God's mercy, love and forgiveness

I have always felt a bit sorry for Judas. I mean did he really have a choice to betray Jesus? Was that his destiny and he had no control? Of course he did. Jesus knew he would betray him but it was Judas who made the decision. What hit me recently though was that it didn't have to be the end. Many of the disciples betrayed Jesus or denied him. Peter famously denied him 3 times yet still was the rock from which the church was built. If Judas had repented, wouldn't the Lord have forgiven him? What sets him apart from the other twelve is his lack of acceptance of the mercy that was offered. He could not seem to repent and accept God's amazing grace. You are never too far gone to be accepted into the family of God. If we only understood how great His love is for us.