The Characters of Holy Week: Judas Iscariot

Rarely has there been a clearer villain. He was hand-picked by Jesus as a disciple, one of only twelve to be in Jesus’ inner circle of closest friends. Yet he betrayed Jesus to his death. It can be easy to simply dismiss Judas as the “bad guy” in the story, but as with everyone, his story is much deeper than simply the villain.

As I reminded you yesterday, there was a reason Jesus chose Judas to be one of the Twelve. The Twelve regularly went on mission, healing the sick, driving out demons, preaching the Gospel, and there is nothing to indicate that Judas was not a part of this ministry. He was so much a part of the Twelve that John 13:29 indicates that he became their treasurer. Jesus saw him as a follower and a disciple and even among the disciples, Judas had a position of leadership.

Unfortunately the Bible does not record Judas doing much more that we can call positive. In John 12:3-5, we see Mary taking a expensive bottle of perfume and anointing Jesus’ feet with it, drying his feet with her hair. While others were doubtlessly moved by the selflessness of Mary’s actions, Judas questioned her motives, demanding, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?” John interprets in Judas’ question a deeper motive — Judas was the disciples’ treasurer and he apparently regularly helped himself to their money. He took a payment from the priests, thirty pieces of silver, to betray Jesus. The Apostle Paul later records that “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” and it seems that Judas had that love of money.

There are those who say that Judas was bad from the beginning. They say that he never really followed Jesus. I don’t think the scripture says that or suggests that at all. But I do think that Judas had some wrong expectations of Jesus.

Though Jesus explained things multiple times, that the Messiah must suffer and die and on the third day rise again, it does not seem like the disciples understood what he was saying. They understood the concept of the Messiah incorrectly. They thought since the Messiah was to be in the line of David, that he would be an earthly king, like David. David was known for his leadership over all of Israel. But due to bad, sinful leadership, Israel and Judah had not continued as a united kingdom. After David’s son, Solomon, the country divided. Soon they were exiled. And ever since then, the people had been looking forward to a Messiah who would unite the kingdom and rule over it like in the old days.

Except that wasn’t really what the Messiah came to do. It became obvious in those last days. There were those who wanted to make Jesus king by force, as reported in John 6:15. I think Judas thought, “I have a unique opportunity to force Jesus’ hand in overthrowing Rome AND I can make some money on the side.”

It could be that he thought, “If I turn Jesus over to the authorities, he will show his power. I know he has the power to do whatever it takes. Now is the time.” And so he betrayed Jesus. Now, to be sure, this is just a guess on my part. But we know the rest of the story. Judas left the Passover meal, and shortly thereafter, Jesus Peter, James, and John, and they went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. 

While [Jesus] was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.

And Jesus was beaten and mocked, and eventually was sent to his death on the cross.

Why do I spend my time on Judas?

It is easy to scoff at Judas and call him the betrayer, but the truth is, we are all but one step away from Judas ourselves. We all have the capability of becoming like Judas. You see, many of us in the church have our own ideas of how God should move. We want God to do certain things, and we are convinced that if God doesn’t do things like we want him to do them, then we should take matters into our own hands. The prosperity gospel is all too prevalent; people think they can manipulate God into giving them money and financial wealth and physical health. And when God does not do what we demanded that he do, then we turn our backs on him.

Judas also embodied the spirit of the crowds. The crowds shouted “Hosanna” when Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, but in a few short days, they were shouting “Crucify him!” Likewise, Judas was a follower of Jesus when it served his interests — when it helped him get money — but when following Jesus didn’t serve Judas’ goals, Judas betrayed him. 

We do the same thing. We can be church members all our lives, but if some day we don’t like the new program the pastor is leading, then we launch a full-on revolt. When the church doesn’t make me the big man anymore, then it’s time to tear down everyone around me, and we often do it just like Judas, in secret meetings at night. 

Each of us is but a step away from being Judas ourselves, but we all have a choice. Just as Jesus told his disciples in the Garden: “Watch and pray, so that you will not fall into temptation.” I will go so far as to say that I firmly believe that had Judas approached the resurrected Jesus and asked forgiveness, Jesus would have reinstated him. So no matter what you have done, no matter how you have taken matters into your own hands, no matter how you have sinned and betrayed Jesus, the very fact that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, the fact that he rose again victorious over sin and death, means that forgiveness is available in Him.