, the suicide rate amongst under-18s is 5 times higher than for England.
Depression, low self-esteem and hopelessness about the future have had a devastating effect on young people all around the world. It appears that they have asked themselves “Is there more to life than this?” and concluded “No”. Suicide is legally considered a crime and many point to the commandment which forbids murder to make the point that it is breaking one of the 10 commandments (self murder).
There can be few more pitiful people in the bible than Judas Iscariot, who after betraying Jesus for financial gain realized the error of judgement he had made:
"I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood."
"What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility."
So Judas threw the money into the temple and left.
Then he went away and hanged himself.
The chief priests picked up the coins and said,
"It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money."
Matthew 27:4-6 [NIV]
Jesus knew what Judas was going to do and he was sorry for him. It is interesting to compare what happened to Peter, who also betrayed Jesus by denying him 3 times. Yet in the case of Peter, he repented and rather than end his life in despair he devoted the rest of his life to the risky business of confessing Christ rather than denying him.
Lord, like Judas and Peter we have sinned and betrayed you. Help us to repent and follow you and not to succumb to the despair and hopelessness of the world, Amen.
