I am Judas

[lunamoth]

On this Wednesday of Holy Week the Gospel reading of the day is Matthew 26:1-5, 14-25.

1When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2"As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."

3Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him. 5"But not during the Feast," they said, "or there may be a riot among the people."

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14Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. 16From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

The Lord's Supper
17On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"

18He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.' " 19So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

20When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me."

22They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?"

23Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."

25Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?"
Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you."[a]

It's a reminder that each of us is capable, in the blink of an eye, of not just of small wrongs but of serious evil. When we look back through history we are tempted to tut tut and ask each other "how could they, those otherwise normal people, have allowed that to happen?" From Forward Day by Day :

Matthew 26:1-5, 14-25. Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.

Recently, an obscure village in Poland was in the news. A new book revealed that a massacre of 1,800 Jews in that town had not been carried out by Nazis after all, but by local people--the Jews' own Christian neighbors. Names were named. Present residents are trying to understand how relatives and friends could do something so ghastly. The brass tablet in front of the site where the Jews were burned alive is being changed so that it tells the truth.



Betraying a friend, or many friends, can be covered up; but one day God's truth will tear away the disguises and the truth is revealed. Those 1,800 people were burned by their neighbors. Where was God, then? He was there, of course, in the midst of his people, mourning the senseless suffering and deaths. He was present when tens of thousands "disappeared" in Chile, San Salvador, Nicaragua; and now, in Darfur; and even in our own inner cities, where racism, alcohol, and drugs cause all manner of despair. The Eternal One is where he always is: in the midst of his people. God allows us to choose between good and evil. Because of our fallen nature, some of us choose badly, some even hold hands with the devil. The innocent suffer and Satan seems to win. But he doesn't really; never for long. Always, on one bright morning, the stone is rolled away.

The thing is, we are those people who let that happen. We are the lynch mob, we are Judas. Maybe not today, if we are lucky maybe not ever, but as I ask myself how can they let that happen in Darfur, I also need to ask, why do I?

Being a Christian is knowing that we are sinners. Yes, it's strange and difficult for a progressive liberal Episcopalian to write those words, yet it is true. Given the right circumstances, there is little difference in what I am capable of doing and the horrors of what Dr. Mengele did. Does that mean I am a sadistic and twisted mad doctor? No...it means I am a fallen creature living in a fallen world and I can't help it but to sin, in ways great and small. And this is what Jesus knew on the cross when he looked at the thief next to him and said "Today you will be with me in Paradise."

It is tempting for us to look at Judas and think to ourselves "I would never betray Jesus in that way!" It is tempting to judge Judas, and to condemn him. Was Judas responsible for his actions? Absolutely. He made the choice. Was he forgiven? The Gospel story does not say, but I think that, in the end, he was. In the end he realized what he did was wrong, although I'm not certain he knew it was wrong when he betrayed Jesus, or perhaps he did and buried that knowledge under all kinds of justiifcations, thinking that he was really trying to help the cause of Jesus and His followers in some way. We humans are masters of justification when it comes to doing things our way.

Anyway, today is a reminder that there really is no pointing of fingers when it comes to placing blame because we are all capable of great atrocities, even soccer moms like myself. It's a really scary thought. And it hammers home the messsage that we don't save ourselves by somehow refraining from sin. We are mired in it. There is one hope, and salvation is still three days away.

 

[wil]

I am Judas

Where would Christianity be without you?

21After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."...Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."
25Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?"
26Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. 27As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
"What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him

I note no attempt to stop him, not here, not later, Jesus only had one point later in the garden where he questioned going to the cross...and he soon got over that. Yes, we may be Judas....and yes it may be required of us!

 

[lunamoth]

Where would Christianity be without you? I note no attempt to stop him, not here, not later, Jesus only had one point later in the garden where he questioned going to the cross...and he soon got over that. Yes, we may be Judas....and yes it may be required of us!

No attempt to stop him...reflective the same free will given to us by God. But I don't think we can ever say this betrayal was a good thing or planned by God. It was fully Judas' choice and responsibility...he was not a puppet.

Foreknowledge is not the cause and just because Jesus did not stop Judas does not mean that he had to or wanted to be betrayed.

Do you watch the TV show Lost? The character Desmond in that show has foreknowledge of people's deaths. Part of the deal is that even if he interfers to stop the death, eventually some other circumstance comes along and leads to the inevitable. That may be a silly comparison, but I think that Jesus would have been killed one way or another...He was simply too dangerous to the powers that be. And further, it was not imperative that Jesus die by crucifixion. Atonement comes from His life, suffering/death and Resurrection...not from the fact that he was killed at a young age on a cross. Tradition holds that even had He died of old age the act of Redemption would be the same.

 

[Prober]

...but as I ask myself how can they let that happen in Darfur, I also need to ask, why do I?

I feel the suffering in the world CONSTANTLY. And I agonize over what to do, wanting to help in some way. I only know two, no three things I can do.

01. Make sure I'm not part of the problem
02. Tell everyone I can what I think
03. Pray without ceasing

Regards,
Mark

 

[lunamoth]

I feel the suffering in the world CONSTANTLY. And I agonize over what to do, wanting to help in some way. I only know two, no three things I can do.

