As a child, I always wondered why should we hate Judas Iscariot? Shouldn't we be grateful to him for shouldering the responsibility of the death of Je
As a child, I always wondered why should we hate Judas Iscariot? Shouldn’t we be grateful to him for shouldering the responsibility of the death of Jesus as prophesied in Psalm 41:9 that the Redeemer would be betrayed by one of His fellows?
If Iscariot did the dirty job that led to our salvation, must we see such a person as a betrayer or fulfiller of the gospel? I had asked, was Iscariot created to be doomed or he was a bad person whose innate misdemeanour escalated him to the role of a betrayer?
This led me to do an extensive studies on Mr Iscariot. My findings and observations are that God hates no one, Iscariot was not created to be doomed. He, as a free moral agent had serious moral and attitudinal weaknesses which led the devil to use him easily for the available role of a betrayer. His betrayal of Jesus was in perfect conformity with the bad person he was. Follow my research findings…
IN THE BEGINNING
When Jesus’ ministry started, he treated all his disciples fairly. In fact, Iscariot was a respected member of the ministry. He was the treasurer. You don’t make a man you hate or don’t trust a treasurer. Jesus went everywhere with him. In his presence, Jesus did all the miracles. When Jesus sent out the twelve disciples, Iscariot, like others, got the power and authority to drive out impure spirits and heal every disease and sickness. Despite all these, the true character of Judas was in him. What were his characters?
He had no respect for his Boss
When the ministry visited the house of Lazarus, Mary came with an expensive alabaster oil to worship at the feet of Jesus. Iscariot disagreed with her. To him, it was a waste. Mary could use any other oil on Jesus, not that expensive oil that could be sold to take care of the poor. For Judas, Jesus did not merit such expensive oil.
Fact: Judas had no respect for Jesus!
He was a thief
John 12:5-6 reported that Judas was a thief who stole from the ministry’s account. Judas had a different agenda from the disciples. What was he stealing money for when Jesus was sufficient for the ministry? In his presence Jesus turned the mouth of a fish into an ATM to pay tax. If he has any need, why couldn’t he tell Jesus?
Fact: he was a thief!
He was around Jesus, not with Jesus
Having seen all the miracles Jesus did, how would Judas think Jesus would not see his heart and the secrets things he was doing? Stealing money and the head of the ministry would not know? He must have thought himself cleverer than the remaining eleven and even Jesus?
Check this out again: He had collected the blood money for betraying Jesus and he still attended the Last Supper, thinking Jesus would not know? If he knew his Master well, he should know Jesus would know.
Fact: He was around Jesus, but he was not with Jesus.
CONCLUSION
Back to my childhood questions: Was Iscariot created to be doomed? Was he hated by God? No. Iscariot was an apostle in training, equally loved and blessed with power but had his weaknesses and moral failures: a thief, ulterior motive, disrespectful of his Boss and pride.
Couldn’t deal with himself
He was given the power and authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness but he couldn’t purge himself of his weaknesses and wrongdoings. He was ministering to others but couldn’t minister to himself. It is therefore easy for the devil to possess him just as it happened at the Last Supper and went ahead to play the role of a betrayer. God did not create any man to be doomed. He loved every man equally. The role of a betrayer was available but God did not create any betrayer. Iscariot, influenced by the devil, stepped into the role because his weaknesses conditioned him for it.
He didn’t seek forgiveness
Moreover, the Bible did not tell us that Judas had no opportunity of seeking forgiveness from Jesus after betraying Him. Peter denied Jesus thrice and got an acquittal. Thomas did not even believe Jesus would resurrect, he was not sent away from the fold.
Pride
Iscariot should know that Jesus had the power to forgive him. He should have been bold to approach Jesus after he repented of his actions and returned the blood money. He could have gone back to the twelve to confess his sins and seek re-absorption into the fold. But no, another weakness failed him at that point: Pride! He would rather commit suicide than say Sorry!
Men and women in the ministry have lessons to learn from the eventful life of Mr. Iscariot: when you don’t deal with your secret weaknesses, you are assisting the devil to culture you for a bigger and ultimate disgrace like Mr Iscariot. God did not create a betrayer. Judas chose to play the role!
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