The events that characterize the betrayal and crucifixion of the Lord hold lessons for the observant and more important lessons on the subject of repentance. Consider the following scriptures:

Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders,  saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” Matthew 27:3,4 (ESV)

and contrast it with 

Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” And all the people answered,  “His blood be on us and on our children!” Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. Matthew 27:20-26 (ESV)

and

The crowds that had gathered to observe this spectacle went back to their homes, overcome with deep sorrow [Literally “beating their breasts,” which is a figure of speech for deep sorrow] and devastated by what they had witnessed. Luke 23:48 (TPT)

PS* (the words in square brackets are intended to enhance our understanding)

We draw attention to how easily an undiscerning crowd can be led astray by wicked leaders! Be careful not to get into covenant with them, repeating their preconceived wickedness, do not believe neither propagate by repeating their sayings until you have verified with the word (Isaiah 8:11-18)! But more to our subject did the acts of Judas Iscariot or the crowd show what repentance entails?

Is repentance just a change of mind or just feeling sorry for what wrong has been committed? Lest we have deluded ourselves thinking that repentance is just that, let’s go to our main theme text! Paul spoke explicitly on this matter in 2 Corinthians 7, particularly in vs. 8-11

I know I distressed you greatly with my letter. Although I felt awful at the time, I don’t feel at all bad now that I see how it turned out. The letter upset you, but only for a while. Now I’m glad—not that you were upset, but that you were jarred into turning things around. You let the distress bring you to God, not drive you from him. The result was all gain, no loss. Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain. But those who let distress drive them away from God are full of regrets, end up on a deathbed of regrets.

And now, isn’t it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You’re more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible. Looked at from any angle, you’ve come out of this with purity of heart. 2 Corinthians 7:8-11 (MSG)

True repentance drives us closer to God and produces fruit of purity of heart and action! The Passion Translation renders the same here—

Even if my letter made you sorrowful, I don’t regret sending it (even though I felt awful for a moment when I heard how it grieved you). Now I’m overjoyed—not because I made you sad, but because your grief led you to a deep repentance. You experienced godly sorrow, and as God intended, it brought about gain for you, not loss, so that no harm has been done by us. God designed us to feel remorse over sin in order to produce repentance that leads to victory. [Or “deliverance (salvation)”] This leaves us with no regrets. But the sorrow of the world works death. Can’t you see the good fruit that has come, as God intended, because of your remorse over sin? [Both the Hebraic and Greek concepts of repentance are literally “to turn from sin and come back to God”; that is, “to have a change of mind/direction.” This involves the “sorrow” or “remorse” of our hearts before God. Repentance is not a sterile, feeling-less act of changing direction. Paul makes it clear that godly remorse is a “God-intended” feeling that moves the heart back to God. Our repentance is not a work of the flesh but the result of God’s Spirit stirring our conscience. Peter’s godly remorse over his denial of Christ eventually led him to experience a complete inner healing, while Judas’ remorse led him to suicide] Now you are eager to do what is right! Look at the indignation you experienced over what happened and how alarmed you became. What holy longing it awakened, what passion for God, and how ready you were to bring justice to the offender. Your response has proved that you are free of blame in this matter. 2 Corinthians 7:8-11 (TPT)

PS* (the words in square brackets are intended to enhance our understanding)

My earnest prayer is that we allow God work genuine repentance in each of us lest we end up like the crowd who went home beating their chest in sorrow nor like Judas Iscariot who ended in death. Selah