01. Make sure I'm not part of the problem
02. Tell everyone I can what I think
03. Pray without ceasing

Regards,
Mark

I think though that we are all inextricably part of the problem, even if there is little in a practical sense that we can do about it.

But you are quite right about 03.

 

[wil]

...But I don't think we can ever say this betrayal was a good thing or planned by God. ...Foreknowledge is not the cause and just because Jesus did not stop Judas does not mean that he had to or wanted to be betrayed....

How do you interpret, "Not my will but thy will be done"? To me the whole take this cup from me scene was Him not ready to go through with what needed to happen...but then following his inner guidance, the Father within.

Peter lopped off a guards here...Jesus healed it and indicated he'd call the army if he wanted to...but he didn't. It sure appears to me Judas was part of the plan....if Judas wasn't upto it could be Andrew would be a bad name...but Jesus never said 'Et tu Brute' it wasn't a surprise...instead he gave him the bread and sent him on his way.

 

[lunamoth]

How do you interpret, "Not my will but thy will be done"? To me the whole take this cup from me scene was Him not ready to go through with what needed to happen...but then following his inner guidance, the Father within.

This is Jesus' very human side showing anxiety and fear of what he knows or senses is about to take place. And His submission to God's will...that He follow the course of events to their inevitable end. Still does not mean that it was orchestrated by God...but it unfolds as it unfolds. We are not puppets and if Judas was a puppet here...the whole thing is a farce.

Guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one.

 

[pattimax]

No, Judas was not a puppet. But please don't ignore prophecy.

There are Judas tendencies along with Christ-like abilities in all of us. Face it, we are all predestined for free will.

 

[Prober]

Still does not mean that it was orchestrated by God...but it unfolds as it unfolds. We are not puppets and if Judas was a puppet here...the whole thing is a farce.

"..and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled." John 17:12

I don't think you can say it was orchestrated (per se) by G-d, but it was (imo) part of His plan.

 

[lunamoth]

Hi Patty,

No, Judas was not a puppet. But please don't ignore prophecy.

By prophecy you mean Jesus' foreknowledge of what would happen? Sure...that's my point too. Knowing what would happen is not the same as making it happen.

There are Judas tendencies along with Christ-like abilities in all of us.

I very much agree with this too.

Face it, we are all predestined for free will.

Yes, this is why it is significant to me that Judas betrayed Jesus by his free will. If God can take over someone's free will then all that happens is a farce and there's no point in salvation. Satan may have been the temptor, but it was still Judas' choice. God's will appears to have been that things would unfold naturally as they would to their violent but inevitable end, even though the human side of Jesus wanted to be spared from his fate on the cross. God did not intervene for His Son. Jesus faced his fate exactly the way any human would...this is significant.

 

[flowperson]

Hi All:

Did anyone else notice Pope Benedict say a few months ago that "Judas is a double-crosser."

That may have been when the Gnostic Gospel of Judas was released last year. I can't recall.

flow....

 

[pattimax]

The gnostic gospel of Judas was released last Easter and Pope Benedict said that during an interview on pbs.

 

[pattimax]

Hi Patty,


Knowing what would happen is not the same as making it happen.

Hello Luna,

But is it the same as letting it happen?

 

[lunamoth]

Hello Luna,

But is it the same as letting it happen?

I know God lets me make my mistakes.

I think the answer is yes...prophecy is at least partially about showing us what will happen when we continue following our ways, rather than God's.

 

[pattimax]

I know God lets me make my mistakes.

I think the answer is yes...prophecy is at least partially about showing us what will happen when we continue following our ways, rather than God's.

But you are saying that if Judas would have stayed with the program and not betrayed Jesus we would have a completely different gospel?

What about the rather specific prophecies in Isaiah and Psalms?

 

[lunamoth]

But you are saying that if Judas would have stayed with the program and not betrayed Jesus we would have a completely different gospel?

What about the rather specific prophecies in Isaiah and Psalms?

The Gospel ("good news") would remain the same, just the details would be different. And I am certain that even if the details changed we would see exactly the same fulfillment of prophecy.

 

[Quahom1]

The Gospel ("good news") would remain the same, just the details would be different. And I am certain that even if the details changed we would see exactly the same fulfillment of prophecy.

Indeed, I suspect there was a back up if one thinks about it. Peter denied three times, even after he was told...

 

[pattimax]

Foreknowledge is not the cause and just because Jesus did not stop Judas does not mean that he had to or wanted to be betrayed.

And further, it was not imperative that Jesus die by crucifixion. Atonement comes from His life, suffering/death and Resurrection...not from the fact that he was killed at a young age on a cross. Tradition holds that even had He died of old age the act of Redemption would be the same.

Meant to quote this one.

 

[pattimax]

Could someone tell me about this tradition you (Luna) mentioned?

 

[lunamoth]

Could someone tell me about this tradition you (Luna) mentioned?

It's part of both the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox doctrines I believe. The general idea is that it is the Incarnation, death and Resurrection which atone and save. Christ died on the cross so we are left to find meaning in this, and it is rich in metaphore and symbolism (and I don't mean that this is unimportant...it's very important, it's part of our history, language, ritual and liturgy). But, the sacrifice did not have to be on a cross to be redemptive. Since it was on the cross we look back to the OT and see prophecy fulfilled which is meaningful, but that is not what made it effective.

Does that make sense? I'll try to research it a bit more.