NT Characters: Judas

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Intro

Judas is hardly the first traitor in the Bible. (For example, consider Joseph's brothers, Doeg, Absalom, and Ziba.)One of the closest parallels is Joab's betrayal (with a kiss) of Amasa (2 Samuel 20:1-13).Yet Judas is the most significant traitor in scripture.

Name
 

Named after Judah, patriarch of the tribe of Jesus.Or he may have been named in honor of Judas Maccabee (the political revolutionary of the 2nd century BC).There were two Judases (Judahs) in the apostolic band: Judas Iscariot and Judas son of James (Thaddaeus).On the meaning of "Iscariot"Man of Kerioth ('ish-Kerioth)?Corruption of sicarius (dagger-man)?No other apostle is given an epithet based on his place of origin, unless Simon the Zealot is Simon the Canaanite (or man of Cana) is right (as in a minority of manuscripts). If the latter option is correct, then along with Simon the Zealot, Judas was one of the two most political members of the apostolic band.Judas is mentioned about 50x in the NT.Since his defection, Christians seldom name their children Judas (or Adolf, Genghis, or Jezebel).

Short ministry career

Matthew 10:4 -- appointed apostleServed as apostolic treasurer, a position not usually given to those who are greedy or irresponsible.John 6:70-71 -- Jesus knew Judah would become a traitor, though this in no way forced him to go down that path.John 12:4 -- critical of the woman for anointing Jesus.John 12:6 -- not sincere, but was helping himself to the money bag. Little sins take a cumulative toll on our character, and our outlook on life.Luke 22:3 -- Satan "entered" him (suggests free will, and then end of a process by which Judas became corrupt).Matthew 26:14 -- makes a deal with the priests for the capture of Jesus.John 13 -- His treachery went unnoticed at the Supper / foot-washing (no favoritism). And yet Jesus does not exaggerate his friendship with Judas (John 15 -- Judas absent when the Lord called his apostles friends; Jesus wasn't insincerely pretending everything was okay).Gethsemane -- Even in the arrest (Jesus indicated by Judas' kiss), the Lord loved him to the end. Jesus was not vindictive.Matthew 27:3 -- regret (yet woe to him [26:24]: better if he'd never been born).Acts 1:16-26 -- His defection fulfilled the prophetic scheme of things.Exaggerated description (Papias, 2nd C).Judas walked about as a great example of ungodliness in this world. His flesh was so swollen, that when a wagon was passing through the street he was unable to pass through; there was only enough room for his head. The eyelids over his eyes, it is said, protruded so much, that he did not see light, and that a doctor could not make his eyes visible with optical instruments. To such an extent was the light shut out from outside. His genitals of indecency were more disgusting and yet too small to be seen. There oozed out from his whole bursting body both fluids and worms. After much suffering and agony, it is said that he died in his own place. And this place is out of the way and the piece of land is uninhabited until now. No one even to this day passes by the place without stopping up his nose with his hands. Such was the opinion spread about the country concerning his body.Further demonized by Dante (1265-1321), placed in the innermost circle of the 9th circle of hell ("treachery"): His head is perpetually gnawed by Satan's mouth, and his back forever skinned by Satan's claws. Also tortured in a mouth of Satan (who is pictured as having three heads and three mouths) are Brutus and Cassius.

Judas in Psalms
 

41:9: "Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me."55:12-14 -- It's hard to take it from a friend!109:4ff -- Another would take his place of leadership.These scriptures show that not only the early church, but also Jesus, saw in Judas the fulfillment of some of the darkest scriptures in all the Psalms.

Three possible motives

Money? (Unlikely--the sum is too small.)To force Jesus' hand? The betrayal takes place only after it has become crystal clear that Jesus did not intend to lead a political revolution. Judas may have truly loved his country but failed to distinguish the nature of the kingdom, that it is spiritual, not earthly.Or possibly he lost faith--no longer believed Jesus was the messiah and therefore deserved to be executed.

The Petrine parallel

Both Peter and Judas betrayed (denied) their lord.Both felt bad.But admitted wrongdoing.Yet only one repented.

Conclusion

We are all tempted from time to time to sell out our Lord, perhaps to protect our own skin, perhaps in a moment of deep disappointment or confusion. Temptation can get the better of all of us. In such times, remember this vital lesson: be a Peter, not a Judas.