Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. The Christian world's greatest scapegoat. Today we learn that Jesus pointed him out to Peter while they sat at the pascal table, enjoying each others company for the last time.
Some questions pop into my mind, as they probably have many a Christian all these centuries.
The Christ points out Judas to Peter, therefore he knew what his discipline was plotting even then. Why did Jesus then choose Judas at all? If the apple was good and turned bad, Jesus and the others would have known? They would have dismissed him? Surely the Christ would have known this before he chose him to join as a discipline? He knew their character, knew their potential, even before events unfolded, just like he points out to Peter that though he confesses to want to follow Him where ever He go, Peter will deny knowing Jesus three times. Jesus knew, yet he chose Judas to be among the twelve.
Just as they chose, with Jesus' approval one can guess, that Judas would be the one to carry the group's money bag. He was given the dirty work? Someone had to carry the money, that necessary evil, the currency stamped with Caesar's image: give unto Caesar what is Caesar's, says Christ. Judas carries it. Why? Because he was unclean and easily tempted? Formally, a Buddhist monk may not carry money. No money, no temptation, is the motivation. Did Christ see this character trait and use it in planning the events which were about to unfold, or did he merely see what would happen (divine predestination)?
Jesus sends Judas from the table with the command: What you are going to do, do quickly (Jn 13:27).
If events were to unfold as if predestined, then why the command to leave? Would not Judas leave when he was 'required' to do so? And Peter, knowing who it was who would betray the Lord, the Son of God, would he have not tried to stop Judas from his task? He knows who the traitor is! Instead, he stays at the table, eating, drinking, in the presence of Jesus.
Choosing the disciples was not random, me thinks. Christ saw something good in Judas, but saw too that the man was flawed and would become a traitor. Still, Jesus let him remain with the group, perhaps because Judas had a role in the drama that must unfold. Was Judas the necessary evil? Like the fellow Jews that condemned the Christ to death and the Roman governor Pilate who dids nothing to prevent the injustice of the mob to protect his own political interests, i feel as though we can forgive Judas (but not the crime).
Still, i wonder. Did Judas know that he was handing over his God to the men that wanted a death sentence? Was he blinded by his own greed? Did doubt in the divinity of his Teacher make it easier? Or, did he willingly accept his role as a disciple of Christ, a necessary evil? God only knows.
Deo gratias.
Some questions pop into my mind, as they probably have many a Christian all these centuries.
The Christ points out Judas to Peter, therefore he knew what his discipline was plotting even then. Why did Jesus then choose Judas at all? If the apple was good and turned bad, Jesus and the others would have known? They would have dismissed him? Surely the Christ would have known this before he chose him to join as a discipline? He knew their character, knew their potential, even before events unfolded, just like he points out to Peter that though he confesses to want to follow Him where ever He go, Peter will deny knowing Jesus three times. Jesus knew, yet he chose Judas to be among the twelve.
Just as they chose, with Jesus' approval one can guess, that Judas would be the one to carry the group's money bag. He was given the dirty work? Someone had to carry the money, that necessary evil, the currency stamped with Caesar's image: give unto Caesar what is Caesar's, says Christ. Judas carries it. Why? Because he was unclean and easily tempted? Formally, a Buddhist monk may not carry money. No money, no temptation, is the motivation. Did Christ see this character trait and use it in planning the events which were about to unfold, or did he merely see what would happen (divine predestination)?
Jesus sends Judas from the table with the command: What you are going to do, do quickly (Jn 13:27).
If events were to unfold as if predestined, then why the command to leave? Would not Judas leave when he was 'required' to do so? And Peter, knowing who it was who would betray the Lord, the Son of God, would he have not tried to stop Judas from his task? He knows who the traitor is! Instead, he stays at the table, eating, drinking, in the presence of Jesus.
Choosing the disciples was not random, me thinks. Christ saw something good in Judas, but saw too that the man was flawed and would become a traitor. Still, Jesus let him remain with the group, perhaps because Judas had a role in the drama that must unfold. Was Judas the necessary evil? Like the fellow Jews that condemned the Christ to death and the Roman governor Pilate who dids nothing to prevent the injustice of the mob to protect his own political interests, i feel as though we can forgive Judas (but not the crime).
Still, i wonder. Did Judas know that he was handing over his God to the men that wanted a death sentence? Was he blinded by his own greed? Did doubt in the divinity of his Teacher make it easier? Or, did he willingly accept his role as a disciple of Christ, a necessary evil? God only knows.
Deo gratias.
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